Chair's Message

Welcome to the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Our department prides itself on:

A passion for science: We use research processes and outcomes to help people with disabilities achieve maximum functional independence.

A thirst for knowledge: We are dedicated to discovering the fundamental mechanisms of disabling conditions and understanding their impact on individuals.

A drive to spread understanding: We train professionals to provide high-quality care and conduct impactful research.

An intense focus on care: We aim to enhance the experiences and outcomes of people with disabilities.

A powerful commitment to health equity: We strive to ensure fair access to healthcare for all.

These principles motivate our scientists, educators, clinicians, leaders, and trainees. Our expertise spans severe traumatic injuries, chronic diseases, complex neurological and medical conditions, musculoskeletal injuries, and any physical condition that limits functional independence and quality of life. Our department is enthusiastic about innovation, growth, and new program development. We have a tradition of leading progress and change in medical rehabilitation and disability care. The opportunity to simultaneously provide, improve, influence, and teach about the care of people with disabilities is unique, and it is where the Department of PM&R excels.

We offer a variety of training programs, including a highly sought-after residency program, medical student education, advanced specialty clinical fellowship training, research training, community and patient education, allied health professional education, and other educational experiences. We also have the longest and most well-established Prosthetics-Orthotics training program in the country, leading to a Master’s in Prosthetics and Orthotics, which includes a robust research component. More details about these programs are available on our website.

Many of our interdisciplinary clinical and educational programs are centered at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Our clinical and training activities also take place at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, and several freestanding outpatient locations throughout the Midwest. The Prosthetics-Orthotics training program is conducted in our designated teaching facilities, which include modern laboratory equipment and space. The resources available to our students, residents, and faculty are dynamic, as are the experiences we provide. Our research is heavily clinical and translational, based largely in our department space at the medical school and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. We welcome trainees and new investigators to participate in these important and exciting activities.

We invite you to learn more about the exciting clinical, research, and training programs offered by the Department of PM&R

With warm regards,
Elliot J. Roth, MD
The Paul B. Magnuson Professor and Chairman
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of PM&R is to develop and disseminate information, knowledge, skills, and programs to provide a better quality of life for individuals with disability functional loss, through:

The conduct of scholarly research.
The education of residents, students, professionals, individuals with disability, and the public
The development of innovative clinical programs.
The interdisciplinary collaboration with professionals in other specialties and with the community at large.
The promotion of an atmosphere in which academic inquiry and intellectual discussion dialog are valued.
A commitment to promoting health equity and opposing discrimination in all activities.

Vision

The Department will conduct and collaborate on educational, professional development, research, and community programs, that are impactful, productive, and focused on people with various forms of functional loss, in environments that are safe, inclusive, and supportive of cultural dynamism, belongingness, civility, equity, and social justice, while promoting academic inquiry.