Overview

The New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (NYSPMR) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the advancement of the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and to providing opportunities for our members for Continuing Medical Education. Our Society consists of New York State physicians practicing or interested in the field of PM&R.

About Us

Our Society was initially founded in 1921 as the New York Electrotherapeutic Society. In 1933 the name was changed to New York Society of Physical Therapy. The term Physical Medicine was adopted and favored over Physical Therapy in 1944 and the Society’s name was eventually changed to its current New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation by early 1945. The 25th anniversary of the Society's founding was celebrated at the Liederkranz Club, in New York City, on March 16, 1946. The New York Academy established the section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 1965. The Society’s Resident's Night became an annual event starting in 1966 and continues to be an anticipated NYSPMR event to this day. In 1973 the NYSPMR was formally incorporated into the State of New York. For the past 84 years the tradition of regular monthly meetings on the 1st Wednesday of each month has continued. Meetings were held at the New York Academy on East 103rd Street until just two years ago when meetings were relocated to the modern facilities of the Hospital for Special Surgery thanks to support of their Physiatry Department.

New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is an educational specialty organization of the New York Academy of Medicine that is governed by its own Executive Committee members. Meetings continue to be held on a monthly basis in the Hospital for Special Surgery conference auditorium on the first Wednesday of each month with the exception of July, August, and holidays. Society meetings consist of lecture topics relevant to the field of rehabilitation medicine which are presented by nationally and internationally renowned invited speakers. Business meetings conducted by the NYSPMR Board members follow the lecture and are open to all active members.

The Society’s bi-monthly newsletter is Proceedings of the New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation which includes such information as upcoming society and specialty related events, member achievements and awards, and legislative topics.

The New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is grateful to the Hospital for Special Surgery Physiatry Department for hosting our monthly meetings.

Our Mission

• To continue to advocate New York State and National legislation that protects and enables us as New York State physiatrists to best serve our patients.

• To encourage study, clinical practice, and research in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation particularly within the State of New York.

• To educate our New York State public about the broad scope of medical services rendered by Physiatrists and when to seek appropriate referral.

• To contribute to the interests of our specialty within New York State and nationally through member involvement in AAPM&R, AAP, AOCPM&R, and related organizations.

What is Physiatry and what does a Physiatrist do?

The field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as Physiatry, is a medical specialty that advocates the process of restoring function to individuals who have been disabled as a result of a disease, inherent disorder, or injury. The term physiatry originates from the two Greek words: Physikos, meaning physical, and Iatreia, meaning the art of healing.

A physiatrist is a licensed MD or DO who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation and who has completed four years undergraduate training, four years of medical school (allopathic or osteopathic), one preliminary (or transitional year), and three years of residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. One to two year fellowship training options are also available in Pain Management, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Electrodiagnostics, Sports Medicine, and Cancer Rehabilitation.

Physiatrists treat patients with such medical diagnoses as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, orthopaedic injuries both pre- and post-operative, musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain syndromes, nerve injuries, symptomatic manifestations of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Due to the integrated approach of physiatry and broad scope of diagnoses, physiatrists often work very closely with other medical professionals including neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, family practitioners, pediatricians, radiologists physical, occupational, and speech therapists, and social workers.

In essence Physiatry enables patients to achieve his or her maximum functional capacity by utilizing an integrated multidisciplinary approach.