Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians, also known as Physiatrists, are medical doctors who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of patients who are experiencing functional impairments secondary to a broad spectrum of disease processes; including but not limited to stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, major trauma, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, and severe medical illness.

The University of British Columbia Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) is a vital resource for clinical care, teaching, and research. Division members work at multiple clinical sites. The Division’s academic office is located at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Division members are recognized nationally and internationally for their clinical expertise, teaching, and research activities.

Through its planning activities the Division has generated a vision for its role in rehabilitation:

“We will create a consortium in which our expertise in clinical service delivery, teaching and research is shared with other rehabilitation stakeholders (including our academic partners, government, hospital and regional administrations, paying agencies, patients and the public) to improve the quality and effectiveness of rehabilitation services in British Columbia.”

The Division’s teaching activities include undergraduate education, residency training in PMR and Continuing Professional Development in support of the Royal College’s Maintenance of Certification Program for Physiatrists.

Who We Are

Dr. Jennifer Yao

Head of the University of British Columbia Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Amy Hanlan

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program Director

Dr. Rajiv Reebye

University of British Columbia Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Neurorehabilitation and Spasticity Fellowship Director

Dr. Andrea Townson

Division Research Advisory Council Chair

Dr. Malgorzata Sudol

Continuing Professional Development Committee Chair

Dr. Grace Li

Undergraduate Education Coordinator

Sim Lee

Division Administrator and Residency Program Coordinator
To contact the division for information about medical student electives, the residency program, or the Neurorehabilitation and Spasticity fellowship please contact: sim.lee@vch.ca

How to refer to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Referral to a Physiatrist will vary based on the health authority, nature of referral, and specific Physiatrist or program. Please see the Rehabilitation Program Section for more information on how to refer to programs offered by each regional health authority.

Information on referrals to GF Strong based rehabilitation programs and clinics can be found on the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre site.