Back

Our History

WHO WE ARE

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 (NYSPMR) 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 following 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, then were transitioned to the modern facilities of the Hospital for Special Surgery. In Fall 2013, the Society in joint sponsorship with NYU Post-Graduate Medical School moved to NYU Medical Center for future lectures and meetings. 

Following the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in New York, our Society worked on restructuring itself, and a new modern and integrated website was created by the end of 2020, to serve as a virtual platform for our lectures, workshops and other NYSPMR activities and meetings.

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 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 are also held on a monthly basis and are usually open to all active members.

The Society’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) share information such as upcoming society and specialty related events, member achievements and awards, and legislative topics.

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 of 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 Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, Brain Injury Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Sports Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.

Physiatrists treat patients with such medical diagnoses as spinal cord injury, traumatic and non-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, cancer and others. 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 their maximum functional capacity by utilizing an integrated multidisciplinary approach.

BYLAWS

Please contact NYSPMR for more information.

Viewing All Profiles (Showing 1-15 of 219 Results)

User Avatar

Aaron Chen

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 08/06/2023

User Avatar

Abel Infante MD

Email Address [email protected]

Level RESIDENT / FELLOW

Start Date 01/17/2024

User Avatar

Abhishek Agarwal

Email Address [email protected]

Level ATTENDING PHYSICIAN

Start Date 08/14/2023

User Avatar

Adam Epstein

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 03/05/2024

User Avatar

Adam Riazinia

Email Address [email protected]

Level JOB RECRUITER

Start Date 06/16/2021

User Avatar

Adam Schulman, MD

Email Address [email protected]

Level RESIDENT / FELLOW

Start Date 12/07/2023

User Avatar

Ahmed Shabir

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 07/07/2023

User Avatar

Alaba Danagogo

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 01/28/2024

User Avatar

Alejo Gomez

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 12/18/2023

User Avatar

Alex Vertes, MD

Email Address [email protected]

Level RESIDENT / FELLOW

Start Date 10/30/2023

User Avatar

Ali Mahfuz

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 03/25/2024

User Avatar

Aliza Perez DO

Email Address [email protected]

Level RESIDENT / FELLOW

Start Date 11/10/2023

User Avatar

Alyssa Volmrich, MD

Email Address [email protected]

Level RESIDENT / FELLOW

Start Date 10/02/2023

User Avatar

Ammara Azam

Email Address [email protected]

Level RESIDENT / FELLOW

Start Date 07/08/2023

User Avatar

Amritjot Dhillon

Email Address [email protected]

Level MEDICAL STUDENT

Start Date 09/20/2023

Executive Board Members

Choudry Haris-IMG_4014-5X

Choudry, Haris MD

Program Director, Education Chair
image_6483441

Lekshminarayanan, Anusha MD

Secretary, Question Bank Chair
JenniferGomez pic

Gomez, Jennifer MD

Social Communications Chair
Alejandro_Ruth_E

Alejandro, Ruth MD

Vice-Counselor
Stern_Michelle

Stern, Michelle MD

Legislative Chair
New York Society Of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Logo

Stickevers, Susan MD

Education Council Chair

Lectures and Education

Choudry Haris-IMG_4014-5X

Choudry, Haris MD

Program Director, Education Chair
New York Society Of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Logo

Stickevers, Susan MD

Education Council Chair

Clinical Education & Workshops Committee

ghuman

Ghuman, Jaskiran DO

Workshops Chair
burg

Burg, Brandon DO

Workshops Resident Chair
image_6483441

Lekshminarayanan, Anusha MD

Secretary, Question Bank Chair

Question Bank Committee

image_6483441

Lekshminarayanan, Anusha MD

Secretary, Question Bank Chair

Social Communications & Newsletter Committee

JenniferGomez pic

Gomez, Jennifer MD

Social Communications Chair
Stern_Michelle

Stern, Michelle MD

Legislative Chair

Legislative and Legal Committee

IT/AV/Image and Website Development Committee

Special Events Committee

IMG_3891

Chang, Lawrence, DO

Special Events Chair

 

  • We cherish our memories. Please drop any photo with the NYSPMR that you’d like to share with us HERE