Physiatrists in Rhode Island

Our physiatrists are members of specific multidisciplinary teams throughout Brown University Health and collaborate in research with the goal of improving rehabilitation care and advancing rehabilitation science.

What Is a Physiatrist?

Physiatrists are physicians who have completed specialized training in physical medicine and rehabilitation. At Brown University Health, our physiatrists treat the whole patient, not one part of the body, which helps to maximize patients’ independence in activities of daily living and improve quality of life. 

These doctors may be certified in a variety of subspecialties, such as brain injury medicine, hospice, palliative medicine, neuromuscular medicine, pain medicine, spinal cord injury medicine, oncology, pediatrics, and sports medicine.

How Physiatrists Treat Patients

Physiatrists are liaisons between patients and other providers. They focus on safety and coordination of care for the patient, provide functional consultative services, and guide the patient’s rehabilitative journey from the hospital, to rehab, and ideally, back to everyday life. Physiatrists build long-term relationships with patients, helping them reach their goals. 

Physiatry provides integrated, multidisciplinary care aimed at recovery of the whole person by addressing the individual's physical, emotional, medical, vocational, and social needs.