1. What were the major accomplishments of AAPM&R this year?
Your Academy works for the needs of members and for the entire field guided by our mission to lead the advancement of physiatry’s impact through healthcare. Our achievements are possible thanks to our members’ commitment, the dedication of over 600 volunteers who offer their expertise and time and the support of our talented professional staff. We are grateful for all of these contributions to serve our members!
This year, we’ve rolled out some new educational programming including a Resident Retreat providing PGY2 residents a unique training opportunity, a new Medical Directorship Program to create a cohort for learning and growing, the new STEP Concussion Course originally launched at the end of 2023 and expanded to two courses in 2024, and new Annual Assembly offerings including Advanced Clinical Focus Days, a new Resident Experience and more.
We proudly published spasticity guidance and hosted 28 sessions for a record-setting Member May. If you missed out on a session or two, find all 2024 Member May sessions on AAPM&R's Online Learning Portal. These recordings are free and available to all Academy members.
We continue to advocate for the specialty with noteworthy “wins” for our members and the patients you serve. With your support, we submitted more than 1,300 letters to Congress, sent more than 40 comment letters to federal and local regulatory agencies, and enlisted more than 30 volunteers to collaborate on national and clinical workgroups.
2. How does the Academy support the professional development of its early-career members?
The Academy prioritizes investing in supporting early career professionals. I’ll name a few highlights, but there are so many offerings, the best thing to do is check out our website and talk with an Academy leader about how the Academy has impacted their career.
PM&R Aspire is our new career exploration platform that is so much more than a job board. We also have the virtual and in-person job fairs taking place in September and at the Annual Assembly. Our Future Leaders Program prepares diverse and emerging members for specialty leadership and volunteerism. Our Innovators and Influencers Honorees program recognizes members from PGY3 through 15 years in practice who’ve accomplished something innovative or influential within PM&R. Our new Early PM&R Career Award recognizes members within 10 years in practice who have made an impact on the future of PM&R through advocacy, leadership, service or clinical practice. Our Awareness Ambassadors program recognizes members who have raised the prominence of PM&R through media interviews. The Physiatrist in Training (PHiT) Council Board and PHiT Ambassadors focus on sustaining a strong resident and associate fellow community that provides a valuable member experience for all PM&R residents and fellows-in-training. New this year and continuing in 2025, we have a resident retreat providing PGY2 residents a unique opportunity to explore the breadth of PM&R through hands-on-training with national leaders in PM&R.
And, of course, the Annual Assembly is an amazing place to not only learn, but to cultivate relationships that may impact your entire career trajectory. There are dedicated events through the Assembly for early career professionals. My career advice to any PM&R physician is that this is THE event to have on your annual calendar to build your professional home and develop lifelong relationships.
Last but not least, stay tuned to member communications about new leadership development opportunities in 2025!
3. What does this year’s Annual Assembly theme, the Power of PM&R, mean to you?
One of PM&R’s many strengths is in the unity of a tireless focus on patient-centered care, and we themed this year’s Annual Assembly to tap into that connection among members. By working in so many diverse clinical areas and practice settings, PM&R makes an impact across the entire spectrum of healthcare from acute to post-acute settings and beyond, inpatient and outpatient, from children to adults. That is powerful! Each story that a patient tells about the impact their PM&R physician has made on their quality of life and their loved ones is incredibly inspirational for all of the staff who are here to serve you in your Academy. There is good reason that Dr. Glaucomflecken mentions the bag of patient thank you notes for PM&R physicians.
There is tremendous, powerful energy in coming together as a community. Our Annual Assembly in San Diego is promising to be amazing! This is a testament to the hard work of our volunteer leaders, members and staff. I can’t wait to see so many members under one roof.
4. Looking ahead, how do you envision the Academy evolving in response to new healthcare challenges or innovations?
With its expertise and core values, PM&R is uniquely aligned to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare environment. AAPM&R’s vision is that PM&R physicians are the essential medical experts in value-based evaluation, diagnosis and management of neuromusculoskeletal and disabling conditions, indispensable leaders in directing rehabilitation and recovery, and vital to optimizing outcomes and function early and throughout the continuum of patient care.
The Academy Board of Governors has developed a comprehensive strategic plan to optimally support our members’ priorities and the needs of the specialty to work toward our vision. As an association, our strength lies in the ability to connect our members with one another – in person and virtually – to meet our members where they are and where they want to be. Our members expect us to innovate in our offerings and engagement opportunities, and we will continue to do this to help them at all stages of their careers. Be on the lookout for exciting new offerings in 2025 and beyond!