Physicians’ Role in Developing the Multidisciplinary Team and Rehabilitation Nursing in Rehabilitation Medicine

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

2:45 PM - 4:45 PM PT

Location: 306

Ideal Audience:Physician or surgeon. Residents

Course Director(s)

Mary Elizabeth S. Nelson-Biersach, DNP

Assistant Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin

Speaker(s)

Andrew J. Haig, MD (he/him/his)

Professor Emeritus, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Michigan
Abena Tannor, MD (she/her/hers)

Head, Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship Program
Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons / Alera Rehabilitation and Sports Centre
Rajiv Reebye, MD FRCP

Clinical Professor
University of British Columbia
Taslim Uddin, MD

Professor
Bangladesh Medical University
VW

Virginia Wilson, MD

Chairperson
Southern African Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
KG

Klemen Grablijevec, MD (he/him/his)

President
European Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Brief Session Description : This interactive workshop explores how physicians can lead the development of multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams, emphasizing the essential yet underutilized role of rehabilitation nursing. Within the framework of WHO’s Rehabilitation 2030 initiative, participants will examine challenges and successful models of physician-led team building in low- and middle-income settings. Through case discussions and group exercises, attendees will identify barriers, define team roles, and design strategies to strengthen collaboration, leadership, and nursing capacity. The session will conclude with participants developing actionable plans to enhance multidisciplinary teamwork and integrate rehabilitation nursing into patient-centered care.

COI
Unless noted below there are none.
Andrew J. Haig, MD – Disclosed academic leadership and federally funded research role

Session Objectives:

1. Explain the physician's leadership role in developing and sustaining multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams. 2. Describe the essential role of rehabilitation nursing in continuous, person-centered rehabilitation care. 3. Identify barriers and facilitators to integrating rehabilitation nursing and multidisciplinary teamwork in LMICs. 4. Apply leadership and capacity-building strategies to strengthen interprofessional collaboration in rehabilitation services.
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