ISPRM Academic Forum

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Location: 107 & 108

Ideal Audience:Administrators, Physicians, Researchers, Residents/Fellows, Medical Students

Course Director(s)

Francesca Gimigliano, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)

Prof. in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
University of Campania "luigi Vanvitelli"

Speaker(s)

Walter Frontera, MD, PhD, FRCP

Professor
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine MD, PhD
Fary Khan, MD

Rehabilitation Physician
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Heakyung Kim, MD (she/her/hers)

Professor and Chairman
UT Southwestern

Moderator(s)

Jorge MC Lains, MD (he/him/his)

Professor, MD
Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra
Gerold Stucki, MD

Director and Professor
Swiss Paraplegic Research

Brief Session Description : We aim to understand the current global landscape of academic leadership in PRM, identify existing gaps, explore the importance of strong academic leadership for advancing the field of PRM and improving patient outcomes on a global scale, and recognise the roles of various stakeholders in promoting academic leadership and the collaborative efforts needed to effect change. In the subsequent lectures, we will examine the situation in different geographic regions and report on models for the development of academic PRM programs.

Session Objectives:

The primary objective of this session is to address the need to strengthen academic capacity in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) worldwide. This is in light of the resolution on Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems, which urges Member States "to develop strong multidisciplinary rehabilitation skills suitable to the country context, including for all relevant health workers;

• to strengthen capacity for analysis and prognosis of workforce shortages;

• to promote the development of initial and continuous training for professionals and staff working in rehabilitation services;

• and to recognize and respond to different types of rehabilitation needs, such as those related to physical, mental, social, and vocational functioning, including the integration of rehabilitation in the early training of health professionals, so that rehabilitation needs can be identified at all levels of care."
CanMEDS: Medical Expert. Health Advocate. Scholar.