Functioning and Disability
Yan Aquino Da Silva, n/a
Medical Student
Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Marta Imamura, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
Departamento de Medicina Legal, Bioética, Medicina do Trabalho e Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BR.
Sao Paulo / Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Bruna a. Ying, n/a
Medical Student
Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo of São Paulo
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Over a three-month period, students participated in a structured educational program combining theoretical lectures, outpatient follow-up, and hands-on clinical activities within a rehabilitation center. Teaching activities were conducted in small groups, enabling close supervision, active participation, and continuous interaction with patients. This environment fostered curiosity and critical thinking, facilitating deeper understanding of rehabilitation.
Students were integrated into a multidisciplinary team composed of physiatrists, physical, occupational and speech therapists. Through longitudinal follow-up of patients with complex functional impairments, students experienced goal-oriented and function-centered care, emphasizing autonomy and quality of life. One illustrative case involved a young patient who developed paraplegia following a stroke and, despite an unfavorable prognosis, achieved meaningful functional recovery. The patient remained independent in activities of daily living and was able to commute autonomously to work, exemplifying the transformative potential of rehabilitation.
Discussions:
Beyond inspiring narratives, students had access to national experts in physiatry and advanced rehabilitation technologies. At the end of the course, each group delivered an in-depth presentation of a followed case, highlighting clinical evolution, functional outcomes, and rehabilitation strategies. This process strengthened empathy and a holistic understanding of patient care beyond traditional consultation models. Additionally, the course promoted academic development and research engagement, resulting in scholarly articles accepted at international physiatry conferences.
Conclusions:
Early inclusion of Rehabilitation Medicine in undergraduate education broadens medical training beyond disease-centered care, reinforcing interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering a humanistic, function-centered approach aligned with the core principles of rehabilitation practice.
