Annual Scientific Session 2026 – Emergency Rehabilitation Committee , ISPRM

Monday, May 18, 2026

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM PT

Location: 301

Ideal Audience:Physicians or Surgeons, Residents, Medical Students

Course Director(s)

Farooq A. Rathore, MD (he/him/his)

Professor
Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences

Speaker(s)

AH

Abderrazak HAJJIOUI, MD, MPM, PhD (he/him/his)

Professor
Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department
Colleen O'Connell, MD (she/her/hers)

Professor and Medical Director
Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine and Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation
AH

Anas Hasan, MBBS

Dr
NHS UK

Moderator(s)

Maria Paul, FRCP(U.K), FAFRM, AFRACMA

Senior Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
SA Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service(SABIRS)

Speaker(s)

Taslim Uddin, MD

Professor
Bangladesh Medical University
Fatema Newaz, MD

Assistant Professor
Kumudini Women's Medical College and Hospital
EW

Eric Weerts, BA, PT

Global Rehabilitation specialist Emergencies
Humanity& Inclusion
Maya S. Newman, MD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
University of California Los Angeles
Alaeldin ElMalik, FAFRM RACP, AFRACMA, MBBS

Senior Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
RMH

Brief Session Description : This two-hour workshop brings together rehabilitation experts from seven regions affected by disasters and conflicts. Through real examples from Morocco, Palestine, Bangladesh, the United States, Ukraine, Sudan, and humanitarian operations worldwide, participants will explore effective emergency rehabilitation responses, long-term system building, and the impact of climate change on persons with disabilities. The session emphasizes practical lessons, interactive discussion, and action planning to help participants strengthen disaster preparedness and rehabilitation systems in their own settings.

COI
Unless noted below there are none.
Colleen O'Connell, MD – Disclosed honoraria and research grant funding (Biogen, Tanabe)

Session Objectives:

1. Describe three practical models for integrating rehabilitation into emergency medical systems and national preparedness frameworks based on global evidence. 2. Identify at least three key barriers and facilitators for providing equitable rehabilitation services during complex crises, including climate-related disasters and armed conflicts. 3. Compare the diverse rehabilitation response strategies and long-term recovery planning efforts utilized across the seven featured global regions. 4. Plan one site-specific, actionable step to implement within their local or national rehabilitation systems to enhance disaster resilience. 5. Relate current WHO Emergency Medical Team guidelines to the practical application of functional assessments and multidisciplinary coordination in early disaster response.
CanMEDS: Medical Expert. Health Advocate. Scholar