The mission of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is to provide excellent clinical care, education, and research in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, leading to optimum quality of life for individuals with physical disabilities.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation focuses on restoration of the body and mind after trauma or disease has occurred. In some cases the restoration is ongoing and the goal is to teach the patient how to live and cope with the effects of pain, or lack of function, and lead a full and productive life to the greatest extent possible.

Clinically, restoration and rehabilitation can be accomplished in different ways. Our philosophy is to assess a patient's bio/psycho/social needs and determine which diagnostic and treatment methods will provide the patient with the highest level of functional outcome. The approach is often inter-disciplinary.

Academically, we teach medical students basic treatment and assessment techniques and methods used in rehabilitation, along with advanced knowledge of anatomy. We train residents in the practice of physiatry and the diagnostic art of electromyography (EMG). We also offer a fellowship program to physicians desiring a refined knowledge of EMG and pain management.

Explore this website and meet our department members; learn about our residency/fellowship training programs and its sponsors, Sparrow and McLaren Hospitals; investigate our research projects completed and underway, and observe our COM clinical practices.

This is Mary Free Bed at Sparrow


Sparrow Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital have joined together to create Mary Free Bed at Sparrow, a joint venture providing advanced inpatient rehabilitation care for mid-Michigan patients. The rehabilitation unit at Sparrow includes 40 private patient rooms and two therapy gymnasiums. Enjoy this Grand Opening video, and hear directly from the first patients to benefit from our collaboration.

Mary Free Bed at Sparrow is #1 in Nation in Overall Quality of Care

For three years running (2019, 2020, and 2021), Mary Free Bed at Sparrow has been recognized by the Professional Research Consultants, INC (PRC) as the top performer in the nation in Overall Quality of Care. Our department is thrilled to be partners with Mary Free Bed at Sparrow and look forward to many more years of excellent collaboration, providing top-notch care for the Mid-Michigan community.

Find us on Instagram - @msupmr

Our Residency Officially Submits Application for Osteopathic Recognition

Michigan State PM&R was one of the few, long-standing AOA-affiliated PM&R residencies in the country. In light of the ACGME residency merger, we will continue to pursue “Osteopathic Recognition” to build upon our program’s reputation of furthering the field of osteopathic medicine in the world of physiatry.

Ky Viet Quach appointed as AAPM&R Resident Delegate to AMA

Congrats to Dr. Quach, one of our PGY-3 residents, on this appointment! He will be serving a 2-year term (2021-2022). For more about the AMA House of Delegates, you can visit: https://www.aapmr.org/advocacy/academy-in-action/collaborations/ama-house-of-delegate-state-chapters

Dr. Prokop Honored With Patenge Medal of Public Service Award

prokopDr. Lawrence Prokop was one of four distinguished leaders to have been selected to receive the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s highest honor, The Walter F. Patenge Medal of Public Service Award. A 1980 graduate from the College of Osteopathic Medicine, his 40 years of practice in osteopathic medicine have been split between patient care, medical education, and research. Thank you for your service Dr. Prokop!

Congrats to our residents and attendings whose abstracts were accepted to AANEM, AAP, and AAPMR’s 2020 Conferences!

Please join us in congratulating our program’s contributors to this year’s AANEM, AAP, and AAPMR’s Annual Assemblies:

  • Monica Barnes, D.O.
  • Alexander Carrese, D.O., M.S.
  • Drew Parkhurst, D.O., ATC
  • Frederick Carington, D.O.
  • Stephen Sudekum, D.O.
  • John Tegtmeier, D.O.
  • Michael Andary, M.D., M.S.
  • Harnoor Tokhie, D.O.

“Top Poster”, Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, March 2020

top poster 2020