Photo of Dr. Akuthota
Venu Akuthota, MD

Professor, Chair, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
CU Medicine Endowed Chair


University of Colorado

Welcome

We have discovered the next miracle in medicine -- and it is you. The fields of Rehabilitation believe in using your whole body to improve your human performance. The department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado (which we affectionately call "CU PM&R") is at the forefront of using team science, regenerative medicine, and exercise treatments. It is uniquely situated in the state-of-the-art CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the first campus in the nation to be built from the ground up to bring research, education, and patient care into one visionary collaboration. Like the Rocky Mountains that provide a backdrop of our institutions, CU PM&R is on the rise! We combine the disciplines of rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy, psychology, speech/language therapy, and rehabilitation sciences into a singular department. The following video stories reinforce the mission of the department: "Growing the Value of Rehab." 

The stories of CU PM&R are countless, but here are a few. Joyce Oleszek, MD, a pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician at Children's Hospital Colorado, made an emotional appearance on the Dr. Oz Show describing medical miracles. She was part of the CHCO team that rehabilitated severely brain-injured high schoolers to later walk across the stage at his high school graduation. The miracle of rehabilitation was clearly evident in this story. ​

Read more...​

 

Upcoming Events


PM&R News

  • Can improved gut health help veterans with PTSD?Opens in a new window

    Aug 10, 2025
    Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Dr. Lisa Brenner, and Professor of Integrated Physiology Dr. Christopher Lowry were featured in this UCHealth today article. A decade of research suggests that probiotics, which can restore microbial balance in the gut, could also be a key to reducing PTSD symptoms for some veterans.
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • A Career of Care and Character

    Jun 16, 2025 by Zachary Noriega, MPA
    After more than three decades of dedicated service to the University of Colorado Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (CU PM&R), Dr. Michael Blei, Associate Professor, will officially retire on July 1, 2025. His career has been defined by clinical excellence, visionary leadership, and a deep commitment to patient care, education, and mentorship.
    Full story
  • Jacked: Rising Use of Steroids and Other Performance-Enhancing Drugs Carries Risks

    Jun 3, 2025
    Derek Stokes, MD, Assistant Professor and Sports Medicine Physician in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Alice Barnes, PT, DPT, SCS, Associated Faculty member in the Physical Therapy Program, were featured in this CU Anschutz Today article on the rising use of steroids and the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.
    Full story
  • Managing Long COVIDOpens in a new window

    Jun 2, 2025
    Six percent of the population are still feeling the effects of COVID-19 long after infection. William Niehaus, MD, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in this CU Medicine article on how PM&R can help manage long COVID symptoms and support recovery.
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • Angelman Syndrome Clinic in Colorado provides hope to families

    May 15, 2025
    Wendy Pierce, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Practice in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in this Fox21 story on the Angelman Syndrome Clinic at Children's Hospital Colorado.
    Full story
  • Hearing Shapes How Kids Learn and ConnectOpens in a new window

    May 9, 2025
    Kristin Uhler, PhD, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, is researching how an infant’s ability to hear the differences between two speech sounds impacts language outcomes. Her work shines light on how language develops and may inform future interventions to address the challenges children with hearing differences face.
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • The Tactile Traveler | Program #64Opens in a new window

    May 6, 2025
    Amy McDevitt, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in Episode 64 of the The Tactile Traveler podcast on NPR, where she discussed proper standing techniques particularly for blind and low-vision people.
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • Science Supports Exercise as Medicine; Patients With Parkinson’s See Benefits

    May 2, 2025
    Dr. Cory Christiansen, Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and team, were featured in this CU Anschutz article for the SPARX3 randomized clinical trial which seeks to lessen the hold of Parkinson's Disease for patients.
    Full story
  • May 2025 Featured CU Medicine Provider: Dr. William NiehausOpens in a new window

    May 1, 2025
    William "Bill" Niehaus, MD wanted to become a doctor after experiencing his own health challenges in high school. Always interested in science, puzzles and helping people, Dr. Niehaus knew medicine would be in his future. As a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, Dr. Niehaus enjoys helping patients regain pieces of their life they may have lost due to injury or illness.
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • What You Need to Know About Knee Replacement Surgery – and Recovery

    Apr 25, 2025
    Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in this CU Anschutz Today article about knee replacement surgery and recovery.
    Full story
  • Cervicogenic Headache: Bad Referral or Appropriate for Your Spine Clinic?

    Apr 14, 2025
    Drs. Jason Friedrich and Kristina Barber discuss their recent SpineLine article, "Cervicogenic Headache: Bad Referral or Appropriate For Your Spine Clinic?' with moderator Jayesh Vallabh of the North American Spine Society podcast.
    Full story
  • HOPE Clinic Launches to Address Complex Cancer Pain

    Apr 4, 2025 by Zachary Noriega, MPA
    Last Friday, March 28, 2025, marked the official launch of the HOPE (Holistic Oncology Pain Evaluation) Clinic, a multidisciplinary complex cancer pain clinic. This initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Franchesca König, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and team, has been in development for the past 1.5 years and is now ready to provide much-needed support to patients struggling with cancer-related pain.
    Full story
  • Get to Know: Dr. David Gallacher

    Mar 17, 2025 by Zachary Noriega, MPA
    CU PM&R spotlights our incoming Chief Resident Dr. David Gallacher. Learn more about his journey to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, time within our residency program, and goals as Chief Resident.
    Full story
  • How Specific Are LDs? One Thing Leads to Another!

    Feb 27, 2025
    Dr. Robin Peterson, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in the Educational Diagnosticians podcast. She is one of the authors of "Diagnosing Learning Disorders: From Science to Practice." This group of researchers proposed a Multi-Deficit Model of learning disabilities, and their research influenced the way we think about Dyslexia.
    Full story
  • Get to Know: Dr. Emma Drenth

    Mar 13, 2025 by Zachary Noriega, MPA
    CU PM&R spotlights our incoming Chief Resident Dr. Emma Drenth. Learn more about her journey to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, time within our residency program, and goals as Chief Resident.
    Full story
  • Let’s Talk about Transition: Experiences of Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers‌

    Mar 10, 2025
    Dr. Cristina Sarmiento, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in the Complex Care Journal Club Podcast, where she discusses a qualitative study exploring experiences of young adults with cerebral palsy and their caregivers with transition to adult care. She describes the major barriers and facilitators to transition, challenges and opportunities related to conducting the study, implications for practice, and next steps from this work.
    Full story

Recent News

HOPE Clinic Launches to Address Complex Cancer Pain

Photo of HOPE Clinic practitioners standing outside the front door.
Last Friday, March 28, 2025, marked the official launch of the HOPE (Holistic Oncology Pain Evaluation) Clinic, a multidisciplinary complex cancer pain clinic. This initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Franchesca König, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and team, has been in development for the past 1.5 years and is now ready to provide much-needed support to patients struggling with cancer-related pain.

Let’s Talk about Transition: Experiences of Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers‌

Photo of Dr. Sarmiento
Dr. Cristina Sarmiento, Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was featured in the Complex Care Journal Club Podcast, where she discusses a qualitative study exploring experiences of young adults with cerebral palsy and their caregivers with transition to adult care. She describes the major barriers and facilitators to transition, challenges and opportunities related to conducting the study, implications for practice, and next steps from this work.

2024-2025 Grand Rounds Schedule:

 

 Date Presenter Topic
Wednesday, September 4, 2024Brian Johnson, PhD, JD, MTWhy Should I Come Here?: The State of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Wednesday, October 2, 2024Vik Bebarta, MDVeteran Mental Health Research
Wednesday, November 13, 2024Richard Weir, PhD
Neural interfaces, Prostheses. Big Contributor to the DekaArm
Wednesday, December 4, 2024Micol Rothman, MDBone Health and Sex Steroids in athletes
Wednesday, January 8, 2025Candy Tefertiller, PT, DPT, PhD, NCSLocomotor Training in Spinal Cord Injury
Wednesday, February 5, 2025Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhDExercise as a Biological Medicine in Knee Osteoarthritis’
Wednesday, March 5, 2025Daniel Corcos, PhDExercise in Parkinson’s Disease
Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Janna Friedly, MD, MPH

9th Annual Dennis J. Matthews Lectureship
Wednesday, May 7, 2025Andrew Smith, PT, DPT, PhD/Jeff Berliner, DOShockwaves of Progress: Electrifying Breakthroughs in Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
Wednesday, June 4, 2025Dianna Quan, MDUpdates in Amyloidosis

Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m.

Anschutz Medical Campus | Academic Office Building 1 - Room 7000 | 12631 E. 17th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045. In-person attendance encouraged.

Livestream here.

Important Recognition Months and Days

 

 Date Recognition
MarchBrain Injury Awareness Month
MarchCerebral Palsy Awareness Month
March 8thInternational Women's Day
March 30thNational Doctors' Day
MayNational Stroke Awareness Month
May 27thPsychology Day
SeptemberNational Pain Awareness Month
SeptemberNational Rehabilitation Awareness Month
SeptemberNational Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month
September 4-10Suicide Prevention Week
September 7thWorld Duchenne Awareness Day
OctoberNational Physical Therapy Month
November 11thVeteran's Day

 

 

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