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 Olsezek, 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.
PM&R News
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Creative Teacher Uses Research to Define ‘Anatomy’ of a CurriculumOpens in a new window
Aug 8, 2022Dr. Mike Pascoe was featured in the CU Anschutz Today "Creator in the Classroom" series.Opens in a new window Full story -
Cristina Sarmiento, MD, Selected as Winner of the Gabriella Molnar Pediatric PM&R Research Grant Award
Sep 14, 2022 byCristina Sarmiento, MD, assistant professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was selected as the winner of the Gabriella Molnar Pediatric PM&R Research Grant Award for her project titled: “Growing Pains: A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding the Transition of Care Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy in a Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic."Full story -
Recent News
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Concussion Treatment Is Suffering From the Nocebo EffectOpens in a new window
Nov 2, 2021When it comes to concussion treatment, Dr. Michael Kirkwood, co-director of the Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, tells a cautionary tale. One day, a 15-year-old boy suffered a concussion during a high school soccer game. After a day of rest, the young man returned to school; after a week, he seemed fully recovered. Then, 10 days following the injury, he started feeling tired and suffering headaches.Opens in a new window Full story
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Creative Teacher Uses Research to Define ‘Anatomy’ of a CurriculumOpens in a new window
Aug 8, 2022Dr. Mike Pascoe was featured in the CU Anschutz Today "Creator in the Classroom" series.Opens in a new window Full story -
CU PT faculty represents excellence in education at the Education Leadership Conference
Nov 1, 2021As the American Physical Therapy Association celebrates its centennial, faculty from the physical therapy program demonstrated educational excellence and innovation through providing seven educational sessions and professional presentations at the Education Leadership Conference late October in Atlanta, GA.Full story
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A campus collaboration to improve knowledge translation and implementation of evidence-based practices for rural rehabilitation providers
Oct 11, 2021Instructional designers Michael Lampe and Lisha Bustos from the instructional design service center at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences have paired with Dr. Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley and her team in the RESTORE lab to develop innovative approaches to workforce development, knowledge translation, and implementation of evidence-based rehabilitation practices targeting rural rehabilitation providers of patients with complex care needs.Full story
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Rehabilitation Science PhD students receive foundation scholarships for their professional development and research
Aug 24, 2021Two students, Michelle Rauzi, PT, DPT, ATC and Lauren Hinrichs, PT, DPT, OCS, both Rehabilitation Science PhD students under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley received Promotion of Doctoral Studies I (PODS) scholarships from the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research.Full story
Increasing Awareness of Suicide among Women Veterans: Coming Together to Make a Difference
June 23 & 27, 2022
Consider joining us on 6/23 and 6/27 for a series of events, titled Increasing Awareness of Suicide among Women Veterans: Coming Together to Make a Difference. These events aim to increase knowledge of suicide risk and how it can be addressed among women veterans.
Check out this flyer for these events.
Click here to register. If you have questions, please contact Carly Rohs at carly.rohs@cuanschutz.edu.
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Cristina Sarmiento, MD, Selected as Winner of the Gabriella Molnar Pediatric PM&R Research Grant Award
Sep 14, 2022 byCristina Sarmiento, MD, assistant professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was selected as the winner of the Gabriella Molnar Pediatric PM&R Research Grant Award for her project titled: “Growing Pains: A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding the Transition of Care Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy in a Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic."Full story -
35th Annual Gersten Day
Jun 20, 2022The CU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation celebrated it's 35th Annual Gersten Day Rehabilitation Scientific Symposium. Attendees heard presentations from our outgoing residents as fellows, as well as CU PM&R faculty members Drs. Noel So and Cory Christiansen, and our keynote speaker Colonel Benjamin Kyle Potter, MD, FACS.Full story -
Dr. Lisa Brenner Featured on PTSD Bytes PodcastOpens in a new window
Jun 7, 2022Learn how to know if you or someone you care about is in crisis. Dr. Lisa Brenner describes crisis resources that can help. Visit www.ptsd.va.gov for more information.Opens in a new window Full story -
Andrew Smith, PT, DPT, PhD named a Boettcher Investigators AwardeeOpens in a new window
Jun 1, 2022Opens in a new window Full story
CAMPUS STATUS
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
&
RESOURCES
CU Anschutz is operating a hybrid model of remote and on-campus activity.
Limited return to campus is underway. All that can be done remotely is being done remotely.
On-campus safety and screening protocols are in effect. These protocols apply even to those who have been vaccinated.
Learn More
2022-2023 Grand Rounds Schedule:
| Date | Presenter | Topic |
| Wednesday, September 7, 2022 | Daniel Craig, MD | Management of Acute Neurotrauma |
| Wednesday, October 5, 2022 | Rachel Frank, MD | Joint Preservation with Cartilage Transplantation |
| Wednesday, November 2, 2022 | Colin Franz, MD, PhD | Phrenic Nerve Mononeuropathies |
| Wednesday, December 7, 2022 | Lisa Brenner, PhD, and Andrew Hoisington, PhD | The use of prebiotics or probiotics to improve health - the promise, current reality, and future directions |
| Wednesday, January 4, 2023 | Danielle Melton, MD | Amputee care/Updates in osseointegration |
| Wednesday, February 1, 2023 | Jeffrey Berliner, MD | Updates in Spinal Cord Injury |
| Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | Francesca Konig, MD | Radiation Fibrosis |
| Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | Craig McDonald, MD (University of California, Davis) | Dennis J. Matthews Lectureship |
| Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | Maryam Sohi, MD | ALS Updates in Treatment and Support |
| Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | Vineet Chopra, MD | Mentor/Mentee Relationships and Mentorship Models |
Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m.
Anschutz Medical Campus | Academic Office Building 1 - Room 7000 | 12631 E. 17th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045
Livestream here.
Important Recognition Months and Days
| Date | Recognition |
| March | Brain Injury Awareness Month |
| March | Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month |
| March 8th | International Women's Day |
| March 30th | National Doctors' Day |
| May | National Stroke Awareness Month |
| May 27th | Psychology Day |
| September | National Pain Awareness Month |
| September | National Rehabilitation Awareness Month |
| September | National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month |
| September 4-10 | Suicide Prevention Week |
| September 7th | World Duchenne Awareness Day |
| October | National Physical Therapy Month |
| November 11th | Veteran's Day |
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SOM)
CU Anschutz
Academic Office One
12631 East 17th Avenue
Rm 1201G
Aurora, CO 80045
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