The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) has named Dr. Stephanie Tow one of its 2026 Early PM&R Career Award winners.

The Early PM&R Career Award honors Academy members who have made an impact on the future of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) through distinction in innovation, advocacy, leadership, service, or clinical practice within ten or fewer years in practice.

Dr. Stephanie Tow is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado (CU) PM&R Department and holds appointments in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine and the Orthopedics Institute - Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO). She is quadruple board-certified by the ABPMR in PM&R, Sports Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, and Brain Injury Medicine.

An internationally-recognized leader in Para sports medicine, Dr. Tow completed fellowships in both pediatric rehabilitation medicine and sports medicine to develop expertise in caring for athletes with disabilities. She serves as Head Team Physician and Medical Director for U.S. Paralympics Swimming, where she has led the development of the organization’s medical infrastructure since 2020. She provides year-round medical support for Team USA Para Swimmers, coordinates multidisciplinary care nationwide, recruits and leads traveling medical teams, develops organizational medical policies, and advocates for athlete health/wellness. She has provided medical coverage at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the 2023 and 2025 World Para Swimming World Championships, and many other international and national competitions. Dr. Tow has served as a Paralympics Swimming National Medical Classifier since 2017. She is the Medical Director of the CHCO Adaptive Recreation for Childhood Health program and previously co-founded and directed the UT Southwestern Dallas–Fort Worth Adaptive Sports Coalition. She is a past chair of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine’s Adapted Sports and Recreation Committee.

Passionate about advancing Para sports medicine through education and research, Dr. Tow has served as a co-chair, director, keynote speaker, faculty presenter, and on the program planning committee for numerous national/international programs. She has taught extensively through the AAPM&R, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and other organizations, advocating for greater inclusion of Para sports topics in clinician education. She was a speaker at the inaugural 2025 USOPC Paralympic Sports Medicine International Conference and co-chaired the 2024 and 2026 British Journal of Sports Medicine Live programs on Para sports medicine. Her research collaborations with the USOPC includes projects focused on Para athlete health and the development of concussion assessment tools for Para athlete populations.

At CU School of Medicine, Dr. Tow serves as Anatomy Curriculum Co-Director, COMPASS Guide, PM&R Residency Mentorship Director, and Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine student rotations Site Director. Through these roles, she teaches and mentors learners across all stages of training. In recognition of her dedication to resident scholarship and mentorship, she received the CU PM&R Residency Resident Research Mentor Award in 2026.

Dr. Tow is deeply committed to medical education, mentorship, and national advocacy for the PM&R specialty. She has served numerous leadership roles within AAPM&R since 2014, including positions on the RPC/PHiT Board, Medical Education Committee, Membership Committee, and Board of Governors. As President of the RPC Board, she successfully advocated for the RPC Board to include PM&R fellowship trainees, changing the RPC to the PHiT Board. She has presented at many AAPM&R educational events, including the Resident Retreat, STEP Concussion program, and every Annual Assembly since 2016. She will graduate from the AAPM&R Future Leaders Program this year.

For additional information about AAPM&R’s other 2026 awardees, visit their website.