CU PM&R is excited to introduce our new Chief Residents! Today, we are spotlighting incoming Chief Resident Colin Malaska, MD.

What made you want to pursue a career in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation?
I was drawn to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation for its humanistic foundation in individualized care and its ability to address complex conditions with creative and comprehensive solutions. The breadth of clinical skills required in physiatry, coupled with its interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse patient populations, continues to shape and inspire my development as a clinician. PM&R allows me to build meaningful relationships with patients and their loved ones while integrating cutting-edge diagnostic, procedural, and rehabilitative skills to help them return to the activities that matter most to them. 

What made you want to choose CU PM&R for residency?
What sets CU apart from other PM&R programs is its ability to provide world-class educational and procedural training across multiple diverse clinical settings, while maintaining an uplifting culture of collaboration and congeniality. Even as a medical student, I felt the welcoming nature of the residents and faculty from their genuine enthusiasm for mentorship and education. I knew that training at CU meant developing the skills and versatility to succeed in any clinical setting or subspecialty in physiatry, coupled with guidance and support along the way.

How would you describe your time as a resident at CU PM&R so far?
As a resident at CU, I feel valued in both clinical and academic settings. From an early stage, I felt deeply involved in leading the complex care of our rehab patients. The approachability of our faculty is also exceptional, creating a healthy learning environment for education and curiosity. Overall, CU’s culture of active learning and graded autonomy has accelerated my clinical growth and equipped me with the confidence and skills to succeed in my early career.

What are your goals as our new Chief Resident? What skills do you hope to develop as Chief?
As chief of clinical affairs, I am interested in continuing to develop our advanced elective opportunities to better prepare residents for independent practice and subspecialty training. Other goals include expanding our department’s quality improvement research and education, solidifying our alumni network for early career mentorship, and partnering with adjacent specialty programs to enhance multidisciplinary research opportunities. I look forward to developing my leadership skills in communication, advocacy, and thoughtful problem-solving while gaining a deeper understanding of the operational aspects of residency training.

What are your goals after you complete residency at CU?
After residency, I plan to pursue subspecialty fellowship training in Pain Medicine. I am particularly interested in combining this procedural expertise with the comprehensive and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care that I developed during my PM&R residency. Long-term, I hope to remain involved in medical education, quality improvement, and innovation while contributing to advancements in pain management and improving patient access to high-quality care.

Anything else you would like to share?
I am grateful to be part of the CU PM&R community and am especially thankful for the guidance and support from our former chiefs. I look forward to working alongside my good friends, Jeff and John, to continue to strengthen an already exceptional training environment.