Department of Rehab Medicine History | Icahn School of Medicine

DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES

Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance

The Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1910. As one of the oldest rehabilitation departments in the country, we have consistently pioneered advancements in the field. Over the years, the Department has been at the forefront of rehabilitation medicine, leading the way in clinical care, research, and education. Our commitment to excellence has led to numerous groundbreaking achievements, including being the first designated innovation center in rehabilitation medicine and conducting the first in-human trials for brain-machine interface using a stent in the United States. We have also established ourselves as leaders in specialized care, becoming the only center in New York State to hold both brain injury and spinal cord injury model system designations. It is through this unwavering dedication to innovation, research, and patient care that the Department continues to rank among the top programs in the nation, setting new standards in rehabilitation medicine and human performance optimization.

First inpatient bed allotted to the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, allowing the Director to be a member of the Medical Board.

Expanded rehabilitation facility opens.

The Department establishes its first Amputee Rehabilitation Clinic with the Orthopedics Department.

The Department’s first federally funded research center is created.

Lucy G. Moses Professorship in Rehabilitation Medicine is established, and Kristjan T. Ragnarsson, MD, becomes the first incumbent.

Spinal Cord Damage Clinical Research Center opens with Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association and Bronx VA, and contains the country’s only spinal cord tissue bank.

The Department receives designation and funding as a spinal cord injury model system of care, the only one in New York State at the time.

The Department creates a Bionics Program.

The Rehabilitation Department is ranked No. 14 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report®.

The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 13 nationally for Rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report.

A new rehabilitation inpatient unit opens at Mount Sinai Morningside.

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 1 in New York State by Newsweek.

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DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES

Through the Years