History of Physiatry in the Philippines

Military surgeons interested in the field of Rehabilitation Medicine were sent to the United States (US) military hospitals immediately after the Second World War for training in the care of military injuries and disabilities, and formed the nucleus of the specialty in the Philippines during its infancy. Furthermore, impetus in the growth of the field was provided by Dr. Henry Kessler who under the sponsorship of the US Armed Forces, visited the National Orthopedic Hospital and conducted several in-service training for local physicians.

During the mid-50s, young Filipino doctors who became interested in Rehabilitation Medicine as a specialty left for the US for further training. Most of the physicians completed their residency training programs at the Rusk Institute in New York however, only a few physicians returned to the Philippines to practice. In the 1960s, a group of physiatrists and orthopedic surgeons interested in the field organized the Philippine Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, with Dr. Abelardo O. Inocentes as first president. The society then had an active membership of less than twenty. In 1974, the organization’s name was changed to the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM), with Dr. Tyrone M. Reyes as first president.

Four legacy training programs were established, namely the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, and Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Over the years, other training institutions were accredited namely St. Luke’s Medical Center, Ospital ng Makati, and The Medical City.

At present, the academy boasts of more than 500 members. It has continued to work towards the betterment of the specialty and continually moves on in providing a better quality of life at large for the Filipino people.