The 2025 annual conference of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) is just a few weeks away. To prepare you for the AAPM&R 2025 Annual Assembly (AAPMR25), we are featuring a curated selection of exciting sessions scheduled for the event.

Interested attendees can register for AAPMR25. An option for virtual attendance is available, providing access to all plenary sessions, 36 live-streamed symposia sessions, pre-recorded poster presentations, and all recorded educational sessions for up to one year following AAPMR25. Attendance with either the in-person or virtual options includes access to over 100 CME credits.

Physiatrists from around the country gather for this once-a-year event. This year, AAPMR25 is set to run from October 22 through October 25, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The annual assembly is an excellent opportunity for connecting and collaborating with peers, contributing to innovative discussions, and exploring top-tier educational sessions. The latter of which AAPMR25 is packed with.

To help you sort through the many exciting sessions scheduled for the assembly, we are outlining eight sessions you certainly won’t want to miss. The following dates and times are accurate as of October 2, 2025. Consult the AAPMR25 official schedule for the most up-to-date schedule. The following advanced clinical focus sessions are sorted by scheduled start time and date. There are no currently scheduled advanced clinical focus sessions during the first day of the conference (October 22).

Inpatient Advanced Clinical Focus Session: Breaking Barriers: Effective Rehabilitation for Patients with Functional Limitations in the Settings of Obesity

  • Thursday, October 23, 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
  • Description: Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted challenges that patients with extreme obesity and disability face, including the physical, nutritional, psychological, and social barriers to effective rehabilitation. Attendees will learn evidence-based strategies and practical approaches for developing and implementing multidisciplinary rehabilitation protocols tailored specifically for patients with functional limitations and obesity. Attendees will explore the roles of medical and surgical management in reducing chronic conditions associated with disability and obesity.

Inpatient Advanced Clinical Focus Session: Tech and Techniques: The Future of Neurorehabilitation

  • Thursday, October 23, 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
  • Description: Attendees will explore the latest technological advancements and innovative techniques transforming neurorehabilitation. This session features expert-led discussions and demonstrations on cutting-edge tools, neurostimulation methods, robotics, virtual reality, and other emerging therapies designed to enhance patient outcomes. Ideal for inpatient clinicians seeking to advance neurorehabilitation practices through technology-driven solutions.

Pediatric Advanced Clinical Focus Session: Challenging Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Management

  • Thursday, October 23, 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
  • Description: Attendees will identify the variety of inpatient pediatric rehabilitation program structures and how they can influence program development and operation including consults, learn to appreciate the importance of secretion control and how it benefits pediatric patients in the PICU, understand the impact of neurostorming and the evidence for different medications for management, and collaborate with other inpatient pediatric rehabilitation specialists to compare and contrast Functional Neurologic Disorder programs from different institutions and summarize components that are most beneficial for successful program development and implementation.

MSK and Sports Advanced Clinical Focus Session: Is Imaging the New Physical Examination: Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System in the 21st Century

  • Friday, October 24, 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Description: As technology has continued to advance in the 21st Century, there has been a growing concern in musculoskeletal medicine that imaging is replacing a thorough history and physical examination to aid in accurate and timely diagnosis and facilitate timely and correct treatment approaches. This session will explore this notion by bringing together three national level musculoskeletal and sports medicine physiatric specialists to present cases focusing on the utilization of appropriate imaging modalities in addition to the physical examination, if indicated.

Cancer Advanced Clinical Focus Session: CAR T-Cell Therapy – A Physiatrist Guide to Emerging Treatment

  • Friday, October 24, 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
  • Description: Attendees will learn about the background and mechanism of the emerging oncology treatment of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR T-Cell) Therapy, treatment-related medical and functional complications including CRS (Cytokine release syndrome) and ICANS (Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome), and the overall role of physiatry as part of the care for individuals who undergo CAR T-Cell Therapy.

MSK and Sports Advanced Clinical Focus Session: Challenging Return to Play Cases in High Level Athletes

  • Friday, October 24, 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
  • Description: This interactive session will engage the audience in a discussion of complex clinical cases in elite athletes. Each case presentation will begin with introducing the clinical scenario and proceed with a discussion of diagnosis and treatment. Of particular emphasis in this session will be the return to play decision making process and its implications. The expert panel will draw on experience with collegiate and professional athletes to engage the audience in this high-level discussion.

Pain and Spine Advanced Clinical Focus Sessions: Beyond the Break: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Osteoporosis and Fracture Management

  • Saturday, October 25, 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Description: Attendees will gain insights into the spectrum of care, from diagnosis to rehabilitation. Topics will include the medical management of osteoporosis to prevent future fractures, conservative strategies for pain management, and the role of interventional procedures such as kyphoplasty. The session will also address critical decision-making around surgical referral, outlining criteria for when surgical consultation is appropriate versus when non-operative management is preferred. Additionally, a physical therapist will offer practical guidance on post-fracture rehabilitation strategies, focusing on safe mobilization, fall prevention, and functional recovery tailored to this vulnerable population.

Neuro Rehab Advanced Clinical Focus Session: New and Emerging Therapies in DMD, ALS, and SMA

  • Saturday, October 25, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Description: This session will explore emerging therapies for neuromuscular diseases, with a focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy. Presenters will highlight recent advancements in gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotide treatments, and novel pharmacologic agents, as well as breakthroughs in precision medicine. The session will also discuss ongoing clinical trials, challenges in therapeutic delivery, and the evolving role of multidisciplinary care in maximizing outcomes. 

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