• Dorlandâ’sIllustrated Medical Dictionary defines a physiatrist (fizâ-atâ rist) as a physician who specializes in physiatrics.(p1385) Physiatrics”from the Greek, physio (meaning nature) + iatrke (meaning surgery, medicine, or a physician) is that branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases with the aid of physical agents, such as light, heat, cold, water, and electricity, or with mechanical apparatus (ie, physical medicine). (p1385) That definition could probably use some major upgrading.
• The point here is that we are who we are? Market research has shown that we may have only a 2% or 3% market penetration of the name, yet when we explain to people what we do and what we have to offer, over 80% want to see that type of doctor.
• Now, let us return to who we are. We are a diverse group of physicians with a multitude of practice settings. We are a young field, relatively speaking. Our field, as has all of medicine, has shifted from an inpatient-based world to an outpatient world. More of our trainees are pursuing musculoskeletal practices as more opportunities emerge. It still appears, though, that a significant percentage of our members have practices that combine musculoskeletal and neuromuscular practices. Our philosophic approach to PM&R is not inpatient or outpatient centered or only musculoskeletal or neurologic in origin. Many of our patients have disabling conditions with multiple diagnoses. Our specific area of specialization is not as critical to the future of physiatry as is the approach we each take to improving patient ability to function. Regardless of our practice setting differences, we need to always think of ourselves as physiatrists first, and then, oftentimes, with specific areas of interest or specialization.
• Why is it important who we are and what we call ourselves? Most felt that physiatrists are not well known and not networking in the community sufficiently. There was an impression that the physiatrist is an unnecessary layer in the treatment plan and was perceived interchangeability with physical therapists. Patients want, and need, a reason to specifically see a physiatrist for their disabling conditions, be it low back pain or their stroke or spinal cord injury. Anyone can be taught to do an epidural injection. Not everyone can care for a patient by doing an epidural injection as part of a more comprehensive treatment program that may include therapy, exercises, bracing, medication management, psychologic counseling, or referral actually managing the patient. Not everyone can manage the stroke beyond writing refer to therapies and hope that the therapists know what they are doing. We need to give the referring doctors, insurance companies, and patients a reason to refer to us.
• Our specialty is unique in emphasizing improvement of function and improving mobility and activity, not just mentioning it as an additional line on the prescription pad. What makes us unique is the approach we take to patient care. It is managing the patient with a physiatric approach that truly distinguishes us. We need to emphasize to patients and referring physicians, insurance companies, and government payers our uniqueness and that what we do adds value to patient care.
• If we want to exist and flourish as a specialty, we need to provide evidence of our worth. There are fundamental differences between PM&R fellowships in stroke rehabilitation and neurology fellowships and between pain fellowships in PM&R and anesthesia fellowships in pain. One may emphasize where the needle goes; ours emphasizes in whom to put the needle, when to administer it, where to do it, and most importantly what else to do to help the patient.
• If we continue to underemphasize our physiatric training, we will be marginalized in the medical community. We will not be necessary to manage any patients. Neurology or primary care could take over all inpatient rehabilitation of neuromuscular disorders. Orthopedic surgery, emergency department physicians, pediatricians, or any of a number of specialties could be asked to care for all musculoskeletal problems if we do nothing more than they do in managing our patients.
• Calling ourselves physiatrists who specialize in pain management is very different from calling ourselves pain management doctors and hiding from what makes us unique in our approach.
• So, that is who we are, what we are called, and why patients, insurers, referrers, et cetera need to be made aware of what we do and why what we do is unique, but how do we actually increase that awareness? Awareness is much more than our typical thoughts about public relations and marketing. We build our awareness by what we do and what we stand for, more so than marketing a message.
• So what can we do as individuals to improve our own exposure and ultimately awareness of our field? A good start would be to get the word out. Make sure all of your existing patients know that you are a physiatrist, a rehabilitation medicine physician, or whatever name works (remember, it is very unlikely that we will have a new name any time soon), and what it is that we do that is unique. Some of us may need to start by educating our family members a little better. To paraphrase the old commercial for Smith Barney investments, we will need to do it one patient at a time.
• We all need to be physiatrists (or fiz-ee-a-trists) first. We need to emphasize and live our distinguishing features, not just talk about them. We need to walk the proverbial walk. Our actions are always unambiguous. If we can be physiatrists in our actions, our futures, and the quality of care we can provide for our patients, will be great.

The association is formed in 1995 with Professor Quamrul Islam as founder president of the association and Professor Md. Moyeenuzzaman as founder general secretary of the association. Since inception of the association, it has organized many scientific seminar, national and international conference and national convention in every two years. BAPMR has become 35th member of ISPRM in 2003. Website of the association is www.bapmr.org.bd

Though Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is an old specialty in western countries, doctors and medical students in Bangladesh were almost unaware about the existence of such specialty until 20 years back. The department of physical medicine and rehabilitation were present in Dhaka Medical College Hospital since 1969. Professor Md. Quamrul Islam was the only specialist at that time. Patients were getting treatment in that department to a very limited extent. In 1980 the then IPGMR (institute of post graduate Medicine and Research), now BSMMU ( Bangabandhu heikh Mujib Medical University) is running a department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. At present there is full fledged Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department most of the old government colleges and few private medical colleges. Physical medicine and rehabilitation subject has been included in undergraduate medical curriculum. The popularity of physical medine specialty is increasing day by day among doctors. Patients are getting aware about this specialty and the number of patients are increasing tremendously.

Bangladesh College of Physicians and surgeons starts FCPS course in physical medicine and rehabilitation in 1989. Since the about 60 fellows have come out from the college (update July 2011). MD course in physical medicine is running in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Dhaka Medical College. Five years residency program in physical medicine and rehabilitation in Bangabandhu sheikh mujib Medical University has started from January 2009 and Md course has been removed. Detailed information can be obtained from www.bsmmu.org Post graduate training facilities are available in most of the old medical colleges and post graduate institutes.

PMR Department in BSMMU: After the establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Medical University in 1998, Professor Md. Quamrul Islam , popularly known as father of physical medicine in Bangladesh was the first chairman of the department . Since then teaching and training facilities have improved a lot. Skilled human resources have been recruited and electromedical equipment and other facilities have increased. Access to better treatment of patients has been ensured. Departmental seminar and symposium is regularly arrange to update the knowledge in physical medicine

Recent activities and advancement: The department has successfully achieved a grand grant from higher education quality enhancement project of University Grant Commission of Bangladesh after tough competitive review among about 800 competetors of all Universities of Bangladesh. The project titled Enrichment of teaching and training facilities for post graduate students in physical medicine and rehabilitation was submitted by Dr. Md. Shahidur Rahman.

The Complete Project:

Fellows in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Lists

Faculty members of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation:

1. Professor Md. Moyeenuzzaman
2. Professor Shamsun Nahar
3. Dr. Mohd. Taslim Uddin
4. Dr. AKM Salek
5. Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman
6. Dr. Syed Muzaffar Ahmed
7. Dr. Md. Shahidur Rahman
8. Dr. Md. Ahsanullah
9. Dr. Md. Abdus Shakoor.
10. Dr. Mahmudur Rahman
11. Dr. Ali Emran
Profiles of
Publications
Books by fellows
PMR Bulletins.