Mission Innovation

Innovation Grants

The Physiatry Foundation would like to empower academic departments and programs to create cultures of innovation and support where residents and faculty members feel inspired to achieve individual and common goals.

These programs recognize initiatives that create or enhance efforts aligned with current priority areas.

Areas of Priority

We invite proposals encompassing a broad interpretation of the following priorities:

Elevating Wellness

This award showcases the creation of a space, program, or activity that enhances resident/ physician satisfaction and happiness. We want to highlight our community's commitment to advancing the science of burnout and propel academic departments to reduce burnout so that their trainees, physicians, and patients thrive.

Based on the outcomes of the Tri-Society (AAP, ABPMR, AAPMR) Wellness Project, we our particularly interested in projects that focus on:

Control over schedule
Optimal integration of physiatry into clinical care
Personal-organizational values alignment
Teamwork
Meaningfulness of physiatrist clinical work
Decreasing intensity of work by providing more support staff, delegation and scheduling time for documentation in the workday
Decreasing the amount and intensity of work during and after work hours and weekends
Creation of formal mentorship, coaching or peer support groups

Innovation in Education

This award showcases an innovative program within a physiatry residency program that facilitates enhanced teaching and learning. This award specifically focuses on the uniqueness of the program and promotes training innovation that drives resident interest, performance and/ or achievement.

While any projects relevant to the education of physiatrists will be considered, we are particularly interested in the following areas:

Innovative approaches in implementing clinical skills evaluations
Strategies to promote lifelong learning
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing education or assessment.

Global Outreach

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Physiatry Foundation recognizes that a highly linked, more diverse community of physiatry innovators and providers is foundational to tackling
health disparities and expanding treatment options. This award aims to recognize and support the creation of or upgrades to existing programs and activities that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within academic physiatry departments and with medical student interest groups. The award showcases the commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Recruitment and retention
Cultural competency training/ lectureship series
Mentorship, leadership, and sponsorship programs
Inclusive curriculum development
Community engagement, support networks, and health equity work.
Research projects that address health disparities and promote DEIJ in physiatry

Award Categories

Champion

This category recognizes and awards institutions that have existing outstanding programs or initiatives. The award (up to $2,500) is intended to be used to make an enhancement.

Emerging Star

This category inspires, drives, and awards institutions creating a brand-new program or initiative. The award (up to $5,000) is intended to help start up the program or initiative.

Guidelines

Please review the Mission Innovation Submission Procedures and Guidelines.

Timeline

Eligibility

Criteria

The selection is made by the Physiatry Foundation Advisory Bureau (FAB) and approved by the Physiatry Foundation Board of Directors. The FAB may choose not to give an award in a particular category(ies). Nominations are rated based on the:

Innovativeness of the program or activity
Alignment with AAP’s mission and program priorities
Potential impact on home institution + individuals
Support from department leaders and others

Members of the FAB are not eligible to receive the award while serving on the Bureau.

Proposal Requirements

A statement from the applicant outlining the proposed initiative and how funds will be used
A statement from the applicant citing the program/activity's potential impact on the institution and individuals and the applicant's involvement in the program or activity development
Up to three letters of support from department leaders and other individuals involved or supporting the program
Appropriate program materials for selection committee review

Mission Accomplished

Congratulations to our 2025 Mission Innovation Winners!

The Physiatry Foundation is proud to fund the following projects — advancing DEI, educational innovation, wellness, and global impact across physiatry institutions, programs, and communities.

Kaile Eison, DO
Columbia University
Reframing Disability Education in Medical School
Through an Arts Informed Approach
Alex Moroz, MD
NYU Langone
Global PM&R Virtual Resident Elective:
A Remote International Learning Experience
Oranicha Jumreornvong, MD
Icahn School of Medicine
Expanding Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Multilingual Procedural Training
to Global Physiatry Learners
Bradford Landry, DO
Zucker School of Medicine
Improving Resident Continuity with a
Longitudinal Patient Navigator/ Advocate Experience
Chloe Slocum, MD
Harvard Medical School
Mentorship, Meaningful Practice, and Making Each Moment Matter:
An Activity Program to Promote Wellness in PM&R
Aaron Yang, MD
Vanderbilt University
Wellness Retreat for Three PM&R Residency Programs
(University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, and Vanderbilt University)