In-Person in Orlando!

Join us this November as we unite the specialty and highlight the power of "Our Unique Impact!" This year's theme underscores the strength of our specialty when we collaborate, contribute and lift one another up.

Participate in the best-of-the-best PM&R education, enjoy valuable networking experiences with your peers and discover top-notch physiatric research. You won't want to miss all the excitement and new activities in store as we meet in-person in Orlando! Join your PM&R community for four days of learning, camaraderie and fun at physiatry's premier event.

From rising leaders to seasoned experts, #AAPMR26 features thought-provoking education designed for everyone.

Your In-Person Experience Includes:

All in-person and virtual sessions (90+) — Recorded and available to all registered attendees following the Assembly for one year, with the opportunity to earn more than 117 CME.
Next STEP Interventional Ultrasound Course: Hands-on PMR Applications (November 10 - 11 — available as a stand-alone course or as part of the complete STEP Ultrasound Certificate Program).
STEP 2 Live Course—Interventional Spasticity Management Applications (November 10 - 11)
New Pre-conference Courses! Cancer Rehabilitation: Case-Based Training for Every Physiatrist and Advances in Pediatric Rehabilitation: Innovation, Collaboration and Education
A Fan Favorite Returns! Advanced Clinical Focus Days — We are bringing advanced, targeted content directly to you for full day symposia in the clinical areas that are relevant to you. Choose from these clinical areas: pain and spine, pediatrics, cancer rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, musculoskeletal and neurorehabilitation. All content will be live-streamed.
PM&R Party — Close out Physiatry Day with an exciting adventure at select areas within Universal Islands of Adventure. All night long, you'll have unlimited access to some of the most amazing theme park rides and attractions in Orlando because we've reserved reserved select areas within Universal Islands of Adventure theme park just for you!
The Learning Center (located in the Exhibit Hall) is your destination for highly interactive, hands-on demonstrations. Leading experts will give you exposure to new technologies available in different clinical areas. It's open throughout the Assembly and is included in your registration.
Hands-on Skills Labs offer a blend of didactic and hands-on learning. Choose from 12 interactive sessions, on topics covering adaptive sports medicine, orthobiologics, spasticity and interventional ultrasound applications. (Additional fees apply).
AAPM&R's Job & Fellowship Fair — The largest PM&R-specific career fair. Interact with representatives from 100+ institutions and practices across the country to learn about their open PM&R opportunities, connect with other job seekers and share advice and stories about what makes PM&R such a great specialty. (Wednesday, November 11 from 5:15 - 7:30 pm).
PHiT Fest including the ever-popular Pub Trivia, Resident Town Hall and Happy Hour.
Interactive Exhibit Hall featuring the Learning Center/Career Corner, Research Hub and Exhibits, with dedicated morning and lunchtime hours for even more learning, and all-day coffee and snacks in the Cafe. Plus, we will have some great activities including a professional headshot booth, dog park, resident and medical student experiences and a new PM&R Pitch Tank session where participants will be pitching their innovative ideas to specialty leaders.

Virtual Attendance Option

#AAPMR26 is more inclusive than ever with a virtual attendance option so that all physiatrists have the opportunity to take part in physiatry's biggest event of the year.

Our virtual program offers the flexibility to participate from anywhere, anytime. Virtual attendees will enjoy 24/7 access to all the great education that the Assembly is known for—online from their home or office. All sessions will be available on-demand for one year to registered attendees, with the opportunity to earn more than 117 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Your Virtual Experience Includes:

Live-streamed plenary sessions: Join your colleagues in attendance in Orlando during three exciting plenary sessions, including your PM&R peers who will be presenting their PhyzTalks on Friday as part of Physiatry Day.
Clinical and practice symposia: Enjoy 90+ symposia, including 36 live-streamed, across various themes so you can customize your educational experience with what's most important to you. All in-person symposia will be recorded and available on-demand after the presentation for up to one year, with the opportunity to earn more than 117 CME.
A Fan Favorite Returns! Advanced Clinical Focus Days: We are bringing advanced, targeted content directly to you for full day symposia in the clinical areas that are relevant to you. Choose from these clinical areas: pain and spine, pediatrics, cancer rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, musculoskeletal and neurorehabilitation. Can't join us in Orlando; all of this content will be live-streamed.
Research Hub with Poster Wall including pre-recorded presentations.

Registration Fees

Pre-Conference Courses (In-Person Attendance Only)

Extras (In-Person Attendance Only)

Skills Labs

PM&R Party: Select Areas within Universal Islands of Adventure

Friday, November 13

*Limit 6 tickets per person

Foundation for PM&R 5K Run/Walk & Roll

Friday, November 13

Check Out Who's Taking the Stage at #AAPMR26

Prepare to be inspired and enlightened by our lineup of esteemed keynote speakers. We are pleased to welcome our incredible plenary speakers joining us in Orlando!

Opening Plenary and Presidential Address | John Cianca, MD, FAAPMR and Robert M. Wachter, MD

Thursday, November 12 | 11:15 AM – 12:45 PM (ET)

A Bold Vision for Healthcare's AI Revolution

From coining the term "hospitalist" to authoring the landmark book on healthcare digitization (The Digital Doctor), Dr. Robert Wachter has consistently defined healthcare's future frontiers. As chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Wachter now turns his visionary perspective to artificial intelligence's sweeping transformation of healthcare. In his eagerly anticipated book, A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare – and What That Means for Our Future (Portfolio/Penguin), Wachter reveals how AI is already matching—and sometimes surpassing—physicians in critical areas from diagnostic accuracy to patient empathy. As this revolutionary technology rapidly integrates into clinical settings—scribing notes, recommending treatments, interpreting medical imaging, and enhancing surgical procedures—it brings both extraordinary promise and significant concerns about hallucinations, bias, and misinformation. Yet Wachter makes a compelling case: in a healthcare system struggling with quality gaps, access barriers, clinician burnout, and unsustainable costs, AI doesn't need to be perfect to be transformative—it simply needs to outperform our current approaches. With clear-eyed optimism, he argues that AI will indeed revolutionize healthcare if we navigate the implementation challenges thoughtfully. Wachter's captivating talks and interviews offer healthcare leaders, organizations, and clinicians practical, actionable insights for embracing this technological revolution that's reshaping our large and most essential industry.

58th Walter J. Zeiter Lecture and Awards Presentation and PhyzTalks

Friday, November 13 | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM (ET)

PhyzTalks continues on Friday as another fun component of Physiatry Day. Hear our PhyzTalks finalists who will share their compelling and inspirational physiatry-focused stories with the PM&R membership community. Immediately following the Academy's recognition of AAPM&R and the Foundation for PM&R Award winners, our vice president, Atul T. Patel, MD, MHSA, FAAPMR, will introduce our 2026 PhyzTalks speakers.

Closing Plenary | Ryan Dunlap

Saturday, November 14 | 1:30 – 2:45 PM (ET)

Leadership Under Pressure

Leadership Under Pressure is a practical and thought-provoking keynote that equips leaders to remain composed, clear, and credible when the stakes are high. Drawing from real-world experience in negotiation, leadership, and conflict strategy, this session helps leaders understand how pressure impacts performance, communication, and decision-making—and how to respond with intention. Attendees will walk away with actionable tools to navigate high-pressure moments with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose.

All plenary sessions will be live-streamed and available to registered attendees for future viewing.

Cancellation and Change Policy

All cancellations for the Annual Assembly and pre-conference courses must be submitted in writing via email to registration@aapmr.org or via mail postmarked by October 13 to the address below. Cancellations submitted before October 13 will receive a refund of all fees paid, minus a $150 processing fee, and processed 7-14 days after notification is received. Cancellations submitted after October 13, or over the phone, will not be accepted.

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Attention: Customer Service, AA2026
9700 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 200
Rosemont, IL 60018

If you have questions, or need to make changes to your registration, contact Member Services at (847) 737-6000.

View Plenary Sessions View Full Schedule