• Physicians
  • By Specialty
  • By Name
  • By Language
• Medical Services
• Primary Care Centers
  • Centerville Health Center
  • Greenwood Health Center (Midvale)
  • Madsen Health Center (SLC)
  • Parkway Health Center (Orem)
  • Redstone Health Center (Park City)
  • Redwood Health Center (South SLC)
  • South Jordan Health Center
  • Sugar House Health Center
  • Stansbury Health Center (Tooele)
  • Urgent Care / After Hours
  • Westridge Health Center (West Valley City)
• Hospitals & Specialty Centers
  • University Hospital & Clinics
  • Cardiovascular Center
  • Clinical Neurosciences Center
  • Huntsman Cancer Hospital
  • Moran Eye Center
  • Rehabilitation Center
  • University Neuropsychiatric Institute
  • University Orthopaedic Center
  • Utah Diabetes Center
  • Other Specialty Centers

About Us

Mission Statement

The core mission of the Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Utah is to provide compassionate, state-of-the-art rehabilitation care to persons with disabling conditions and to continuously improve the quality of life for the disabled person through a dedication to excellence in teaching, research, health care administration, and advocacy.

History of PM & R Division

In 1951 Dr. Chester Swinyard, M.D., Ph.D., was a faculty member in Neuroanatomy at the University of Utah School of Medicine who became interested in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He divided his time between teaching duties at the University of Utah School of Medicine and enrolling in residency training with Dr. Howard Rusk at the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in New York City, between 1951 and 1952. He then developed a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program at the University of Utah at the Salt Lake County Hospital in 1952. He established the Alcoholism Clinic at the University of Utah in 1953 and was instrumental in getting the Utah State Legislature to appropriate revenues from the Miner's Hospital Funds to construct and maintain a Rehabilitation Center as part of the University of Utah Medical Center. In 1952, Dr. Swinyard, along with the help of Clinton Vernon, Attorney General, Reed Bullen, Legislator, and Louise Lake, a polio paraplegic social worker, made a very impressive presentation to the State Legislature which resulted in the funding of the University of Utah Rehabilitation Center as part of the new University Medical Center, which opened July 10, 1965.  Dr. Swinyard left Utah to join the faculty at New York University Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1958.

Dr. James R. Swenson, a graduate of the University of Utah School of Medicine, completed his residency program at New York University under the guidance of Dr. Howard Rusk and Dr. Chester Swinyard in July, 1965. He joined the University of Utah School of Medicine as the first of chairman of the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, an autonomous division reporting directly to the dean.

Dr. Swenson established a medical student training program in 1965 and in 1966, a residency training program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. When the new University of Utah Medical Center was opened in July, 1965, only outpatient and consultative rehabilitation services were provided. An eight bed dedicated inpatient center was opened January 1, 1966. By January, 1967, 20 beds were opened and the unit was expanded to 32 beds several years later. This comprehensive rehabilitation programs provides services on a local, state, and regional basis.

Dr. Swenson served as Chair for 37 years before retiring in 2001. Dr. John Speed, a faculty member in the Division, served as Interim Chair until July 1, 2002 when Dr. Phillip Bryant became the new Chair. Dr. Bryant served as Chair until leaving in August 2005 to pursue other opportunities. Dr. Bryant was a forward thinking program builder and contributed much to the Division during his short time at the University of Utah. Dr. Joseph Webster, faculty member and Residency Program Director is currently serving as Interim Chair.