Hurvitz tapped to chair Department of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation

The Medical School has announced the appointment of Dr. Edward A. Hurvitz, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, as chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), pending approval by the Board of Regents.

(Photo by Scott Galvin, U-M Photo Services)

"We are fortunate to have someone of Dr. Hurvitz's caliber to head the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation," says Dr. James O. Woolliscroft, interim dean of the Medical School. "Dr. Hurvitz is committed to the department's mission of providing the finest in clinical care to our patients while advancing physiatric rehabilitation, research and education."

Hurvitz joined the faculty in 1988 with a focus on pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation services. His clinical interests include pediatric onset disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, neuro-musculoskeletal problems, and electrodiagnosis. In the research arena, Hurvitz works to improve the treatment of spasticity, stroke and traumatic injuries in the pediatric population. He has been principal investigator or co-director of a number of research grants and training grants including one from the National Institutes of Health for $1.3 million that was awarded in May. He also is the PM&R director of pediatric rehabilitation research.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to lead one of the nation's first and greatest academic departments of physical medicine and rehabilitation," says Hurvitz. "Our goal is to be the place to turn for answering the clinical and scientific questions relating to functional performance, pain and disability."

In addition to his many hours in clinic at the U-M Health System, Hurvitz provides consulting services to school systems in three Michigan counties and to pediatric rehabilitation programs in Kenya. He is a member of the Children's Motor Study Group and the Pediatric Hypertonia Task Force. He has had leadership roles in the Pediatric Interest Group of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Hurvitz is a recipient of his department's Silver Crutch Excellence in Teaching Award. He has been his department's director of medical education since 2001.

He is active in numerous professional societies and is the author of more than 85 articles and abstracts, and seven book chapters.

Hurvitz received his medical degree in 1984 from the Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed two fellowships at U-M.

His appointment is effective Sept. 1.