Culture and Language in Rehabilitation: Centering Patient Identity in Equitable Care

Friday, February 20, 2026

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM AST

Location: 201 AB

Course Director(s)

Ivani Proaño, DO, MBS (she/her/hers)

Resident Physician, PGY-3
Rutgers University- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation

Speaker(s)

Sheital Bavishi, DO (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor- Clinical, Residency Program Director, Medical Director Brain Injury Program
The Ohio State University
Thiru M. Annaswamy, MD (he/him/his)

Professor & Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Haris R. Choudry, MD, MPH

PM&R Residency Program Director
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
Chaitanya Konda, DO

Assistant Professor, Director of the Intrathecal Pain Pump Program
UT Southwestern
Grace F. Suttle, MD (she/her/hers)

Brain Injury Consultant
Brown University Health
Audrie A. Chavez, MD (she/her/hers)

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Physician
UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Miguel X. Escalon, MD

Professor
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Ana M. Ortiz-Santiago, MD

Attending Physician
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

Brief Session Description : This session explores how culture and language shape rehabilitation experiences and outcomes across diverse patient populations. We begin with an overview of cultural frameworks—highlighting Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Latino perspectives on disability, healing, and caregiving. The session then shifts to the importance of language-concordant care in neurorehabilitation and pediatric settings, particularly for patients who speak Spanish and other non-English languages. Through real-world cases and interdisciplinary insights, attendees will gain practical strategies to deliver inclusive, identity-aligned care. Emphasis will be placed on in-person interpretation, culturally responsive communication, and institutional practices that support equity in rehabilitation.