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Nurturing Philippine American physiatry community through our eight pillars

Education, Mentorship, Global Health, Research, Collaboration, Community Outreach, Creativity and Family

Welcome

Hello and kamusta to you all. Welcome to the official website of the Philippine American Physiatrist Association (PAPA). We are thrilled to have you here. Here at PAPA, we are more than just a professional organization. We are a 501c3 organization made up of a community of physiatrists, united by the common goal of embodying the bayanihan spirit to nurture the Philippine American community through the field of physiatry. Explore our site, read more about who we are and our initiatives.

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Physiatry

Physical medicine and rehabilitation is the medical specialty that restores function. As physicians of this specialty, we are physiatrists.

Projects

We promote engagement with our community through global partnership, outreach and collaboration.

PAPA mission in the Philippines.
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The PAPA Times

This is our editorial. A safe space for our family and allies, where we weave threads of wisdom and curiosity to educate, promote and reflect.

Philippine American Physiatrist Association
Philippine American Physiatrist Association2 days ago
PAPA mourns the passing of Dr. Honorio Torres Dispo, one of the pioneering founding members of our organization and a respected leader in the field of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Born in the Philippines, Dr. Dispo earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Santo Tomas before immigrating to the United States in 1974 with his beloved wife, Helen, and their three young children — Karen, Francis, and Diane — in pursuit of greater opportunities and a brighter future.

He later completed his specialty training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Albany Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Dispo remained deeply committed to patient care, mentorship, and service. He held leadership roles at Glens Falls Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center (CVPH), continuing to serve patients and the PM&R community until his retirement in 2021.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Dispo also served honorably in the United States Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel — one of the accomplishments he held most proudly.

As one of PAPA’s founding members, Dr. Dispo helped shape the Filipino-American physiatry community and laid part of the foundation for the organization we know today. In honor of his lasting legacy and dedication to future generations, a memorial scholarship will be established through PAPA to support aspiring Filipino physiatrists.

Above all, Dr. Dispo will be remembered for his kindness, humility, leadership, and unwavering dedication to his family, patients, colleagues, and community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Dispo family and all who were touched by his life.

May he rest in eternal peace.
Philippine American Physiatrist Association
Philippine American Physiatrist Association3 days ago
Check out some highlights from our recent Research Masterclass Session!

As a member of our PAPA research committee, you get to participate in workshops where we give advice and guidance on how to conduct research! 🔬

@thankyoulaur and @gal.yson are working diligently to make sure our research team is able to produce high quality, significant research!

If you’re interested in joining our team, send us a message!

#physiatry #pmr #physicalmedicineandrehabilitation #physicalmedicine #aapmr