International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Therapists
MISSION
The mission of the IOMSRT is to strengthen and improve the standard of rehabilitation services to persons living with MS and their families/care partners. The mission will be achieved through education, research, and advancement of clinical practices through evidence-based care.
Welcome to our New Co-CHair
Sarah Donkers, PT, PhD
Patty Bobryk, MHS, PT. MSCS, ATP Sarah Donkers, PT, PhD
Rehabilitation Care
New Patient Guidelines
Rehabilitation Care:
A Guide for People with MS
Mental Healthcare
New Patient Guidelines
Mental Healthcare:
A Guide for People with MS
Physical Therapy Clinician Locator Map
The American Physical Therapy Association has started a service called the clinician Locator Map to provide easier access to appropriate physical therapy for persons with Degenerative Diseases such as MS.
IOMSRT
MEMBER NEWS
2025 ARTY Awardee
Congratulations to Kathleen M. Zackowski, PhD, OTR, MSCS, recipient of the 2025 International Organization of MS Rehabilitation Therapists (IOMSRT) ARTY Award for Best Practices in Rehabilitation in MS, presented at the 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers in Phoenix, Arizona.
In Memoriam Jutta Ruth Hinrichs
Jutta Ruth Hinrichs Obituary Jutta Ruth Hinrichs April 12, 1955 – June 19, 2025 Jutta was born April 12, 1955 in Bremerhaven, Germany, to Werner and Erna Hinrichs. With her parents, she moved to Canada later that year settling in Toronto. She attended Queen’s University from 1974 to 1978, earning a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. Read More
Congratulations to Dr. Deborah Backus
ACRM is proud to present the Coulter Award to — Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRMVice President, Research and InnovationDirector of Crawford Research InstituteDirector of Multiple Sclerosis Research, Shepherd CenterACRM Past President To be named the Coulter Award Lecturer is to be recognized as one whose professional achievements have contributed significantly to the field of rehabilitation, as did Dr. John Stanley Coulter. Join us to honor Dr. Deborah Backus at the awards ceremony during the centennial celebration of the
CME/CE
CME/CE
Managing
Multiple Sclerosis:
A Team Approach
Patients with multiple sclerosis require care from a comprehensive network of providers, spanning neurologists and physical therapists to psychiatrists and speech therapists. “Managing MS: A Team Approach” is a comprehensive CME/CE broadcast series, moderated by Patricia Bobryk, MHS, PT, MSCS, ATP, that provides expert insight on and review of clinical issues faced by patients with MS. Experts in these fields will discuss how to address barriers, apply expert recommendations, and more. As this program is intended to be cumulative, it is recommended that you view all 5 sessions in the series.
HISTORY
In 2001, at the annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), a core group of rehabilitation therapists met to discuss how rehabilitation could have a greater presence at the CMSC annual meeting. The primary objectives of the group were to increase participation, communication, and representation of rehabilitation in the management of persons with MS.
Throughout the remainder of 2001 and the beginning of 2002, a more formal structure was put in place and the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Rehab Therapists (IOMSRT) was born. The IOMSRT was formally accepted by the CMSC Board of Governors as a special interest group of the CMSC and the core group of therapists looked to expand membership.
Since 2001, the group has been successful in increasing participation and representation at the CMSC annual meeting as well as developing an ever-growing network of communication amongst MS rehab professionals. The mission of the IOMSRT was further expanded to include educating and mentoring rehab professionals who have a desire to further their knowledge base in the field of MS.
The IOMSRT has continue to focus on its’ original primary objectives with the overriding goal of expanding the message of the importance of rehabilitation in the management of persons living with MS.
PARTNERS
