Dr. Heather Underwood

Dr. Heather Underwood has been a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) for almost 25 years. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (Waterloo) and a Master of Anatomy degree (Queens) and medical school (McMaster), PMR was a natural choice. She attended UBC for residency.

Dr. Underwood has a broad spectrum of experience in PMR. She continues to follow individuals with acquired brain injuries in the community (stroke, traumatic, etc.). She has also worked as an inpatient PMR physician on the spinal cord unit at GF Strong and on consult service at Vancouver General Hospital. Dr. Underwood has a broad PMR practice.

She has worked in numerous outpatient settings and has been the lead physician for the Outpatient Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) Program at GF Strong throughout her career, building on experience while working in the P&O Clinic at Chedoke McMaster Hospital in Hamilton. She assesses patients for orthotic devices, and pre and postoperative amputation care and rehabilitative needs. Currently, her areas of research include amputee outcomes in lower income/substance use populations. She is also involved in the Self-Management for Amputee Rehabilitation using Technology (SMART) program, and a national project involving the development of an amputee database. She is involved in teaching P&O through Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), as part of her role as a Clinical Assistant Professor in UBC’s Department of Medicine, PMR Division.