Heidi Prather, DO
Heidi Prather, DO, is an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. During her nine years at the School of Medicine, she has developed the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation section. Her practice focuses on diagnosis and conservative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
A graduate of Drury College and the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, she trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Northwestern University. She practiced at Northwestern University before moving to Washington University with her husband, Jeffrey D. Bradley, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
She co-founded, with John P. Metzler, MD, the musculoskeletal fellowship in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She also co-directs, with Devyani M. Hunt, MD, the Women’s Musculoskeletal Health Program and the Program for Performing Arts.
Prather’s national responsibilities include serving as a board member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, North American Spine Society and North American Spine Specialists. In 2006, she was the first woman to serve as president of the Physiatric Association of Spine Sports and Occupational Medicine.
Her current efforts in clinical research include the Hip Research group focusing on hip conditions that predispose people to arthritis and other conditions related to the spine and pelvis. She has more than 40 publications regarding spine, pelvis, hip, osteoporosis and women’s health.
She has received four teaching awards from Washington University, and she was awarded teacher of the year in 1998 at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Nationally, she received the Scott Nadler teaching award. She was recognized by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with the Rosenthal Award for notable innovations and clinical achievement in treatment of low-back pain disorders.