Dr. Natalie Dean, DO completed training at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA
and after completing residency at UAB; became board-certified in Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation. She is also known as a Physiatrist. When talking about what it means to be a
Physiatrist, Dr. Natalie says “it means working towards improving quality of life, and optimizing
independence and function in activities which matter to the patient and their family”. She
works hand in hand with physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, social
workers and case managers; strategizing ways in which patients can move around more easily
and participate in things that matter to them. This may entail: managing spasticity (a
complication of muscle tightness following strokes, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis) with
botulinum toxin injections; addressing back or joint pain; performing steroid injections;
evaluating numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness by nerve conduction studies; pain
management; and/or bowel and bladder management.

My particular interest in neurologic rehabilitation comes from watching and working alongside
my dad, who is a physical therapist back in northern California. His mom, my grandmother, was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and he was often called for advice whenever something
changed or became more difficult. My dad exemplified compassionate and thoughtful care for
his patients and family, and my Grandfather exemplified how to advocate for my patients. My
mom, a teacher, taught me how to just have some fun every once in a while! And so, here I am
living out a lifelong dream, alongside my husband who is a Neurologist, currently doing a
fellowship in Neuromuscular Medicine (did someone say dream team?), and son named
Nathaniel (affectionately known as Nate, or Naterator) who is keeping us young, yet aging us
fast!