Robert Rinaldi, M.D.

Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring
Neuromuscular Diseases

Biography

Robert Rinaldi, M.D., is a Professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in pediatric rehabilitation medicine.

Dr. Rinaldi earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He completed a residency in pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospital, followed by a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2016.

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Rinaldi is the Director of the Pediatric Rehabilitation Fellowship, Co-Founder of the Adaptive Sports Coalition, and a member of the General Medical Education Program Director Committee.

In addition, Dr. Rinaldi is the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Health, Medical Director of the Children’s Health Specialty Center in Cityville, and a member of the Children’s Health Neurosciences Leadership Committee. His clinical interests include rehabilitation management of neuromuscular diseases, rehabilitation management of peripheral nerve injuries, and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring.

Nationally, Dr. Rinaldi is Co-Chair of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Pediatric Practice Area Committee and a member of the organization’s BOLD Steering Committee. He also serves on the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Centers of Excellence Treatment Guideline Curation & Development Workgroup and is an ad hoc reviewer for the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine.

He has lectured widely and published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to his areas of clinical and research expertise. His research focuses primarily on rehabilitation management of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries. His recent publications include the Handbook of Pediatric Rehabilitation, of which he is co-editor.

Dr. Rinaldi has been named among the Best Doctors in America since 2009, and among Texas Monthly Magazine’s Top Doctors since 2017.

Education & Training

Medical School - University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (1987-1991)
Residency - Children's Mercy Hospital (1991-1994), Pediatrics
Residency - University of Kansas Medical Center (1994-1997), Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Professional Associations & Affiliations

American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Association of Academic Physiatrists

Honors & Awards

Top Doctors in Texas 2017-2021, Texas Monthly Magazine
Best Doctors in America 2009-2021, Best Doctors in America
Kansas City Super Doctors 2009-2015, Kansas City Magazine
Mercy Golden Apple Mentor Award 2011, Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics
Faculty Excellence Award 2009, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kansas School of Medicine

Books & Publications

Books
- Evaluation and Rehabilitation Management of Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders in Pediatric Rehabilitation Principles and Practice, 6th Edition
  Rinaldi RJ, Skalsky A, Chaviano KN (2020), New York, NY, Springer Publishing
- Pediatric Rehabilitation: An Overview of Problems and Outcomes in Principles of Rehabilitation Medicine: Board Review Companion Handbook
  Rinaldi RJ, and Srinivasan R (2020), New York, NY, McGraw-Hill
- Pediatric Rehabilitation: An Overview of Problems and Outcomes in Principles of Rehabilitation Medicine
  Rinaldi RJ, and DiChiaro M (2018), New York, NY, McGraw-Hill
- Assessment and Management of Sports Concussion in Rehabilitation after Traumatic Brain Injury
  Rinaldi RJ, Bell KB, and Didehbani N (2018), Amsterdam, Netherlands, Elsevier Publishing
- Neonatal Brachial Plexus Injury in AAPMR KnowledgeNow e-publication
  Rinaldi RJ (2011)
- Cerebral Palsy in AAPMR KnowledgeNow e-publication
  Rinaldi RJ (2011)
- Osteoid Osteoma in Common Problems in Rehabilitation Medicine: Pediatrics
  Rinaldi RJ (2010), Demos Medical Publishing
- Klippel-Feil Syndrome in Common Problems in Rehabilitation Medicine: Pediatrics
  Rinaldi RJ (2010), Demos Medical Publishing
Publications
- Factors related to the psychosocial functioning of youth with neonatal brachial plexus injuries.
  Mentrikoski JM, Duncan CL, Melanson A, Louden E, Allgier A, Michaud L, Rinaldi R Journal of pediatric psychology 2015 Apr 40 3 285-96
- Inherited polyneuropathies.
  Rinaldi R, Patel A PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation 2013 May 5 5 Suppl S63-73
- Hypothermia-induced peripheral polyneuropathy after an episode of drowning.
  Collier T, Patel A, Rinaldi R PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation 2012 Mar 4 3 230-3
- Improvement in survival and muscle function in an mdx/utrn(-/-) double mutant mouse using a human retinal dystrophin transgene.
  Gaedigk R, Law DJ, Fitzgerald-Gustafson KM, McNulty SG, Nsumu NN, Modrcin AC, Rinaldi RJ, Pinson D, Fowler SC, Bilgen M, Burns J, Hauschka SD, White RA Neuromuscular disorders : NMD 2006 Mar 16 3 192-203
- ERG phenotype of a dystrophin mutation in heterozygous female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
  Fitzgerald KM, Cibis GW, Gettel AH, Rinaldi R, Harris DJ, White RA Journal of medical genetics 1999 Apr 36 4 316-22

Research

Rehabilitation management of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries

Clinical Focus

Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring
Neuromuscular Diseases
Peripheral nerve injuries

New Patient Appointment