Opening Soon: Call for PhyzTalks

Submit your story for the chance to become a featured presenter at our 2025 Annual Assembly. Styled after TED Talks^®, PhyzTalks are 8-12-minute live presentations that tell a compelling and impactful physiatry-focused story. Top submissions will be invited to present their stories to the PM&R community during #AAPMR25 in-person in Salt Lake City.

New for 2025! PhyzTalks moves to Friday as another fun component of Physiatry Day.

PhyzTalks presenters will share their compelling and inspirational physiatry-focused stories with the PM&R audience. All plenary sessions will be live-streamed and available to registered attendees for future viewing.

General Information and Submission Process

Call for PhyzTalks Deadline: Wednesday, June 18

The top submissions will be invited to present their story live where the winner—chosen by the audience—will receive a FREE registration to our 2026 Annual Assembly, November 11-14 in Orlando, FL.

What is a PhyzTalk?

Styled after TED Talks^®, PhyzTalks are intended to be an 8-12 minute live presentation during which you tell a story that is compelling and impactful to physiatrists.

Do you have an inspiring story to share? An example of your PM&R community coming together? How you and your team are helping each other, your patients or your community? How you are using technology such as telemedicine to support your patients in new, innovative ways? Physiatrists working together for the greater good or any other physiatry-focused accomplishment?  We want to hear about your experiences and give you a chance to share them with your peers—and the 2025 Annual Assembly is the ideal time.

What are some tips for a successful PhyzTalk? 

Some tips for successful TED-style talks include:

• Use a story that is personal. It can sometimes feel like you’re bragging, but sometimes your successes can be both compelling and motivational without it being about boasting. Focus on the message you want to share, what you have learned, and how your experience can impact or move physiatry forward.
• Less is more. You will only have 8-12 minutes, so be clear on your core message. The exact allotted presentation time will be outlined in the finalist notification communication.
• While it may be helpful to use slides or video to augment your story, they can often be a crutch.  Don’t feel you need to use them. Visual aids should support or enhance the story, not be the story.
• Think through the beginning, middle and end of your talk. While some improvisation can be good, it is helpful to know how your story will end.
• There are no restrictions on how you can present your story, so feel free to include a colleague or music. The more unique, the better; just make sure that it connects to a core message.

What should a PhyzTalk not be?

Some examples of what not to do/include:

• A “pitch” of a specific product, service or institution
• Reading PowerPoint slides
• Presentation of a research abstract

Who should submit a PhyzTalk application?

All members (including residents and fellows) are eligible to submit an application describing the story they would like to present. 

This is your opportunity to have a platform to share your story with the specialty. Applicants are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible in the application to help the reviewers in selecting submissions.

What is the selection process of PhyzTalk presenters? 

• Submit an application by June 18, 2025 describing the story you would like to tell.
• Applicants will be notified if they have been selected to present during the PhyzTalks plenary.
• Selected applicants will present their story during our hybrid meeting. Applicants must be available to present live in Salt Lake City.
• The audience will vote on their favorite PhyzTalk at the end of the session, and the winner will be announced.
• All presentations will be recorded and featured on the Academy website post event.
• The winner will earn a free registration to the 2026 Annual Assembly in Orlando, FL.

Questions?

We'd love to hear from you. Please contact assembly@aapmr.org with questions.

Application

To be considered for a PhyzTalk plenary, please apply no later than June 18, 2025.