Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), also referred to as Physiatry (pronounced fizzy-at'-tree), treats patients who have experienced traumatic injury, disabling diseases or following surgery, to regain control of their lives by restoring function. Treatment is aggressive, nonsurgical management of the body's musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Some areas of PM&R include rehabilitation for: Musculoskeletal, Sports Medicine, Spine (neck and backp pain), Spinal Cord injury, Brain Injury and Paediatric and Spasticity Management.

Dr. Paula Dawson is researching the efficacy of interventional (fluoroscopic) treament for back and neck pain, using X-ray guidance to inject areas of the spine that cause pain, e.g. Herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylosis.

She is also pioneering the use of neurolytic medications: (Phenol and Botulinum toxin type A) in the treatment of spasticity (disabling muscle stiffness) in adults with neurological diseases including brain injury, spinal cord injury and children with cerebral palsy.