Heidi Prather, DO

Physiatry, Sports Medicine, Hip Preservation

Heidi Prather, DO Physiatry, Sports Medicine, Hip Preservation

About Insurance Credentials For My Patients Publications Research Industry Relationships

About Dr. Prather

Dr. Heidi Prather is an Attending Physiatrist at Hospital for Special Surgery. She specializes in sports medicine and the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of spine and hip disorders and conditions.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in biology and chemistry from Drury College, she received her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following medical school, she completed a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Prather has authored many peer-reviewed articles, review articles, and book chapters teaches and lectures nationally on topics related to the sports, spine, and musculoskeletal medicine. Her clinical and research interests include the lifestyle medicine approach to care for musculoskeletal conditions with a special interest in gender differences, pre-arthritic hip disorders and their relationship to pelvic girdle and lumbar spine disorders.

Dr. Prather served as Professor, Vice Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Founder and Division Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri from 1998-2020. Dr. Prather also served as the Outpatient Medical Director of the Joint and Spine Center at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, and Founder of the Living Well Center. Dr. Prather co-founded the Sports Medicine Fellowship in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and served as Co-Director of the NASS recognized Spine and Intervention Fellowship.

Dr. Prather is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. She is also a Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She has been an Oral Board Examiner and Written Board Examination-item writer and self-examination assessment writer for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is a founding Senior Editor for the journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, PM&R. She has served as President of the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation and North American Spine Society.

Profile Video

Departments

Physiatry

Specialized Centers

Lifestyle Medicine Program
Performing Arts Medicine Collaborative
Hip Preservation Service

Procedures

Electrodiagnostic studies
Fluroscopic-guided, peripheral joint and spine injections
Ultrasound-guided joint and soft tissue procedures

Patient Stories

Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Attending Physiatrist, Hospital for Special Surgery

Certification

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Sports Medicine

Awards

American Top Doctors 2001-2020
Best Doctors in America 2001-2020
Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York Metro Area, 2021, 2022
New York Magazine Top Doctors, 2021, 2022
Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Washington University School of Medicine, 2006-2019
PM&R Best Original Research Award, American Foundation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2018
PASSOR Legacy Award Foundation American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2017
Distinguished Career Achievement Alumni Award Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, 2015
Distinguished Member Award American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2014
Clinical Physician Teacher of the Year, Medical Student Class of 2013 Washington University School of Medicine, 2012
Richard W. Brand Award, Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, 2011
Scott Nadler PASSOR Musculoskeletal Research Award, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2010
Distinguished Clinician Award, Outstanding Clinical Physician for 2008, Washington University School of Medicine, 2008
Bernard L. Maas Award, Sinai-Grace Hospital Department of PM&R, Wayne State University, 2007

Education

University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1991

Internship

Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Center, 1992

Residency

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

State Licensure

Languages

English

For My Patients

Directions to The Pavilion

My office is located at The Pavilion, 541 East 71st Street. The main entrance to The Pavilion is on the north side of 71st Street underneath the sky bridge that connects the main hospital to the Belaire Building.

Publications by Dr. Prather

Patient Education

Selected Journal Articles

For all publications, please see the PubMed listing.

Selected Books/Chapters

Prather H, Press JM, Young JL. Physical medicine and rehabilitation and approaches to pain management. In: Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia. Benzon HT, Raja RN, Molloy RE, Borsook D, Molloy RE, Strichartz G (eds) Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, 1999.

Prather H. Pelvis and Hip injuries in the female athlete. In: Women's Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Swedan, N (eds) Aspen Publishers, Maryland, 2001, p. 35-43.

Prather H, Stanos SP, Press JM, Young JL. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Approaches to Pain Management. In: Second Edition of Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia. Benson HT, Raja RN, Molloy RE, Liu SS, Fishman SM. (eds) Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, 2005, 1999, p. 197-202.

Prather H, Metzler J. Gymnastics and Spine Injuries In ( eds) Lennard TA, Crabtree HM. Spine in Sports. Elsevier Mosby, Philadelphia, 2005. pp. 165-184.

Prather H, Skaggs CD. Sacroiliac Joint Rehabilitation and Manipulation In (eds) Slipman C, Simeone F, Derby R. Interventional Spine: an algorithmic approach. Elsevier Ltd.Sacroiliac joint evaluation and treatment. 2006.

Prather H, Hunt D. Sacroiliac Joint Problems. In (eds) Guanch C. Hip and Pelvic Injuries in Sports Medicine. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkens, Philadelphia. 2010. pp. 200-206.

Prather H, Hunt D. Hip Labral Injury. In (eds) Micheo W. Common Problems in Rehabilitation Medicine: Musculoskeletal, Sport and Occupational Medicine. Demos Medical Publishing, New York. 2011. pp. 98-100.

Prather H, Hunt D. Sacroiliac Joint Pain. In (eds) Micheo W. Common Problems in Rehabilitation Medicine: Musculoskeletal, Sport and Occupational Medicine. Demos Medical Publishing, New York. 2011. pp. 197-199.

Prather H, Zierenberg A, Hunt D. In (eds) Berry DJ, Lieberman JR.Barry's Surgery of the Hip. Soft Tissue Pathology: Bursal, Tendon, and Muscle Diseases. Chapter 39. Elsevier Publishing, New York. 2013.

Prather H, Hunt D. Pelvis, Hip and Thigh Injuries and Conditions. In. (eds) Harrast M, Finnoff JT. Sports Medicine: Study Guide and Review for Boards. Musculoskeletal Injuries and Conditions. Chapter 24. Demos Medical Publishing, New York. 2012. pp. 263-275.

Brophy RH, Prather H. Differential Diagnosis of Groin Pain in Athletes. In: Diduch DR and Brunt LM, eds. Sports Hernia and Athletic Pubalgia. New York: Springer, 2014, pp. 23-30.

Prather H, Moley P, Hunt D, Rho M. Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Pain Associated with Femoroacetabular Impingement. In (eds) Herring SA, Concannon L. Sports Medicine Rehabilitation. SpringerLink Publishing. Oct 2014.

Selected Presentations

Proper Non-operative Care – The Final Word 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain Antwerp Belgium October 2019

Hip radiograph findings in young, middle aged and older adults undergoing image guided sacroiliac joint injections for posterior pelvic pain 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain Antwerp Belgium October 2019

Coordinating Care for Spine Patients with Co-Morbidities Annual Assembly of the North American Spine Society Los Angeles, California September 2018

Non-operative Care for Sacroiliac Joint Pain Annual Assembly of the North American Spine Society Los Angeles, Californiaa September 2018

Women in Medicine, Integration in Medical Associations Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting Atlanta, Georgia February 2018

Inflammation and Motor Control As It Relates to Spine Pain Pulling It Together For Clinicians Annual Assembly of the North American Spine Society Orlando, Florida October 2017

The Hip/Spine Connection: Gender Considerations and Management Speaker Annual Assembly of the North American Spine Society Orlando, Florida October 2017

PASSOR Legacy Lecturer Making Progress in Building the Three Legged Stool: Where Our Field is Going Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Denver, Colorado October 2017

Anatomy and Innervation of the Sacroiliac Joint Speaker Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Denver, Colorado October 2017

Is It The Hip? Keynote speaker Patients come first: exploring optimal care The McKenzie Institute International In cooperation with NASS San Francisco, California September 2017

Research

Pre-arthritic hip disorders including femeroacetabular impingement and hip dysplasia
The interrelationship between hip and spine disorders (AKA hip-spine syndrome)
Posterior Pelvic girdle disorders (AKA sacroiliac joint) and their relationship to the hip and spine
Sex & Gender Differences in Sports Injury
The Impact of Lifestyle regarding spine and musculoskeletal health

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

As of January 18, 2021, Dr. Prather reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.