About Dr. Rui Zhang
RUI ZHANG, MD, FRCPC, FABPMR, MOT, M.Sc.
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia
Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Board Certified in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Dr. Rui Zhang is double board-certified in the United States in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Pain Medicine. She is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Zhang completed her residency at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Rutgers University–New Jersey Medical School, where she honed her expertise under national leaders in physiatry. During this time, she embraced empathy and patient-centered care as the foundation of her medical practice. Following residency, she pursued advanced training in pain medicine through the ACGME-accredited fellowship at the Anesthesiology Institute of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Since 2017, Dr. Zhang has been practicing as an interventional spine and pain specialist. She holds unrestricted medical licenses in multiple U.S. states and British Columbia, Canada.
In addition to her medical education, Dr. Zhang holds three master’s degrees and completed training as an occupational therapist through the first professional master’s program at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
She has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and was appointed a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2020. Dr. Zhang has also been actively involved with the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society (IPSIS) since 2020, currently serving as a Member-at-Large in the Education Division.
Her dedication to the advancement of the field extends to her role as a board examiner for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR), where she helps shape the next generation of physiatrists.
As a medical expert in physiatry and pain medicine, Dr. Zhang has authored over 100 expert reports and has provided expert testimony in multiple trials before the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Zhang enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. An avid reader, runner, and nature enthusiast, she leads an active lifestyle, practicing yoga, Pilates, weight training, and outdoor activities. Dr. Zhang embodies the principles she teaches, always striving for growth through continuous learning and exploration.