Performing Arts Medicine and OMT with Dr. Yein Lee, DO

What does it take to become the physician that ballet dancers, concert violinists, and opera singers call when their bodies start to fail them? Dr. Yein Lee, DO is the program director of the first ever Performing Arts Medicine Fellowship, and few physicians understand this world better. In this episode she opens up about treating artists as "small muscle athletes," the osteopathic approach that wins their trust, and her own full circle journey from a Korean violinist to a leader in a one of a kind field. Dr. Haroon Andar sits down with Dr. Lee to explore performing arts medicine, one of the most fascinating and underserved niches in PM&R. They get into what a year inside the fellowship actually looks like, from backstage at Texas Ballet Theater to the studios of the UNT College of Music, why osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is so powerful for musicians with functional problems that scans cannot explain, and how physiatrists are uniquely positioned to lead this work. Dr. Lee also shares candid advice for medical students weighing PM&R, the mentors who changed her path, and her vision for a future where artists can find expert care without bouncing between fifteen doctors. 00:00 Introduction to Performing Arts Medicine Fellowship 05:00 Dr. Yen Lee's Journey to Medicine 10:11 The Role of a Physiatrist 15:39 Advice for Aspiring PM&R Physicians 18:52 The Importance of Teamwork in PM&R 29:42 Integrating Osteopathic Manipulation in Practice 37:34 Legacy of the Performing Arts Medicine Fellowship 41:39 Outro About the Guest Dr. Yein Lee, DO is an associate professor at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and program director of the first ever Performing Arts Medicine Fellowship, where she treats dancers and musicians across the DFW area, including Texas Ballet Theater. About the Podcast The NMSK Podcast is brought to you by the American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AOCPMR). Hosted by Dr. Haroon Andar, DO, who is double board-certified in PM&R and Pain Medicine, this podcast brings you conversations with leaders shaping the future of rehabilitation medicine. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss one. If this episode gave you something to think about, drop a comment below. We read every one. Like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who needs to hear this. #PMR #AOCPMR #NMSKPodcast #PerformingArtsMedicine #OsteopathicMedicine