Q&A with Trevor Persaud, DO

Trevor Persaud, DO, joined Brooks Rehabilitation in September 2023 and currently serves as the medical director of the Brain Injury program. Dr. Persaud is also focused on the expansion of outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation services for individuals with brain injuries and, as such, serves as medical director of the Brain Injury Day Treatment program.  

Dr. Persaud received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine–Georgia Campus, Suwanee, Ga. He then completed his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency at Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami, where he served as chief resident and was awarded “Resident of the Year.” After his residency, Persaud completed a fellowship in Brain Injury Rehabilitation Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.  

When did you realize you wanted to become a physician?

During my teenage years, I became interested in the medical field. During summer breaks, I would visit my great uncle in Long Island, NY, where he practiced family medicine and I would shadow him both in the hospital and his outpatient clinic. I admired the strong bond he created with his patients and their families. One could tell that his patients trusted him and took his advice very seriously, which was admirable. During my undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida, I joined the Pre-Med AMSA (American Medical Student Association) club and my passion for medicine grew. My older brother was part of the club as well and he pushed me to get involved and become an active member.   

What drew you to physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), and in particular, brain injuries?  

Prior to my first year of medical school, I had very little knowledge of the PM&R field. Then during my studies, I had a close family member experience a traumatic brain injury and they were admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility and were cared for by a brain injury PM&R physician, known as a physiatrist. At first, I could not tell what specialty the physician practiced. Depending on the day, I thought he was a neurologist, an orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist or a neuropsychologist. I finally built up the courage to ask, as he was very knowledgeable in all those areas, and he informed me he was a physiatrist who specializes in brain injury rehabilitation. I realized how wholesome this field of medicine was and realized there was a great need for doctors to specialize in it. After seeing how cared for my relative was by their rehab team, my interest in PM&R and brain injury peaked.    

What about Brooks made you decide to practice here?

Brooks Rehabilitation is very proud of its comprehensive, continuum of care for patients and that’s the type of physician I strive to be. I admire that I get to be a part of the well-rounded and full spectrum practice. Also, while interviewing at Brooks, I noticed that despite the hospital being fairly large, I still felt a strong bond between the different departments. When meeting different employees, I observed that many have been practicing at Brooks for 20 or more years and moved up in their respective field, which showed me that opportunity for growth was present through experience and career development.   

 You treat patients in our rehabilitation hospital, outpatient clinic and specialized day treatment program. What does it mean to a patient to have a continuum of care available?

Continuity of care means that patients’ progress and journeys do not end after the first setting. Working with a patient from inpatient, to outpatient appointments and in the day treatment program, helps develop a solid relationship between the patient and their rehab team, all while building trust along the way. The entire rehab team and the patient share a common goal during their journey together: to maximize the patient’s functionality and recovery.

It is also very rewarding, not only for the rehab team, but for the patients and their loved ones to see their progress throughout their recovery. Having this care available means that patients do not have to worry about who they can expect support and encouragement from, and when. The Brooks team is here to be a source of strength and advocate for our patients.   

During my training, I would often think about patients after their discharge, hoping that they were connected with the appropriate therapies and outpatient services. Here at Brooks, I am able to practice both inpatient and outpatient medicine and help patients get connected with the Brain Injury Day Treatment Program, Brain Injury Clubhouse, Aphasia Center, Adaptive Sports Program and so much more!