1958: The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department was opened at St. Mary’s Medical Center by Dr.Walter Trainor. The department began providing physical, occupational and speech therapy services to the community.
1978: Inpatient rehab was moved to a single unit and Dr. Robert Sine formalized the unit as a Rehab Unit.
1980: The Rehab Unit moved to it current location on the fourth floor. The unit featured an adjoining gym so patients can have therapy on the unit.
1982: The Rehab Unit was renovated as a state-of-the-art unit with a dining room, kitchen, updated therapy gym and optimum rehabilitation environment.
1981: St. Mary's started the first Post-Polio Clinic in Northern California.
1982: Dr. Stanley Yarnell joined the medical staff and started the Spinal Cord Injury, Post-Polio Rehab and Stroke Rehab programs. This same year he also began treating ventilator dependent brain injury and spinal cord injury patients on the Rehab Unit.
1992: Dr. Yarnell became the Medical Director of St. Mary's Rehab Unit.
1997: Dr. Marc Wakasa joined the medical staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center and started working on the Rehab Unit.
2003: Dr. Wakasa became and continues to be the Medical Director of the Rehab Unit.
2004: Dr. Wakasa started the Rehabilitation of Complex Patients’ program at St. Mary’s. Sensing the complexity of rehabilitation needs of oncology, transplant and complex medical and surgical patients and the lack of availability of such a program in the Bay Area, Dr. Wakasa decided to start the Rehabilitation of the Complex Patients’ program.
2009: A major renovation of the unit was completed. All private rooms were fitted with amenities including: a pull in sofa, flat screen TV, hardwood floors and new decor.
