Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Franklin Caldera, D.O., M.B.A

Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Vice Chair for Inclusion, Diversion & Equity

Dr. Franklin Caldera is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the inaugural Vice Chair for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is also the Chief Medical Officer of the Penn Institute of Rehabilitation and Associate Residency Director for Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has been Diversity Search advisor for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation since 2017. He is responsible for the departments goal of sustaining a diverse, inclusive and antiracist culture that ensures equitable treatment of patient and all members of the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Caldera has helped develop a diversity and inclusion task force within Department of Physical Medicine and rehabilitation. The mission of the task force is to identify areas of departmental growth in diversity and inclusion among faculty, housestaff, the patients we care for and the community we serve. The task force vision is for the department to have a fair, equitable, and transparent process of faculty recruitment, retention, promotion and mentorship. We also envision a fair and equitable process of professional development and mentorship.

We aspire for a department that encourages the open discussion of sensitive topics surrounding race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity without fear of retribution. The aim is to maximize compassionate care of our patients and minimize health disparities through research and community engagement. In pursuit of our vision we recognize that we will not just promote the well-being of a select group of individuals, we will also benefit our entire department, our entire health system and the community that we serve. We have established subcommittees to help reach these goals.