The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee has honored Dr. Andrew Haig, president, International
Rehabilitation Forum, with its 2026 Alumni Impact Award. This prestigious award recognizes
alumni who have generously contributed their time and talents to enrich the lives of others and
strengthen communities through civic, charitable, philanthropic and social welfare efforts.

A 1980 graduate of UWM’s Target M.D. program, Dr. Haig has built a career defined by
perseverance, innovation and service. A globally recognized leader in Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation, he has made groundbreaking contributions to electromyography and back pain
medicine, authored core textbooks in the field and developed clinical approaches now used
worldwide.

Dr. Haig cofounded the International Rehabilitation Forum in 2008 with his brother Tom Haig, a
spinal cord injury survivor, to address the profound lack of rehabilitation services in
lowresource and isolated regions. Under his leadership, IRF has supported the development of
sustainable rehabilitation systems, disaster response efforts, and the launch of the first PM&R
training programs in subSaharan Africa. These programs have helped train locally based
specialists in countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa.

In addition to his global health leadership, Dr. Haig is a dedicated educator and mentor. He
founded fellowship programs at the University of Michigan, has published nearly 200 scientific
papers, and continues to provide compassionate clinical care while mentoring the next
generation of rehabilitation professionals.

The Alumni Impact Award was presented February at a Milwaukee, Wis event and included a
brief video that illustrated Dr. Haig’s lifelong commitment to advancing rehabilitation medicine,
empowering local leadership, and improving quality of life worldwide—values that are at the
very heart of IRF’s mission.