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photo of Dara Jones, MD, FAAPMR

Dara Jones, MD, FAAPMR

Lerner Children's Pavilion at Hospital for Special Surgery logoPhysiatry, Pediatrics
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About Dr. Jones

Dr. Dara Jones is an Assistant Attending Physiatrist at HSS and Assistant Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. She specializes in rehabilitating pediatric patients with acute and chronic physical impairments. Her areas of interest include cerebral palsy (pediatric and adult), developmental disorders, neuromuscular conditions, muscular dystrophy, acquired and congenital brain disorders, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, and acute musculoskeletal injuries.

Dr. Jones received her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She completed her residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and her fellowship in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Dr. Jones is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Jones believes that the fundamental principle of pediatric rehabilitation medicine is to improve a child’s quality of life and ability to realize their full potential by enhancing function. She utilizes an interdisciplinary team-based approach to prioritize the needs of the child and family, often including physical, occupational and speech therapists, orthotists/prosthetists, and social workers. She offers orthotics, muscle tone management, including botulinum toxin injections and intrathecal baclofen pump management, assistive device and adaptive equipment prescriptions, and therapeutic program referrals.

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Departments

Special Expertise

Cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury
Developmental delays 
Torticollis
Pediatric sports-related injuries
Spasticity/high muscle tone
Gait abnormalities
Toe-walking and in-toeing
Congenital musculoskeletal conditions 
Brachial plexus injury
Pediatric nerve disorders
Neuromuscular disorders
Pediatric stroke
Pediatric spinal cord injury
Spina bifida
Hypotonia/ low muscle tone
Ligamentous laxity
Genetic disorders
Orthotic prescription and management
Botulinum toxin injections
Baclofen pump management

Procedures

Botulinum toxin injections
Alcohol nerve blocks (chemoneurolysis)
Baclofen pump refills and management

Patient Stories

Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Assistant Attending Physiatrist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Professor, Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College

Affiliations

American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
American Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine
Association of Academic Physiatrists

Certification

American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Awards

Intern of the Year, 2015

Education

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, 2013

Internship

Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Elmhurst Hospital, 2015

Residency

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Mount Sinai Hospital, 2018

Fellowship

Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 2020

State Licensure

Languages

English

For My Patients

Publications by Dr. Jones

Patient Education

Selected Journal Articles

Chen Y, Desai M, Jones D. Hemophilia in Children. PM&R Knowledge Now. Oct 2019.

Selected Books/Chapters

Cancel D, Alejandro R, and Jones D. Chapter 47: Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury. In: Blessen E, Cifu DX eds. Brain
Injury Medicine Board Review. 1st ed. Elsevier; 2020.

Selected Presentations

Jones, D. Updates in Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Oral Presentation at Association of Academic Physiatrists and International Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Annual Meeting; March, 2020; Orlando, FL.

Chen Y, Kim H, Kim S, Morice K, Desai M, Jones, D. Ultrasound-Guided Upper/Lower Extremity Nerve Blocks with Alcohol and Botulinum toxin injections to head, neck and paraspinal muscles for Spasticity Management. Oral presentation and hands on workshop at American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Annual Meeting; Nov 2019; San Antonio, TX.

Cancel D, Desai M, Jones D. Ultrasound-guided injections using alcohol and phenol in spasticity management". Oral presentation and hands on workshop at American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting; Oct 2018; Cincinnati, OH.

Research

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

As of July 10, 2023, Dr. Jones reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.

Dr. Jones in the News