San Francisco · Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Stephen G. Szeto, MD

Physiatrist and Stanford Biodesign Innovation Fellow working at the seam of clinical medicine and health technology.

Practicing physician · Published researcher · Medical device & digital health development

About

Clinician first, builder close behind

I'm a physical medicine & rehabilitation physician trained at the University of Toronto, where I completed both my MD and residency, followed by the Biodesign Innovation Fellowship at Stanford — a year spent identifying unmet clinical needs and developing medical technologies to address them.

Today I practice at North East Medical Services in San Francisco, caring for a largely Cantonese-speaking community. My clinical work spans musculoskeletal injuries, ultrasound-guided procedures, spasticity management, and electrodiagnostics — and it keeps my technology work honest: I build and evaluate tools against what actually happens in the exam room.

Focus

Two sides of the same practice

In clinic

Musculoskeletal medicine, ultrasound-guided procedures, spasticity management, and electrodiagnostics — delivered bilingually in English and Cantonese.

In development

Medical device innovation, digital rehabilitation, and healthcare economics — needs-driven development in the Stanford Biodesign tradition.

Research

Published across rehabilitation, digital health, and translational science

950+citations
10+peer-reviewed publications
8h-index

J NEUROENGINEERING & REHABILITATION · 2023 · LEAD AUTHOR

Effect of mobile application types on stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review

A review of 29 studies on how mobile apps support stroke recovery — therapy apps for motor paresis and aphasia, rehab videos, and reminders showed the most promise when designed around the principles of effective face-to-face rehabilitation.

Selected publications

Highlights

Full publication list on Google Scholar →

Beyond the clinic

Off hours

Basketball, fitness training, traveling with my partner, and keeping up with a Shiba Inu who does not respect the concept of a rest day.

Contact

Get in touch

Open to conversations about digital health, medical devices, and rehabilitation technology.