About
Dr. Obada Obaisi, MD, FAAPMR, DipABLM, CLT-LANA is a cancer rehabilitation and lifestyle medicine physician serving Chicago, IL. He helps cancer patients and survivors restore function, manage treatment-related side effects, and improve quality of life during and after cancer care. He is an Assistant Professor and serves as the Medical Director of Cancer Rehabilitation at the RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center. He developed and leads the center’s comprehensive Cancer Rehabilitation program and also serves as Director of Education for the RUSH Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program.

Education & Training

Dr. Obaisi earned his combined bachelor’s and medical degree through the six-year BA/MD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He completed a PM&R residency at RUSH University Medical Center, where he was Chief Resident, and then completed a fellowship in Cancer Rehabilitation at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Certifications & Recognition

Dr. Obaisi holds certifications from the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and he is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. He speaks nationally on cancer rehabilitation and has published peer-reviewed research and book chapters on the topic. He has been named a Castle Connolly Rising Star (2025-present), the RUSH PM&R residency program’s Educator of the Year (2024), and an AAPM&R Innovators and Influencers National Honoree (2026).

Featured Interviews

Rounding at Rush Podcast - Physiatry Care and Cancer Rehabilitation in the RUSH Cancer Center with Obada Obaisi, MD

PM&R Pocket Mentor: A Podcast for Medical Students - Intro to Cancer Rehab with Dr. Subha Hanif and Dr. Obada Obaisi