Mary Kathryn Gustafson, DO

Mary Kathryn Gustafson, D.O., is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, a part of Baptist Health. Dr. Gustafson also serves as a staff physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at the Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine at Bethesda Hospital East. She specializes in general rehabilitation medicine in the hospital setting, with special interests in spasticity management, stroke rehabilitation, musculoskeletal conditions, ultrasound-guided procedures, obesity medicine, culinary medicine and longevity medicine.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Gustafson was an assistant clinical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Va., and an attending physiatrist at VCU Health’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Gustafson earned her medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Fla. She completed an internal medicine internship at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at Georgetown University – MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, both located in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Gustafson is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is a member of several professional organizations and has presented her work at scientific symposiums.

To help patients achieve the best outcomes, Dr. Gustafson employs a team approach to care. This includes partnering with her patients and their family members as well as the multidisciplinary care team. Dr. Gustafson also believes education is key to treating disease. “When patients ask questions and are curious about their health and treatment, I know they are invested,” she said. “And when I can help them understand their condition, set goals and adopt healthy habits, we have the greatest chance to optimize health and function.”

Dr. Gustafson is fluent in English and speaks conversational Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, paddle-boarding, snorkeling, beach volleyball, traveling, dancing and yoga.