Bethany O'Connor, M.D.

Dr. Bethany O’Connor, M.D., is a dedicated and compassionate physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Born and raised in Ohio, she pursued both her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Toledo. Driven by a passion for restoring function and improving quality of life, she moved to Chicago to complete her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the prestigious Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now known as the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab), through Northwestern University.

After residency, Dr. O’Connor relocated to Southern California, where she now lives with her husband, three children, and their family dog. With years of experience across a wide range of clinical environments, she developed a deep commitment to personalized, patient-centered care. This commitment led her to establish her own clinic, ReAbility MD, where she empowers patients to define and achieve their unique health goals through collaborative treatment planning and education.

Dr. O’Connor's clinical approach centers on understanding each patient's individual symptoms and how these affect their daily life and function. Through thorough physical evaluations and evidence-based strategies, she works with patients to establish clear diagnoses and implement tailored treatment plans. She emphasizes education as a critical component of recovery—believing firmly in the physician’s role as a teacher, rooted in the Latin origin of the word “doctor,” docere, meaning "to teach."

Board certified in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine, Dr. O’Connor continually advances her expertise by staying up to date with emerging research and medical technologies. She is also pursuing board certification in Obesity Medicine, reflecting her deep personal and professional interest in helping patients overcome the physical and functional challenges associated with obesity.

Her clinical interests span a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, including chronic back and joint pain, acute injuries, neuropathies, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and multiple sclerosis. Her integrative and goal-oriented philosophy ensures that the care patients receive in her clinic translates into real, lasting improvements in their everyday lives.

Outside of medicine, Dr. O’Connor is an active member of her community. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, volunteering, and embracing the natural beauty of Southern California through outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, kayaking, and paddleboarding. She is also an avid music lover and home cook—and she enjoys golfing, even if she admits she’s not very good at it.

Dr. Bethany O’Connor combines clinical excellence, compassion, and a personal commitment to lifelong learning to help her patients live healthier, more fulfilling lives.