Devyani Hunt

Devyani Hunt, MD

Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurology

Chief, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Medical Director, WashU Medicine Living Well Center

Team Physician, St. Louis CITY SC

Co-Director, Medical Program for Performing Artists

Phone Icon

(314) 514-3500

Dr. Hunt is a board-certified physicial medicine and rehabilitation specialist with subspecialty certifications in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine. Her clinical interests include the conservative management of all musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, with a special focus on lifestyle medicine, young adult hip problems, performing arts medicine and female athletes.

She serves as medical director of the WashU Medicine Living Well Center, which is a unique program that integrates musculoskeletal care with lifestyle medicine through an interprofessional approach to wellness. The center addresses comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, cardiac disease and mental health challenges that can be barriers to long-term success, with a focus on equiping patients with the tools for self-management while optimizing health and function.    

In addition to maintaining a busy clinical practice, she is a team doctor for the MLS St. Louis CITY SC. Her clinical research focuses on sports medicine, lifestyle medicine, behavioral health, sleep, pain and function in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Her work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications, presentations at national and international conferences and extra-mural funding.

Common Diagnoses Treated

  • Sports-related injuries
  • Young adult hip disorders
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Spine disorders

Common Procedures

  • Electromyography
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound for some procedures
  • Peripheral joint injections
  • Synvisc injections
  • Regenerative medicine, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

Clinical Office Locations

Hospital Affiliations

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital
  • Washington University Orthopedics and Barnes-Jewish Hospital Outpatient Orthopedic Center
  • Missouri Baptist Hospital

Academic Office Mailing Address

  • Washington University School of Medicine

    Campus Box 8233

    660 Euclid Avenue

    Saint Louis, MO 63110

Selected Publications

Visit PubMed for a complete list of Dr. Hunt's publications.

  • Cheng AL, Dwivedi M, Salerno E, Hunt D. Predictors of patient engagement with an interprofessional lifestyle medicine program. AJLM-23-0194.R2. doi: 10.1177/15598276231222877/ 
  • Cheng AL, Dwivedi M, Salerno E, Hunt D. Predictors of progressing toward lifestyle change among participants of an interprofessional lifestyle medicine program AJLM-23-0195.R1. doi: 10.1177/15598276231222868/ 
  • Cheng AL, Downs DL, Brady BK, Hong BA, Park P, Prather H, *Hunt DM. Interpretation of PROMIS Depression and Anxiety Measures Compared with DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria in Musculoskeletal Patients. JB JS Open Access. 2023 Jan 24;8(1):e22.00110. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00110. eCollection 2023 Jan-Mar.PMID: 36698984 
  • Probst D, Stout A, *Hunt D. Piriformis Syndrome: A narrative review of the anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment. PM&R. 2019 Aug;11 Suppl 1:S54-S63. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12189. PMID: 31102324
  • Prather H, Bonnette M, *Hunt D. Nonoperative Treatment Options for Patients With Sacroiliac Joint Pain. Int J Spine Surg. Published online 2020 Feb 10;14(Suppl 1):35-40. doi: 10.14444/6082. eCollection 2020 Feb.. PMC7041669 – PMID: 32123656 
  • Schwabe MT, Clohisy JC, Cheng AL, Pascual-Garrido C, Harris-Hayes M, Hunt DM, Harris MD, Prather H, *Nepple JJ. Short-term Clinical Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy Versus Physical Therapy in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 Nov 17;8(11):2325967120968490. doi: 10.1177/2325967120968490. PMID: 33244478; PMCID: PMC7678402.
  • Prather H, Fogarty AE, Cheng AL, Wahl G, Hong B, *Hunt D. Feasibility of an intensive interprofessional lifestyle medicine program for patients with musculoskeletal conditions in the setting of lifestyle-related chronic disease. PM R. 2021 Oct 28. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12728. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34713577
  • Leo AJ, Schuelke MJ, Hunt DM, Metzler JP, Miller JP, Areán PA, Armbrecht MA, Cheng AL. A Digital Mental Health Intervention in an Orthopedic Setting for Patients With Symptoms of Depression and/or Anxiety: Feasibility Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Feb 21;6(2):e34889. doi: 10.2196/34889.PMID: 35039278 
  • Leo AJ, Schuelke MJ, Hunt DM, Miller JP, Areán PA, Cheng AL . Digital Mental Health Intervention Plus Usual Care Compared With Usual Care Only and Usual Care Plus In-Person Psychological Counseling for Orthopedic Patients With Symptoms of Depression or Anxiety: Cohort Study. .JMIR Form Res. 2022 May 4;6(5):e36203. doi: 10.2196/36203.PMID: 35507387
  • Cheng AL, Carbonell KV, Prather H, Hong BA, Downs DL, Metzler JP, Hunt DM. Unique characteristics of patients who choose an intensive lifestyle medicine program to address chronic musculoskeletal pain. PM R. 2022 May 14:10.1002/pmrj.12847. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12847. PMID: 35567523
  • Cheng AL, Snider EM, Prather H, Dougherty NL, Wilcher-Roberts M, Hunt DM.  Provider-Perceived Value of Interprofessional Team Meetings as a Core Element of a Lifestyle Medicine Program: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of One Center’s Experience. AJLM 2023 May doi: 10.1177/15598276221135539

Research Interests

Dr. Hunt has focused her research interests on sports medicine, lifestyle medicine, behavioral health, sleep, pain and function in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Background

Dr. Hunt received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with honors at the University of Texas in Austin. She completed medical school at the University of Texas in Houston and her residency at Northwestern at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She then completed a fellowship in Sports and Spine at Washington University in 2004 and stayed on as a faculty member. She is currently a professor of orthopedic surgery, chief of the PM&R musculoskeletal division and medical director of the WashU Medicine Living Well Center.

Board Certifications

  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Sports Medicine, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Lifestyle Medicine, American Board of Lifestyle Medicine

Medical Degree

  • University of Texas Medical School at Houston

Residency

  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Fellowship

  • Musculoskeletal Sports Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine

Milestones

2022, Team Physician, St. Louis CITY SC

2020, Chief, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

2013, Director, Medical Program for Performing Artists

2008-2009, Team Physician, St. Louis Athletica, Professional Woman’s Soccer

Honors and Awards

  • 1994-1995 Research Grant Award Department of Kinesiology University of Texas at Austin
  • 2002-2003 Meyer S. Gunther Award “Presented to the second year resident who displays the art of listening, understanding, and interacting with patients” Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
  • 2003-2004 Kovler Family Resident Award “In recognition of commitment to teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration” Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
  • 2007-2008 Scott F. Nadler, DO Research Grant “Clinical Outcomes Analysis of Treatment for Early IntraArticular Hip Disease” Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation (PASSOR); 2009-Present, Best Doctors in America
  • 2023 Dean's Impact Award, Washington University School of Medicine 
  • 2025 Neville Grant Award for Clinical Excellence, Barnes-Jewish Medical Staff Association
  • 2009-Present Best Doctors in America, Castle Connolly Top Doctors

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • International Association of Dance Medicine and Science 
  • Performing Arts Medicine Association
  • North American Spine Society
  • American College of Lifestyle Medicine
SaveSaveSave

Request an Appointment