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Older adults with functional impairment are cared for by physiatrists in rehabilitation, but physiatrist training in geriatric-related competencies remains suboptimal. To develop a geriatric rehabilitation (GR) curriculum and explore opportunities for improvement, a needs assessment of stakeholders was conducted to understand physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) residents' comfort levels and learning needs in geriatrics. A mixed-methods design was employed. PMR residents (n = 18) and practicing physiatrists (n = 40) completed a questionnaire; and PMR residents, physiatrists and key informants (n = 9; n = 4; n = 6) participated in focus groups and semi-structured interviews to explore geriatric experiences of trainees and educational needs in geriatrics and rehabilitation. Data were qualitatively analyzed using constructivist-grounded theory. Residents and physiatrists highlighted similar topics as areas of low comfort in knowledge. Interviews prioritized critical geriatric topics (gait assessment, falls, cognitive impairment, movement disorders, and polypharmacy) and highlighted disposition planning and end-of-life care as areas needing further curriculum support. Challenges in delivering geriatric education were also identified. What emerged from the needs assessment was a series of critical geriatric educational priorities for the development of a GR curriculum for physiatry trainees – arising at an opportune time given the shift toward competency-based residency education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]