Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency training program rotations & didactics

Residency training program rotations

Our PM&R residents rotate through a variety of clinical settings in world-renowned clinical institutions. Our program is also the only PM&R program to train at the Philadelphia Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.

The four-year integrated categorical program offers a year-long internship focused on building a solid foundation of medical experience and knowledge. Interns are exposed to a variety of services especially relevant to physiatrists in training.

Through electives, Penn PM&R interns and residents are also able to take advantage of the vast clinical experiences available through the University of Pennsylvania Health System, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.

Inpatient rotations

The inpatient rotations provide in-depth training in the rehabilitation of the following conditions:

  • Amputation
  • Medically complex conditions
  • Orthopaedic conditions and trauma
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Stroke
  • Traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury
  • Other neurologic conditions

Four-year residency program

The four-year integrated categorical program at Penn Medicine offers a broad-based year-long internship which allows the residents to be well-prepared for the upcoming training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Residency training program didactics

Education is one of our core missions. We strive to structure our clinical rotations and didactics to provide the most diverse educational experience for residents. Our philosophy ensures our residents are provided with a strong foundation in the field of physiatry by:

  • Providing diverse exposure to the field of rehabilitation medicine
  • Providing patient-centered care
  • Teaching by example both clinically and via faculty mentors
  • Inspiring life-long learning
  • Encouraging self-motivation
  • Providing adequate time for didactics and self-directed learning

Resident didactics are held weekly on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for PGY-2, PGY-3, and PGY-4 residents. Didactics are designed with a three-tiered approach in mind:

  • Teaching on cutting edge medical thought and research given by national, Philadelphia area, and Penn Medicine attendings
  • Teaching on high yield topics given by Penn PM&R faculty
  • Board review and topical lectures given by senior PM&R residents

Other features of our didactics include:

  • Protected educational time for residents
  • 12-month curriculum (residents repeat curriculum two times) covering core subjects in PM&R
  • Monthly grand rounds and journal club led by PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents
  • Research grand rounds given by an invited speaker
  • Lunch Provided

The 12-month didactic cycle covers the following core subjects:

  • Biomechanics
  • Cancer Rehabilitation
  • Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Electrodiagnosis
  • Functional Anatomy
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Musculoskeletal Medicine
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Pain Medicine
  • Pediatric Rehabilitation
  • Physical Medicine Modalities
  • Prosthetics & Orthotics
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Systems Based Practice