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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Curriculum

Curriculum overview

Physicians specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also called physiatrists, understand that the ability to function is vital to the quality of life. Resident physicians train in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disabilities and offer a holistic approach to patient care.

Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of experts in many fields, including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, psychology, social work, and others, a physiatrist's focus is to improve a patient's quality of life after an illness or injury.

The Parkview Health PM&R specialty program prepares our resident physicians to provide exceptional rehabilitative care for patients through training focused on clinical and research excellence. Through this specialty program, a resident physician learns to help patients achieve their highest quality of life.

A minimum of four years of graduate medical education is required to complete this PM&R program. Specialty training begins at the PGY2 level, following completion of a transitional year (preliminary) program. In each of the three PM&R specialty training years, resident physicians complete inpatient & outpatient rotations, along with a choice of electives.

Rotations

PGY-1

The first year of training is focused on the development of fundamental clinical skills and is completed through a Transitional Year (TY) or Preliminary Year program. Applicants may interview and match simultaneously for both Parkview Health’s Transitional Year and PM&R programs. These are two separate programs and will require two applications. 

PGY-2

Second-year resident physicians complete foundational rotations in inpatient rehabilitation emphasizing general rehabilitation, stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury. Outpatient clinic rotations and inpatient acute care consults also will occur during this year to start broadening your expertise.

PGY-3

The rotation schedule for PGY3 resident physicians consists of a thorough experience of EMG, inpatient PM&R, and several outpatient experiences including interventional pain, sports medicine, amputee clinic, general PM&R, and others.

PGY-4

Fourth-year PM&R resident physicians finalize their training with outpatient pediatric rehabilitation, multiple outpatient clinics, consulting, a senior level inpatient rotation, and an opportunity for two electives within Parkview. Our goal is for residents to become an expert in the field. This will also include learning at the business and administrative level of rehabilitation medicine before heading off to be independent practitioners.