Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency

Overview

Hosted by Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (SRH) in collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Harvard Medical School Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency is a three year program commencing in post-graduate year two (PGY-2) – committed to your professional growth and the healing of people everywhere.

Why Spaulding's Program?

Combining extensive clinical experience, robust didactic training and generous research opportunities within the Harvard system, our residency program combines real-world expertise, with in-depth training, assuring you’ll meet all ACGME requirements, while also receiving ample opportunities to develop individually and professionally. As a resident, you will care for patients at our new, state-of-the-art facility in Boston, which has been hailed as a national model for “green” and inclusive design.

About the Program

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital is ranked #2 in the country among rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News and World Report and is the only current U.S. hospital chosen by the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as a Model Systems Site for Burn Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Curriculum

Our residents gain valuable clinical experience in key areas of inpatient rehabilitation including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, amputee care, post operative orthopedics, burn care and pediatric rehabilitation. Your next level is here.

Scheduling and experience opportunities

Resident schedules generally consist of 12 inpatient rotations, 12 outpatient rotations, 5 months of EMG, 4 electives and 3 months of consults.

In addition, as a resident, you’ll spend time on inpatient, consult and outpatient rotations at other sites including Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital. You will also participate in a resident continuity clinic throughout all three years of your residency.

Resident designed elective rotations sample

• Spasticity management with Botox and baclofen proficiency
• Away rotations: from North Carolina for inpatient stroke to Taiwan for inpatient/outpatient general rehabilitation
• Interventional pain and epidural injections at MGH
• Sports rehab and Spaulding National Running Center with ultrasound interventions
• Neuromuscular research and EMG proficiency

Sample Rotation Schedule

PGY-2

• July: Spinal Cord Injury
• Aug: Spinal Cord Injury - VA
• Sept: Outpatient Spine
• Oct: Pediatrics
• Nov: Amputee
• Dec: Outpatient Prosthetics & Orthotics
• Jan: Traumatic Brain Injury
• Feb: Neurology (MGH)
• Mar: Neurology (MGH)
• Apr: Outpatient Neurorehabilitation
• May: Stroke
• June: Outpatient Sports/Musculoskeletal

PGY-3

• July: Stroke
• Aug: Rheumatology
• Sept: Outpatient Spine
• Oct: Outpatient Sports/Musculoskeletal
• Nov: Traumatic Brain Injury
• Dec: Elective
• Jan: Burn Rehabilitation
• Feb: Cancer Rehab
• Mar: Elective
• April: EMG
• May: EMG
• June: EMG

Core Didactic Curriculum

Theory and modeling are key components of any well-rounded medical training program. We focus on a range of challenging, thoughtful approaches and methodologies for handling a varied range of situations, preparing you for hands-on practice.

Our core didactic curriculum includes a 12-month lecture series covering fundamental aspects of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Built into this dynamic and unique curriculum are exceptional hands-on learning opportunities including:

• Annual intensive anatomy week at Harvard Medical School
• Quarterly musculoskeletal ultrasound workshops
• Annual EMG workshop
• Research curriculum with debate-style monthly journal club sessions
• Annual baclofen pump workshop
• Annual concussion workshop
• Regular morbidity and mortality conferences
• Quarterly “Life” curriculum with a psychologist focusing on resident mental health and physical well-being
• Annual interventional spine workshop
• Monthly therapy lectures with allied health professionals (e.g. PT, OT, SLP, Music therapy, Adaptive Sports)

Call Schedule

As a PGY2 resident, you will be on call in-house approximately 4-times per month. During your PGY3, call is taken approximately 15 times per year, and you will not take an overnight call in your PGY4.

When rotating at some outside hospitals, call may be taken there in lieu of a Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (SRH) call. During your PGY2, if on a neurology rotation at MGH, you can assume call every fourth night and not take a SRH call. The call schedule for residents at SRH falls well within the limits required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Social and Resident Life

Why shouldn’t the best place to practice rehabilitation medicine be based in one of the country’s best cities? You’ll find Boston to be warm, friendly and inviting – even when it’s cold outside.

As a resident, your incredible training experience will be matched by some of the country's best dining and educational experiences. Not to mention, Boston is also the sports capital of the New England. So whether you’re into lobster at the Boston Harbor, Italian food from the North End or grabbing a hot dog while watching the Red Sox at Fenway, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

Not only does Boston provide an abundant of urban exploring opportunities, we’re also a short drive away from amazing outdoor experiences. In just a few hours you can explore New Hampshire and Maine. Or stay close by and find an array of outdoor activities including hiking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, camping, skiing and snowboarding, and so much more. It is essential for our residents program to work hard while also enjoy life in this unique tight-knit resident community.

Research Experience

PM&R Research

When it comes to research, our residents are consistently ahead of the curve. We offer a variety of continually evolving Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) research programs to meet your needs and the demands of an ever-changing field.

Under the mentorship of our faculty, and supported by monthly protected research time, residents are expected to participate in at least one significant research project before graduation. Fortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities for involvement. Many of our residents and attending physicians are regularly published in leading PM&R publications, which is why Doximity has ranked our program #1 for resident research output. Residents who present papers or posters at national meetings may also receive financial support, regardless of their level of training.

Some lecture topics featured annually in our formal research curriculum include:

• Funding and mentoring in field of PM&R
• Simple Regressions and Correlations (part of statistics/case study lecture series)
• Human Subjects: Ethics and IRB
• Presenting your work for academic conferences
• Writing and revising a journal article
• Mentor presentations by clinical and research faculty

Volunteer & Community Opportunities

Our people and our programs create ample opportunities for you to work help build strong relationships and stronger communities throughout New England and beyond.

Lend your expertise. Lend a hand.

Here are just a sample of the programs and activities awaiting you as a Spaulding resident.

• Pre-participation physical examinations for local college athletes
• Boston Athletic Association Races
• Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers
• Local high school and college sports coverage
• Warrior Health Program
• Sport & Spirit Cape Cod Adaptive Camp
• Fundraisers
• Stroke Camp
• All-A-Board

How to Apply

You must apply via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We do not accept any other application method.