Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation training program is one of the top PM&R residency programs in the United States (US News and World Report consistently ranks it in the top 3 programs). Some of the strengths of our program include: a large patient population and multiple training sites so residents can see PM&R practiced in a variety of settings; our commitment to resident education; the quality of the rehab faculty; and the faculty advising system for residents. Our department has excellent relationships with clinical departments associated with physical medicine and rehabilitation such as neurosurgery, neurology, and orthopaedics.

Each year, residents are accepted at both the PGY-1 and the PGY-2 levels. We have 3 PGY-1 positions and 28 positions (total) at the PGY-2 through PGY-4 levels. The rotations are specifically selected to meet the needs of a future physiatrist (rehabilitation physician), emphasizing the development of skill and knowledge in internal medicine, emergency medicine, pain management, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, and geriatrics.

Academic Curriculum

The academic curriculum is designed to create a physician who is not only well prepared to practice in any area of rehabilitation medicine, but is also qualified to join the next generation of leaders in the field. Regularly scheduled seminars and conferences address a variety of special topics. These include journal club, research seminar, grand rounds, EMG conference, musculoskeletal conference, and departmental seminars on selected topics.

Basic science instruction is carried out in structured courses. These class hours are incorporated into all clinical rotation schedules. This program of instruction begins in the PGY-2 year. The curriculum includes clinical kinesiology and biomechanics, musculoskeletal anatomy and modalities, clinical and neuropsychology, medical aspects of vocational counseling; communication disorders in rehabilitation medicine, electromyography and clinical neurophysiology, prosthetics, orthotics, practice management, and clinical musculoskeletal medicine.

Scholarly Work

An additional requirement for graduation from the residency program is the completion of a scholarly activity designed to include an opportunity for peer review of oral and written work. Residents can choose to prepare and deliver a lecture to the department, prepare a manuscript on a case report or case series that is accepted for national presentation and submitted to a journal, or complete a more formal research project.

Clinical Rotations

Residents spend an average of 13 months in inpatient training, 7 months of inpatient consultation, 12 months of outpatient clinics, and 4 months of electrodiagnostic training. Inpatient residents conduct the primary medical and rehabilitation management of 8-12 patients. Consult residents perform consults on hospitalized patients on other services, EMGs and have weekly clinic duties. Special rotations, such as at private hospitals, amputee rehabilitation, or cardiac rehabilitation, include similar clinic and EMG duties. In the PGY-3 or PGY-4 year, residents are assigned to special electives such as EMGs, musculoskeletal clinics, pain management, or research.

For additional information, visit the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine web site.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR		PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Teresa Massagli, MD		Karen Ennes
Program Director		Program Coordinator
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation		Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Box 359300		Box 356490
CHRMC (W-6847)		Room BB-963
Phone: 206-987-1500		Phone: 206-685-0936
Fax: 206-987-2651		Fax: 206-685-3244
massagli@u.washington.edu		klr@u.washington.edu