Clerkships
As a student in a Rehabilitation Medicine clerkship, you will acquire and practice the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the assessment and competent management of people with chronic diseases, impairments, and disabilities. You will come to recognize the impact these disorders have on the individual and society, and that the goals of intervention are to optimize function and quality of life for each individual.
Courses
We offer eight different medical student clerkship courses at six different clinical sites.
The goal of these clerkships is to learn Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) management of patients with disabilities and functional impairments. Students will learn about the interdisciplinary team management of rehabilitation and recovery, identification of impairments, and prevention of secondary medical complications. Students will appreciate the patient-centered function-oriented PM&R approach to patient care.
Advanced Patient Care Sub-Internships (APC Sub-I)
Prerequisites: Completion of Patient Care Phase
REHAB 687 — Harborview Medical Center — Seattle, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: Harborview Medical Center — Seattle, WA
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Focuses on neuro-rehabilitation and general rehabilitation. Intended for those interested in exploring a career in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or wishing to gain more experience working with patients with disability. Students primarily work on the inpatient rehabilitation unit. Some exposure to outpatient general rehabilitation and neuro-rehabilitation clinics.
REHAB 688 — VA Puget Sound, Rehab Care Services — Seattle, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: VA Puget Sound, Rehab Care Services — Seattle, WA
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Focuses on providing medical and rehabilitative care to inpatients with a variety of diagnoses and functional limitations including, but not limited to, stroke, amputation, multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease. Structured clinical experience on a general inpatient rehabilitation unit. Opportunities to participate at a variety of outpatient rehabilitation clinics.
REHAB 689 — VA Puget Sound, Spinal Cord Injury — Seattle, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: VA Puget Sound, Spinal Cord Injury — Seattle, WA
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Introduction to diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation of patients with spinal-cord injuries. Interaction with rehabilitation team, psychiatrists, and subspecialists in urology, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery. Performance at subintern level expected.
REHAB 690 — UW Medical Center, Montlake — Seattle, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: UW Medical Center, Montlake — Seattle, WA
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Four-week clerkship on inpatient PM&R management of patients with disabilities and functional impairments due to disorders such as acquired brain injury, CNS disorders, spinal cord injury, and complex medical conditions. Recommended for careers in family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, geriatrics, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, rheumatology, and cardiology.
Elective Clerkships
Prerequisites: Completion of Patient Care Phase
REHAB 684 — Neuroscience Associates — Boise, ID
684 Goals and Objectives (PDF)
Site: Neuroscience Associates, Boise, ID
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Students work directly with the physician and as a member of a multidisciplinary rehab team, seeing a variety of patients with neurologic and musculoskeletal diagnoses. Observe procedures such as EMGs, nerve conduction studies, and a variety of peripheral and central injections. Participate in care of injured workers and their return to work. Primarily outpatient experience with some inpatient exposure.
REHAB 685 — Introduction to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Seattle, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: Harborview Medical Center or UW Medical Center — Montlake, Seattle, WA
Length: 2 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Introduction to care of patients with rehabilitation needs. Students are integrated into the rehabilitation team and participate in direct patient care in an interdisciplinary approach. Students learn the role of the different interdisciplinary members, including that of the physiatrist, and gain a basic understanding of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialty.
REHAB 686 — Seattle Children’s Hospital — Seattle, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Structured clinical experience on rehabilitation medicine services in pediatric setting. Differences between acute and chronic medicine, identification of disability problems, and therapeutic techniques for removing disability. School planning, family counseling, community support services included. Inpatient, outpatient, and consultation experience. Recommended for students contemplating pediatrics or rehabilitation.
REHAB 692 — St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute — Spokane, WA
Goals and Objectives
Site: St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA
Length: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Students provide medical and rehabilitative care to patients with variety of diagnoses and functional limitations including stroke, amputation, brain injury, motor neuron disease, and spinal cord injury. Rotations July through January are recommended for students seeking Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) career. February through June rotations recommended for students seeking PM&R exposure.
REHAB 697 — Away Clerkship
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: Special clerkship, externship, or research opportunities at institutions other than the University of Washington located outside the WWAMI region.
REHAB 699 — Away Clerkship, WWAMI Region
Prerequisites: Completion of the Patient Care Phase
Course Description: By special arrangement for qualified students, special clerkships or externships at institutions other than the University of Washington located within the WWAMI region.
Preceptorships
REHAB 519
Course Description: Explores the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Students observe a physiatrist one-half day each week and gain an understanding of the management of acute injuries, chronic disease, and disabilities. Please contact the Medical Education team at rehabmeded@uw.edu with your timing and any specific PM&R interests to arrange the preceptorship.
Visiting Student Rotations
Through the School of Medicine's Visiting Student Program office, the department of Rehabilitation Medicine makes available four of the medical student clerkship courses for visiting students.
Diversity Sub-Internship
The University of Washington (UW) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Diversity Sub-Internship program provides training opportunities to visiting medical students interested in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the health sciences.
Student Interest Group
Excited about Rehabilitation Medicine? Consider joining the Rehab Student Interest Group! Look us up in the student organizations directory for faculty and student leadership contacts.
Information and Resources for UWSOM Students
Student Health Information
The UW School of Medicine (UWSOM) supports students’ access to healthcare and strongly encourages them to obtain and maintain health insurance while enrolled at the UWSOM. The links about student health below are suggested by students and UWSOM student affairs in collaboration; these materials will be updated centrally by student affairs and the Student Committee on Healthcare Access (SCoHA). If you have questions regarding the content, please reach out to adminsa@uw.edu.