Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency:
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 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings 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 (EMG) and clinical neurophysiology
• Prosthetics & Orthotics
• Practice management
• Clinical musculoskeletal medicine

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, depending on the individual objectives of the resident. One option is to complete additional coursework in instructional methods and prepare and deliver a lecture to the department.

A second option is to prepare a manuscript on a case report or case series that is accepted for national presentation and submitted to a journal.

A third option is to complete a more formal research project. The American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation allows us to permit selected residents to perform up to six months of elective research within the three-year training period.

Clinical Rotations:

Residents spend an average of 13 months in inpatient training, seven months of inpatient consultation, 12 months of outpatient clinics, and four 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 (up to 15 per week), EMGs (two half-day assignments) and have clinic duties (two or three half-days per week). 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. Residents take night call from home one week at a time, for an average of four-six weeks each year.

To learn more about the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency program, please explore the links below:

• About the Program
• Letter from the Chiefs
• Diversity & Equal Opportunity
• Accreditation
• Applying to the Residency Program
• Eligibility Requirements
• Selection Process
• Stipends & Benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Visting Student Clerkship Opportunities
• Current Residents
• Living in Seattle
• Residency Contact Information