The internship year is divided into six months of Internal Medicine, two months of Neurology, and one month rotations in Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Vascular Surgery, and Urology. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residents develop strong fundamental clinical skills during their first year of training, and work along side specialists who will serve as important referral sources for their rehabilitation practices in the future. Specialized programs have been developed in stroke and brain injury, spinal cord injury, and general orthopedic rehabilitation. Residents participate in daily multidisciplinary inpatient rounds and are introduced to techniques of rehabilitation team management, therapy prescription, and functional goal setting. Residents also gain early exposure to outpatient physiatry by participating one half day a week in the outpatient clinics at the Musculoskeletal Center.
Residents also rotate on the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and inpatient consultation services.
The senior year enables the resident to further his or her clinical, teaching and research skills. Senior residents participate in the teaching of junior residents and medical students during a 3 month rotation on the electrodiagnosis service. They rotate through both the inpatient and outpatient services at Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center. Residetns also choose from a wide range of clinical electives during the remaining 3 month period. Examples include musculoskeletal radiology, sports medicine, and neuromuscular diseases.