University of Virginia Health System

Residency Curriculum  
PM&R residents may choose to do their preliminary year of training at the University of Virginia (our 4-year categorical program) or enter in the PGY2 year following the satisfactory completion of an internship year (our 3-year advanced program). The PM&R Residency Program has 14 positions total and is fully accredited by the ACGME.

PGY1  FIRST YEAR
The internship year is divided into six months of Internal Medicine, two months of Neurology, and one-month rotations in Emergency Medicine, Outpatient Orthopaedics, Vascular Surgery, and Urology. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residents develop strong fundamental clinical skills during their first year of training, and work with specialists who will serve as important referral sources for their rehabilitation practices in the future.

6 mos Internal Medicine Rotations

2 mos Inpatient Neurology & Neurology Consults Rotations
1 mo Emergency Department Rotation
1 mo Outpatient Orthopaedics Rotation
1 mo Vascular Surgery Rotation
1 mo Urology Rotation

PGY2  SECOND YEAR
Building on the foundation of the internship year, the second year program exposes the resident to a variety of inpatient rehabilitation experiences. Specialized programs have been developed in stroke and brain injury, spinal cord injury, and orthopaedic rehabilitation. Residents participate in daily multidisciplinary inpatient rounds and are introduced to techniques of rehabilitation team management, therapy prescription writing, and functional goal setting. Residents are also given time on their General Rehabilitation rotation to develop and pursue research interests. All PGY2 residents receive a stipend to attend the national AAPM&R Academy meeting.

3 mos General Rehabilitation Rotation

3 mos Neurorehabilitation Rotation

3 mos Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Rotation

3 mos Orthopaedic/Joint Rehabilitation Rotation

PGY3  THIRD YEAR
Residents in their third year of training rotate through a variety of predominantly outpatient programs.

3 mos Adult Inpatient Consults Rotation

3 mos PM&R Outpatient Clinic Rotation
(includes Rheumatology and P&O components)

3 mos Electrodiagnostics Rotation & Outpatient Spine Rotation
1 mo Pain Management Rotation
1 mo Outpatient Orthopaedics Clinic Rotation
1 mo Geriatrics Rotation & Cardiopulmonary Rehab Rotation

PM&R Adult Inpatient Consults: This is a 3-month rotation in which residents spend their time primarily at the UVA Medical Center evaluating inpatients, with occasional evaluations done at the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center.

PM&R Outpatient Clinic: This is a 3-month rotation in which residents spend 4 days per week in the musculoskeletal clinic, primarily evaluating and treating a variety of sports injuries and other acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems. Residents learn a variety of procedures including compartment testing, joint injections and trigger point injections in addition to EMG. Additionally, residents provide medical coverage for multiple community sporting events and two high school football teams. One 1/2 day per week is spent in Rheumatology Clinic and one 1/2 day per week is spent in Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinic.

PM&R Electrodiagnostics Lab and Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury Clinic: This is a 3-month rotation in which residents are paired with a senior resident and learn to perform and interpret nerve conduction and electromyography studies. Additionally, interested residents may observe accupuncture. Third year residents spend one 1/2 day per week in the outpatient SCI clinic. Each resident performs approximately 100 EMGs over three months.

PM&R Residency Program Rotation in Pain Management: This is a one-month rotation in the UVA Pain Clinic with the Department of Anesthesia. Residents work with Pain Fellows and Anesthesia Attendings in addition to Pain Psychologists. Residents see a variety of chronic pain disorders and have an opportunity to assist in pain procedures in the flouroscopy suite. (In the past five years, seven PM&R residency program graduates have gone on to UVA Pain Management Fellowships.)

PM&R Residency Program Rotation in Outpatient Orthopaedics Clinic:   This is a one-month rotation in the orthopaedic clinic. Residents rotate through various subspecialy clinics including joint replacement, orthopedic spine, hand, foot and ankle and trauma.

PM&R Residency Program Rotation in Geriatrics & Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation: Each rotation is two weeks.

PGY4  FOURTH YEAR
The senior year enables the resident to further his or her clinical, teaching and research skills.

3 mos Electrodiagnostics Lab Rotation

3 mos Research Rotation & Interventional Spine Rotation

3 mos Outpatient Clinical Electives

2 mos Inpatient and Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Rotations
1 mo Occupational Medicine Rotation & Rec Therapy Rotation

PM&R Electrodiagnostics Lab: This is a 3-month rotation in which senior residents participate in the teaching of junior residents and medical students in the EMG lab. In addition to approximately 100 EMG and nerve conduction studies, residents perform a number of chemodenervation procedures (botulinum toxin injections) under EMG guidance.

PM&R Research/ Interventional Spine Rotations: This is a 3-month rotation where residents may research a topic of their choice. Unique opportunities include participation in several projects related to gait and running analysis in our gait lab. Additionally there are many opportunities for research in complimentary and alternative medicine and in sports medicine. Residents spend one day per week doing interventional spine procedures.

PM&R Outpatient Clinical Electives: Residents have three months of elective outpatient rotations of their choosing with opportunities to participate in electives outside of our program.

PM&R Residency Program Rotations in Pediatric Rehabilitation Inpatient & Outpatient: This is two one-month rotations at the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Hospital. Residents participate in rounds and are supervised by pediatricians and pediatric fellows specializing in pediatric rehabilitation. (UVA PM&R residents do not take night call at KCRC.)

PM&R Residency Program Rotations in Occupational Medicine and Therapeutic Recreation: This is a one-month rotation. Residents participate in children's recreation therapy for one week.  3 weeks are spent in the PMR outpatient occupational medicine clinic where they learn techniques in manual medicine, chemodenervation, disability evaluation, Independent Medical Evaluations, and treat general musculoskelal injuries and work related injuries.

PM&R DIDACTICS
Supplementing the clinical experience are diverse seminars and didactics. A core curriculum forms the basis for a series of lectures given weekly by faculty from the Department of PM&R, as well as faculty from related specialties such as Neurosurgery, Neurology, Rheumatology, Pediatrics, Orthopaedics, Bioethics, Prosthetics and Orthotics. Physical and occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation nurse specialists, rehabilitation engineers and other members of the rehabilitation team contribute lectures and demonstrations, and provide opportunities for hands-on experience. In addition, residents attend the PM&R Grand Rounds and Journal Clubs.