The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers a wide variety of educational opportunities throughout training. The rotations are purposefully equally balanced between Outpatient / Inpatient and Neurorehabilitation / MSK. In addition, we have maximized the number of electives to allow PGY3 residents to complete Audition Electives in pursuit of a fellowship and PGY4s to round out their education as they prepare for their unique post-residency careers.
Inpatient Calls have been spread out throughout residency to limit burnout and promote wellness amongst the residents. We have found that having our senior residents complete call not only reduced the burden for the junior resident but also provides them with an opportunity to teach back to the Junior residents on ways they could improve their patient care, reduce overnight pages, etc.
PGY1
- 5 Months General Medical Floors
- 1 Month of Night Float
- 1 Month of Radiology
- 1 Month of Neurology
- 1 Month of Rheumatology
- 2 Months of Internal Medicine Electives (i.e. GI, Pulmonology, Cardiology)
- 1 Month of Inpatient PM&R
PGY2
- 6 Months of Inpatient Rehabilitation at Rush Specialty Hospital (RSH)
- 2 Months of Inpatient Consults at Rush University Medical Center
- 2 Months of Inpatient Spinal Cord Rehabilitation at Hines VA
- 2 Months of Inpatient Trauma Consults and Outpatient MSK at Cook County Hospital
Residents are provided the opportunity to experience a Lifestyle Medicine Rotation independent of the Lifestyle Medicine Certification Program. The rotation consists of the following clinics:
- Preventative Medicine
- Lifestyle Medicine in PM&R
- Dietician
- Exercise Physiology
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Cardiovascular Clinic
- Caring for Caregivers Volunteering
PGY3
- 2 Months of EMG
- 1 Month of Elective
- 2 Months as Senior Resident at Rush Specialty Hospital (RSH) and Neurorehabilitation Clinics
- 2 Months of Outpatient Neurorehabilitation, MSK, and EMG Clinics at Rush Oak Park Hospital (ROPH)
- 1 Month of Inpatient Consults at Rush University Medical Center
- 1 Month of Inpatient Spinal Cord Rehabilitation at Hines VA
- 1 Month of Inpatient & Outpatient Pediatrics at Shriner’s Hospital and Rush University Medical Center Clinics
- 1 Month of Elective or Sports Selective
- 1 Month of Elective or Pain Medicine
Note: residents have the option of selecting three electives during PGY3 year or completing requirement for graduation and deferring electives to their PGY-4 year
PGY4
- 1 Months as Senior Resident at Rush Specialty Hospital (RSH) and Neurorehabilitation Clinics
- 1 Month of Inpatient Trauma Consults and Outpatient MSK at Cook County Hospital
- 1 Month of Outpatient Pediatrics at Shriner’s Hospital and Rush University Medical Center Clinics
- 1 Month of O&P
- 4 Months of EMG
- 1 Month of Cancer Rehabilitation
- 1 Month of Elective or Sports Selective (if not completed PGY3 year)
- 1 Month of Elective or Pain (if not completed PGY3 year)
- 1 Month of Elective
Residents have at least one rotation in Cancer Rehabilitation and see a variety of cancer-related conditions including Lymphedema, Radiation Fibrosis, post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), Aromatase-Inhibitor Musculoskeletal Symptom (AIMSS), etc
During the rotation, residents are able to perform:
- Ultrasound-guided injections
- Nerve and plane blocks to Occipital nerve, suprascapular, carpal tunnel, intercostobrachial, intercostal, superficial serratus, PECS I / II, etc
- Botox for spasticity, dystonia, sialorrhea, trismus, torticollis
Clinical Elective Opportunities
- Residents have opportunities to work with any of the providers below who are a part of the Residency Faculty. In addition, residents are given freedom to pursue any rotation they feel is important to their future career at any institution and/or provider. In those scenarios, the Program works with the Resident and the GME office to obtain Affiliation Agreements to ensure residents have a robust experience.
- A sample of the opportunities residents typically pursue are as noted below. Many of these experience are completed during elective time as part of their 'Mini Fellowship' prior to graduation.
| Experience | Description / Faculty |
|---|---|
| Cancer Rehabilitation | Dr. Obada Obaisi at Rush University Medical Center |
| Comprehensive Non-interventional Pain | Dr. James Gruft in Oak Brook, IL |
| Interventional Spine | Elmhurst Hospital (Dr. Lawrence Frank, Dr. Brian Couri, Dr. Yogen Patel, Dr. Alex Behar) Midwest Orthopedics Rush University (Dr. Hong Wu, Dr. Shivani Dua) |
Lifestyle Medicine | Dr. Courtney Stefanski at Rush University Medical Center |
| MSK Radiology | Dr. John Ebersole at Rush University Medical Center |
MSK Medicine (including ultrasound guided injections) | Dr. Steve Clar at Cook County Hospital Dr. Rachel Welbel at Rush |
MSK, O&P, and Wheelchair Clinics | Dr. Theresa McCarthy at Cook County Hospital |
Neurorehabilitation Clinic | Dr. Dan Bunzol (EMG, Wheelchair Clinic) Dr. Andrew Patton (Prosthetic Clinic, Resident Continuity Clinic, Road Home Program - TBI evaluations for Veterans) Dr. Ravi Kasi (TBI, Stroke and SCI Rehabilitation) Dr. Alethea Appavu (Prosthetic Clinic) Dr. Courtney Stefanski (Lifestyle Medicine) Dr. Sol Abreu-Sosa (Stroke and SCI Rehabilitation) Dr. Max Fitzgerald (Prosthetic Clinic, MSK, Cardiac Rehabilitation) |
Occupational Health | Dr. Joseph Laluya |
Pain Medicine | Dr. Tolga Suvar Anesthesia Pain @ Rush |
| Pelvic Floor / Women’s Health | Dr. Sheila Dugan at Rush University Medical Center |
Sports Medicine | UIC (Dr. Terry Nicola, Dr. Ankur Verma) Midwest Orthopedics (Dr. Ghannad, Dr. Weber) Elmhurst Hospital (Dr. Alex Behar, Dr. Yogen Patel) University of Chicago (Dr. Christopher Hicks) |
Rush Affiliated Clinics | ALS and Neuromuscular Medicine Endocrine Bone (Osteoporosis Clinic) Multiple Sclerosis Movement Disorders Rheumatology Stroke Neurology |