Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine offers a two-year Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) Fellowship Program. This fellowship is accredited by the ACGME and after completion allows the graduate to sit for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R) Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine subspecialty examination. This fellowship provides the trainee with a well-rounded clinical experience in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
The goal of our ACGME-accredited program is to prepare the fellow for a career in academic pediatric rehabilitation medicine. We offer a comprehensive educational experience for fellows to fully develop their skills related to patient evaluation, management, data collection and interpretation in pediatric rehabilitation patients. We provide quality clinical training, as well as teaching and research opportunities with outstanding mentoring that will lead to development of the next generation of leaders in the field of PRM.
UTSW is a top-ranked, multifaceted academic institution nationally recognized for its excellence in educating physicians, biomedical scientists, and other health care professionals. Our fellows have the distinct advantage of learning from an elite group of leaders in their respective fields.
Children's Health℠ is one of the largest and most esteemed pediatric hospitals in the United States and is the only hospital in North Texas to be nationally ranked by US News & World Report."
Leadership
Assistant Professor
Saylee Dhamdhere, M.D., is Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health. She earned her medical degree from the Dr. Vaishampayan Memorial Government Medical College. She completed her residency in PM&R at the Metropolitan Hospital Center/New York Medical College and her Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship at UT Southwestern/Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.
Certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in physical medicine and rehabilitation and in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation, she joined the UTSW faculty in 2023.
Professor and Chair
Heakyung Kim, M.D., is Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Kimberly-Clark Distinguished Chair in Mobility Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in pediatric rehabilitation medicine, brain injury, cerebral palsy, and botulinum toxin injections for spasticity and drooling management.
A prolific and renowned presenter and author, Dr. Kim has published widely across peer reviewed journals related to her areas of clinical interest. She joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2022.
Associate Professor
Rajashree Srinivasan, M.D., is Associate Professor and Chief of Service for Pediatric Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern and Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Srinivasan earned her medical degree at Bangalore Medical College in India and completed a residency in pediatric rehabilitation at the University of Toledo Health Science Campus.
Certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in physical medicine and rehabilitation and in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation, she joined the UTSW faculty in 2015.
Clinical Experience/Exposure
The Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) fellowship offers a wide variety of clinical experiences in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Clinical experiences for fellows include the following:
| Outpatient | Inpatient | Procedure Clinics |
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Didactic Curriculum
Our PRM fellowship curriculum is designed to create a solid foundation for pediatric physiatrist clinical learning and knowledge.
Our fellows attend and participate in the following didactic opportunities:
- PRM Fellow Core lectures
- PM&R Department Grand Rounds
- CHST Grand rounds
- PM&R Education Conferences
- Multidisciplinary Pediatric Conferences
- Pediatric Fellowship Common Curriculum
- Resilience / Wellness
- Research methods
- Mentorship
- Administration
Research
PRM Fellows are provided 4 research months over a 2-year curriculum. Fellows are given this opportunity to establish their research interests and have protected time for research throughout the fellowship. Fellows have the opportunity to develop relationships with researchers from within the division and department.
Teaching Faculty
- Saylee Dhamdhere, M.D. - Assistant Professor
- Laura Ridnour, MPAS-PA-C - Physician Assistant
- Yanlong Song, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- Rajashree Srinivasan, M.D. - Associate Professor
- Jeff Waugh, M.D. - Assistant Professor
- Annie Abraham, M.D. - Assistant Professor
Mentorship
Faculty from UT Southwestern Medical Center Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Children's Medical Center provide mentorship. You are assigned a dedicated faculty adviser who can provide comprehensive educational advice and personal support. You meet with your adviser periodically throughout the program to review your progress and career goals, and ensure that your educational needs are being met.
Bob Rinaldi, M.D. - Professor
Chief, Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Member: Pediatric Subcommittee, ABPMR
Member: Board of Governors, AAPMR
Jeff Waugh, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Member: International Child Neurology Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, Movement Disorders Society, American Academy of Neurology
Rajashree Srinivasan, M.D.
Associate Professor
Clinical Rotation Sites
Fellows train in a variety of settings.
- Children's Health Specialty Center Cityville at Southwestern Medical District
- Scottish Rite for Children
- Children's Medical Center Dallas
Benefits
Benefit Programs include medical, dental, vision, supplemental life, AD&D insurance, long-term care insurance, flexible spending accounts and retirement. Details will be provided during the interview process.
An educational stipend is available for the fellow to use for approved conferences, travel, courses, books, or board exam reimbursement.
How to Apply
The Pediatric Rehabilitation fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center participates in the NRMP Fellowship Match. Learn more about the application process.