Residency Program
The UT Southwestern Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program delivers a broad educational experience for both allopathic and osteopathic resident physicians. Our residents collaborate with other disciplines and medical specialties to best treat physical and cognitive impairments. Residents will also participate in educating patients, caregivers, the local community, and medical students on various PM&R topics.
A new curriculum offers both traditional lectures in addition to hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and introductory and advanced lecture series. Additionally, a renewed Department focus on research increases resident exposure and participation in the research process.
Our ACGME-accredited Residency Program consists of 33 residents total. We have six categorical positions and provide an intern year for these residents, as well as three advanced positions.
Lecture Series and Educational Resources
Our Program offers an 18-month core curriculum structure based on the topics covered in Parts I and II of the American Board of PM&R Examination:
- Protected lecture time on Friday mornings
- Annual introductory and advanced lecture series in July
- Curriculum includes hands-on workshops and panel discussions
- Weekly "Quick Hits" and "Meet the Faculty" lectures
The PM&R Department offers monthly Grand Rounds and monthly Journal Club. All residents have access to numerous electronic books via the Health Sciences Digital Library and Learning Center, including core PM&R textbooks, such as Braddom’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. An additional educational stipend will be provided during the PGY3 and PGY4 years.
Rotation Schedule
PGY1 Categorical Intern Rotations occur at Parkland Health and Hospital Systems (PHHS) and the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS).
PGY1 Rotations
- Internal Medicine Wards
- Neurology
- Neurocritical Care
- Emergency Medicine
- MSK Radiology
- Burn Surgery and Trauma Surgery
- Palliative Care
- Outpatient Clinics
PGY2-PGY4 rotations are on a six-week block schedule at sites that include Parkland Health and Hospital Systems (PHHS), Zale Lipshy Pavilion—William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Clements University Hospital, VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), Children’s Medical Center, and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
PGY2 Rotations
- UTSW PM&R Inpatient Rehabilitation
- PHHS PM&R Inpatient Rehabilitation, Consults and Outpatient Clinics
- VANTHCS Spinal Cord Injury (Inpatient)
- Our Children's House (Children's Health) Inpatient Rehabilitation
- PHHS/UTSW Night Float
PGY3 Rotations
- UTSW Spine and Injections Outpatient Clinic
- PHHS PM&R Inpatient Rehabilitation, Consults and Outpatient Clinics
- PHHS Intro to EMG
- VANTHCS EMG
- VANTHCS Spinal Cord Injury (Outpatient)
- Children's Medical Center Outpatient Clinics
- PHHS/UTSW Night Float
PGY4 Rotations
- UTSW PM&R Inpatient Consults and Outpatient Clinics
- UTSW Spine and Injections Outpatient Clinics
- PHHS PM&R Inpatient Consults and Outpatient Clinics
- PHHS EMG Senior
- PHHS Selective Rotation
- VANTHCS Musculoskeletal Outpatient Clinics
- VANTHCS Traumatic Brain Injury Outpatient Clinic
- Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas Inpatient Rehabilitation
- Research Elective
Call Schedule/Night Float
There are separate on-call coverage arrangements for each rotation site. During calls at each site, residents are the first call with a faculty attending the second call. Except for the VANTHCS, all call and night float is done in-house. The VANTHCS is the home call. PGY4 residents do not take calls.
Night Float
Our Program has adopted a scheduled night float rotation during the PGY2 and PGY3 years for three weeks each year. Night float covers inpatient rehabilitation units at PHHS and UTSW’s Zale Lipshy Pavilion.
Weekend Call
Infrequent weekend call is one of the benefits of a large residency program. PGY2 and PGY3 split weekend calls. Residents have approximately 6-weekend calls in a year. Call responsibilities include rounding on the inpatient rehabilitation patients at Zale Lipshy Pavilion with the on-call attending and cross-covering the PHHS Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
VANTHCS Home Call
The residents on VANTHCS SCI inpatient and outpatient rotations cover home call for the SCI inpatient rehabilitation unit. This is done during the PGY2 and PGY3 year and is structured as a week on and a week off.
Holiday Call
Residents do not work on holidays observed by PHHS unless they are scheduled for holiday call coverage. Typically, holiday call is split among PGY2s.
Global Health
In 2018, the department started to extend our mission and physiatric outreach internationally. Faculty and residents travel to Ethiopia annually with neurologist Dr. Mehari Gebreyohanns for his BORNE Initiative. Together, we teach Ethiopian physicians, resident physicians, medical students, and staff a multi-disciplinary approach to the neurological care of patients, as well as education in topics such as burns and polytrauma.
A portion of the resident’s trip is covered by the alumni donation fund, GO-PMR. Additionally, the pediatric rehabilitation fellow and Dr. Clarice Sinn travel to the Dominican Republic periodically to help provide physiatric care to the children there.
Wellness
In 2017, the residency program created a committee focused on the wellbeing of the residents, fellows, and faculty. The Wellness Committee adheres to the seven spokes of wellness (emotional, social, environmental, physical, intellectual, spiritual, and career). Events occur both during and after work hours. The committee is chaired by residents and its members include residents, fellows, faculty, and administrative staff. As part of the UT Southwestern GME, there is also a Resident Wellness Clinic that is available to all residents.
Benefits
A full explanation of salary and benefits can be found at Parkland Health and Hospital System GME Benefits.