Welcome to the residency training program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The goal of our program is to provide residents with broad based comprehensive training in all aspects of our specialty. While centered at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, training also occurs at our outpatient facilities including the Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Center, and the Chronic Pain Outpatient Center and affiliated hospitals including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Illinois Masonic and the Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Hospital.
To provide residents with the knowledge and experience necessary for the successful practice of PMR, we offer trainees a highly structured didactic and clinical curriculum. Residents have didactic offerings daily which include lectures, grand rounds and journal club. The lecture series covers topics felt to be “core” information necessary to the practice of our specialty. These core lectures are supplemented by the anatomy, physical examination, electrodiagnosis and administrative series which rounds out the formal educational offering. Clinically residents rotate through all inpatient units at the RIC including pediatrics and participate in a number of outpatient rotations providing trainees with a balanced clinical experience and exposure to all major disabilities. The strength and success of our residency program is the result of the dedication and commitment of our faculty members and staff and the loyalty and hard work of our trainees. I hope you find this website useful and informative. If you should have additional questions about our training program please feel free to contact our Office of Medical Education. Sincerely, James Sliwa, DO  | |
Thank you for your interest in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at Northwestern University! We invite you to learn more about our program which provides training at a world-class rehabilitation hospital. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) provides our residents with a wonderful learning environment and the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated group of professionals committed to the care of patients and to our education.
As residents, we are privileged to have the opportunity to care for patients from a wide variety of backgrounds and with a broad range of medical conditions. Our inpatient rehabilitation rotations at RIC include spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, general medical conditions, pediatric, and orthopedic rehabilitation. In addition, we have the opportunity to experience inpatient rehabilitation in a community setting at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Outpatient rotations include training in the physiatric management of chronic pain, cancer, lymphedema, arthritis, neurologic disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, sports medicine, women’s health, and amputations. We receive extensive training in electrodiagnosis (EMG and nerve conduction studies) and spasticity management. Our ample elective time and close relationship with other clinical departments at Northwestern University provides us with opportunities to pursue further education in areas that are of interest.
In addition to the outstanding “bedside teaching” on daily rounds, we benefit from a strong didactic program. Our weekday noon-time lectures given by faculty members cover a wealth of rehabilitation topics and are further supplemented by weekly Chairman’s Rounds and Grand Rounds. Throughout the year we have a sports and spine lecture series, hands on anatomy lessons, a physical exam workshop series, electrodiagnostic training, an administrative lecture series, a manual medicine course, and a spinal injection course. As residents, we also have the opportunity to attend a variety of courses hosted by the RIC Academy, some of which are internationally-renowned.
Resident research at RIC is abundant and prolific. RIC houses many of the cutting edge research and technological advances in rehabilitative medicine within its flagship hospital. We are particularly excited about our new 5th year advanced research training option. This serves as a consistent, open dialogue between resident researchers and their attending mentors that makes fulfilling the required scholarly project during residency an enriching experience. Our residents frequently present their research at national conferences with the support and funding of the Scholl Foundation.
Our residents are some of the best and brightest from across the nation, but moreover we try to attract residents who value teamwork and cooperative learning. We have an enthusiastic and supportive group who enjoy spending time together both in and out of the hospital. Resident activities include picnics, holiday parties, happy hours, attending concerts, playing together in various sports leagues, and taking advantage of all that Chicago has to offer. Graduates of this program leave more than well-prepared to provide exceptional care in all areas of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Those who have pursued fellowships have been very successful in obtaining positions at highly competitive programs.
We hope to have the opportunity to meet you in person soon. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thanks, Requirements for specialty certification by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation include four years of postgraduate medical education with one year of broad-based clinical training and three years of specialty training. An osteopathic internship is acceptable for the PGY-I year of training. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University offers two fully accredited residency programs, a categorical program and a specialty program. Several months of each program are available for electives that can be designed to fulfill the needs and special interests of individual residents involved in ongoing outpatient management through weekly clinics. Residents evaluate and manage acute and chronic pain syndromes in outpatients. Our broad-based educational program prepares resident physicians for a career in either an academic setting or private practice. Additional information is available on the topics listed below. QUESTIONS? Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation For more information, please contact the Office of Graduate Medical Education (312) 503-7975 |
