Long time lurker, first time posting to this board. I found these threads to be invaluable to my understanding of the field, research about programs and overall feedback to interviews/forming my ROL, so I wanted to give back a bit. With that, I am offering up the programs that ended up being in my top 6-- in alphabetical and not ranking order. Why? What's important to me may not be quite as important to you. Please feel free to contact me by PM if you have any further questions, I'd be happy to help!
Emory: Incredible interview day and the lunch was so good! Everybody was friendly, laidback and knew the applicants well. Conversations were easy and reflective of the diversity of opportunities at Emory. It seems like a lot of grads go into outpatient/pain but at the same time, one of the current chiefs is going on to a SCI fellowship at Kessler. Emory prepares its graduates to meet their goals. The PD is new to Emory in the last couple of years but enthusiastic and invested in the future of the program, starting a peds fellowship this year to add to their current fellowship opportunities. CRM offers feelings of a stand-alone rehab center but still allows for the code team to come from across the street when the need arises. The Shepherd Center is fantastic: its really a beautiful facility where awesome patients are taken care of by great staff, therapists, residents and attendings alike; with Shepherd comes some great SCI exposure. Lots of procedural opportunities too. Didactics are twice a week, on an 18-month cycle. This program definitely seems to be moving up. Atlanta traffic is TOUGH. This is one of the programs where I wish there was more info on the SDN boards. (6 advanced positions total)
Ohio State: Great reputation, great history, great EMGs, amazing research going on at this institution, in neuroprosthetics and movement especially! Faculty are dedicated and it is apparent that tOSU grads love their training and the program. Well-rounded and great exposure in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Variety of clinical opportunities at various sites, including 4 months with peds. Residents enter into a variety of settings upon graduating, which I took to be a testament to their well-rounded exposure during training. Laidback interview day. People seemed really happy. There are ample moonlighting opportunities and great benefits offered by tOSU. Great COL too. (2 categorical positions, 4 advanced: 6 total)
RIC: So much of an incredible reputation surrounds this program on this board that I wasnt sure if the program could truly stand up to the hype. The residents here were diverse, cohesive and happy, even when working hard. They are proud of their program and the opportunities within it. RIC itself is multiple floors of pure rehab, including peds, O&P, research and your general bread and butter adult neurorehab. The hospital itself also sits right on Lake Michigan, giving the residents a great view as they sit behind their work computers. RIC is a large hospital with a large patient volume and ample learning. When a patient has to get transferred out, they go back across the street to the acute care hospital. While some have commented on access to procedures, Ive heard that this isnt as big of an issue and residents are performing what they want and need to. Research opportunities are abundant. Northwestern medical students are required to complete a rotation at RIC. Faculty mentors are available to guide you along the way, both for research projects but also overall career goals. Didactics are daily, at noon. 4 months elective time. Residents were proud and happy to work there. The only weakness I could get out of anybody was a lack of inpatient VA opportunities. Chicago is a fantastic city with a reasonable COL. But it is a cold, cold place to be for a lot of the year. (4 categorical positions, 8 advanced: 12 positions total)
Temple: So much has been said about Temple and I really think the interview day/program stands up to the discussion. The residents here were fun, laidback and a well-rounded group of people. It was obvious what great relationships they have with each other and with their faculty, while still learning a lot and getting the job done. This was one of the most diverse and vibrant group of residents I met along the way and I felt welcome all day longin fact, this was true even before the interview day, as I got a welcome call a few days before interviewing. Moss is another stand-alone rehab hospital with its own ICU, so the support is there if you need it. TBI exposure is great, thanks to this facility. And you still get the medically complicated/trauma cases at Temple Hospital too. The program admitted a weakness in SCI. They have a new sports med doc. They also really played up the idea of progressively less call as you made your way through training; they have their scheduling down pat. Didactics here are once weekly. With the number of training sites, there seemed to be a LOT of driving here and a car would definitely be necessary, sometimes in places where Philly traffic isnt ideal. (9 advanced positions total)
University of Washington: The opportunities abound in Seattle! This program has a great reputation and with good merit. The rehab medicine department was one of the first at the UW, leading to a long-standing investment and understanding of the department within and by the rest of the medical center. The PD has been a part of the program for at least 15 years (probably closer to 20) and is still constantly working to make sure the program keeps up with the dynamics going on in other programs and across the field. There is a great balance of inpatient work to outpatient rotations. The exposure for residents is broad and deep, including academic facilities, inpatient and outpatient VA work and time at Seattle Childrens as well, in addition to other facilities throughout the city. There is a new peds fellowship set to begin soon. Residents will also start to rotate at Swedish to gain exposure to general rehab in a community setting too. MSK/Sports opportunities continue to increase and gain support. Didactics are twice a week and year specific but program-wide as well. There are intermittent noon conferences/meetings at each site that offer more learning too. The faculty are invested in resident education on every level and each resident has a faculty mentor. Required research is a part of the curriculum, with countless opportunities and topics to explore. UW medical students are required to complete a chronic care clerkship, with some rotating through the Rehab medicine department, so the opportunity to gain experience in clinical instruction starts early. The education is top-notch and the clinicians leaving this program are prepared to practice PM&R in any variety of settings. The residents are bright yet humble, fun, cohesive, happy and incredibly active. Seattle is beautiful and great! But it is far away and COL is a little steeper than some other places. (3 categorical positions, 6 advanced: 9 positions total)
VCU: Another program that I wish had more info on these boards. The education here is fantastic. The PD has been at VCU for almost 20 years (I think?) and his investment and pride in the program is obvious. The program is incredibly well rounded and provides great inpatient exposure while still giving you opportunity for tons of procedures, outpatient clinics and a wealth of research opportunities. VCU has every fellowship opportunity it seems like you would want, including polytrauma. The VA in Richmond is one of 5 places to take active duty soldiers, which leads to some awesome and interesting rehab education and what I could only assume to be some fascinating patients. There are a variety of training sites to expose you to the academic, private practice and community aspects to PM&R. VCUs ER is a level I trauma center to a large region (not sure the exact specs on where), so the patients come through there as well. Didactics here are once a week. The department chair is director (chair? Medical director?) of rehab services for the VA nationally; he sat with applicants for an hour during the day just to welcome us and remembered things we said after the fact. Faculty are invested in resident education and residents do get a mentor to work with throughout their training. COL is very good and there is close proximity to a lot to do, including in Richmond itself. This program is reliable, a great education and people are happy. (6 advanced positions total)
Disclaimer: I know that I cant be 100% accurate for everything, months after the fact. Plus, all of this was my perspective. But I did my best with the notes I have. Like I said, if any future applicants have questions, feel free to shoot me a PM. Im humbled that I had such a good interviewing experience and excited to be joining this field. I love it! Good luck everybody!
