Didactic, Research, and Evaluations
a. Didactic Training Program
The heart of an extensive didactic training program is a revolving 18-month lecture series of 176 lectures covering all facets of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Residents are required to attend four hours of didactic sessions every Friday morning. CME (Continuing Medical Education)- accredited Grand Rounds are presented weekly. Lectures are presented by faculty who are experts in the topic presented.
The didactic training program also includes resident lectures and conferences in which the resident researches and presents a subject. Journal Club presentations are scheduled monthly. Individual case presentations are given followed by resident and faculty discussions. A 12 week lecture series focusing on research techniques and processes has recently been added to the program.
Each resident is provided with a set of textbooks and a syllabus for study which has been published by the American Academy of PM&R. Residents are allowed one week of educational leave each year to attend conferences outside of the department.
Within the framework of the didactic training are special lectures concerning the use of rehabilitation equipment, modalities and devices including safety precautions regarding the electronic considerations of EMG and electrodiagnostic equipment.
Special opportunities are available at the VA for observation of their large Orthotics and Prosthetics Service, including the clinical use of these devices.
b. Anatomy Course
The PM&R faculty presents an anatomy course once every two years. All residents are required to complete the anatomy course, which includes cadaver dissection. The 10 session course offers faculty lectures and supervised dissection of the extremities and related areas of the trunk and back.
c. Electromyography
Electrodiagnostic testing is an integral part of the resident-education program. The resident performs the studies with faculty supervision. Most of the studies are performed when the resident is on the consultation service at Parkland and on the rehab med service at the VA. The resident is required to document 200 supervised electromyographic and electrodiagnostic examinations during the residency program.
d. Research
All residents are required to participate in research during the residency program. Each year a 12-week research training program is provided for all residents, although only PGY II residents are required to attend.
Research seed grants (up to $500) are available to residents whose formal research proposal has been approved by the Research Committee. A two-month research elective rotation is available for senior residents who wish to pursue an intensive research experience under the mentorship of a faculty member. A letter to the chairman of the Research Committee indicating the goals of the elective, intended project, and faculty mentor is required. A complete proposal and IRB approval for the project is required before a resident may begin the elective.
Residents are expected to present their project at the department=s annual PM&R Scientific Day held each year in June to demonstrate completion of the research requirement. Residents who complete the research requirement during the PGY II and PGY III year will be eligible for leave and support to attend the American Academy of PM&R meeting in the fall of their PGY IV year. Residents who have their research project accepted for presentation at the AAPM&R meeting will receive funding from the department to attend the conference and present their work.
e. Electives
A one-to-two month elective rotation is offered for each resident in the senior year.
f. Evaluations
Periodic evaluations of the resident are performed by written and oral examinations. Formal examinations occur twice per year. Residents are given the written Self-Assessment Examination (SAE) annually as provided by the American Academy of PM&R (AAPM&R). Attending faculty give written evaluations of each resident after each rotation. These evaluations are recorded in the residents= files and are submitted annually to the American Board of PM&R in order to record the resident=s progress. Residents are asked to evaluate the training program and faculty by a written evaluation form.
g. Duties and Responsibilities
Residents are required to learn to perform a complete history and physical examination; to do neurologic, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular assessments; to interpret psychological and vocational information; to write prescriptions for orthotic and prosthetic devices including wheelchairs; to write physiatric therapeutic prescriptions; to analyze growth and development of children; to evaluate cardiopulmonary pathology; and to communicate with patients, families, and allied health-care professionals.
Residents have an opportunity to learn about all areas of pathology with which the physiatrist must deal including acute muscular injuries and pain syndromes, chronic-pain syndromes, radicular-pain syndromes, congenital and acquired myopathies, neuropathies, motor-system diseases, central- nervous-system disorders, spinal-cord injury, neurogenic bowel and bladder, decubitus ulcers, burns, amputations, sexual disturbances, traumatic brain injury, post-fracture care, pulmonary and cardiac conditions, geriatric problems, rheumatologic conditions and common medical problems encountered in rehabilitation patients.
h. Call
Call is currently every 12th night during the PGY-II and PGY-III years (no call PGY-IV year). Call is in-house at Parkland Hospital. Responsibilities include management of problems that arise on the inpatient units at Parkland and Zale Lipshy hospitals, as well as telephone coverage at the VA spinal- cord unit. Each resident will also have weekend coverage at the VA SCI unit four to five weekends per year.
The overall objective of the training program is to emphasize broad-based understanding and skill development across all of the disciplines of PM&R, along with the imparting of knowledge in academic principles and current developments in the field of PM&R. After three years of satisfactory performance in this program, the resident is qualified to seek admissibility to the examination given for certification by the American Board of PM&R.
