Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is among the world’s most comprehensive public research universities and our honors show it. Learning in a dynamic, multidisciplinary, academic setting is part of Ohio State’s unique residency experience. The Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is part of Ohio State’s world-class Neurological Institute. Our residents learn from and collaborate with highly accomplished faculty in state-of-the-art facilities. Here, you’ll gain valuable experience, insights and relationships that will endure throughout your career.

The Office of Graduate Medical Education and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are proud to share that our residency program is considered one of the top 25 programs in the nation for physical medicine and rehabilitation, according to Doximity’s 2022-2023 Residency Navigator. This standing is based upon a national poll conducted by Doximity assessing the reputation of accredited residency programs among certified physicians.

Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training Program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is to train physicians to become outstanding physiatrists capable of providing a broad range of high-quality care to their patients and who will become leaders in the field of PM&R.

OSU PM&R Residency Training Program’s Aims

We aim to provide the highest caliber of clinical, research and procedural education in a supportive setting and free from harassment or intimidation.

We aim to cultivate passion and enthusiasm for work and the field of PM&R by focusing on resident wellness and balance.

We aim to embody the multidisciplinary spirit of physical medicine and rehabilitation by cultivating interdisciplinary cohesion and respect.

We aim to adopt practices to create a culture of inclusivity wherein all individuals feel welcomed and respected, regardless of race, gender, orientation, ethnicity, religion or background.

We aim to identify and reduce the effects of health inequity on our patient population and integrate social determinants of health in our clinical decision making.

OSU PM&R Residency Training Program’s Objectives

The overall objectives of the program are to train physicians to become competent, well-rounded, independent physiatrists who excel in:

• the diagnosis, evaluation and management of persons of all ages with physical and/or cognitive impairments and disability
• the diagnosis and treatment of patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions
• the recognition and management of co-morbidities and co-impairments, diagnostic and therapeutic injection procedures and emphasis on the prevention of complications of disability from secondary conditions
• electrodiagnostic medicine and ultrasound evaluation
• the diagnosis and management of impairments of the neurologic, musculoskeletal (including sports and occupational aspects) and other body systems and the long-term management of patients with disabling conditions
• the six ACGME core competencies and rotation-specific competencies
• providing leadership to multidisciplinary teams concerned with maximal restoration or development of physical, psychological, social, occupational and vocational functions in persons whose abilities have been limited by disease, trauma, congenital disorders or pain to enable people to achieve their maximum functional abilities
• the pursuit of academic inquiry through the use of appropriate research methodologies to answer academic/clinical questions and quality improvement
• recognizing social factors impacting the health and well-being of patients and interacting and caring for diverse patient populations in a culturally and socially appropriate manner

• Ohio State’s PM&R Residency Program provides advanced inpatient, outpatient and consultative experience. Residents receive training in general and neurorehabilitation, neuromuscular medicine, electrodiagnostics and musculoskeletal ultrasound.
• Residents lead and present research, and learn from some of the best faculty in the field, including pediatrics, psychology and sports medicine rehab specialists.
• Our curriculum provides extensive clinical exposure, didactic programs, research, mentoring and teaching opportunities. Rotations include clinical experience with patients recovering from brain or spinal cord injury, stroke, orthopedic procedures, neuromuscular diseases, organ transplants and cancer.
• Ambulatory experiences include General Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, specialty care, spasticity management, cancer clinics, baclofen pumps, spine interventions and electrodiagnostic medicine.
• Residents learn leading-edge therapies and clinical care at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital — a nationally ranked, 60-bed inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facility.
• Each year, we accept seven residents.

Read a letter from our chief residents