Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / Pediatrics Combined Residency Program Overview

Pediatric Training | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training | Combined Residency Program | Contact Information

Children with disabilities represent a unique population within pediatrics. They require a pediatrician with expertise in caring for children with a wide range of disabilities and chronic medical disorders.

Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati, along with the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, offers a five-year combined residency program in Pediatrics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), which prepares the resident to care for children with special needs, as well as others with musculoskeletal problems.

Cincinnati Children's is consistently ranked as one of the top five children's hospitals in the country, and it is one of the few that has a combined pediatric/PMR residency program.

Residents in this combined program typically enjoy work involving chronic care and the long-term follow-up that exists for these children. This can cover a wide spectrum of patients, from those with severe neurological deficits requiring total care, to those with mild deficits who function at age-appropriate levels.

Through this type of residency training, one learns to care for these children and maximize their functional potential. Training in the care of all children is the other major focus of this program.

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Pediatric Training

The resident in the combined Pediatric/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program will complete a full pediatric training program that will meet all requirements for the national board certification examination for pediatrics. This part of the combined training program is the same training all pediatric residents receive with opportunity to rotate on electives that will be useful in caring for children with disabilities.

In addition, the resident will rotate on the inpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation service which is accepted as part of the pediatric training. The pediatric training is entirely on site at Cincinnati Children's, and the resident in the combined program is considered a Cincinnati Children's employee.

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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training

The resident in the combined Pediatric/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program will complete the full Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation training program, which meets all requirements for the national board certification examination for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. This part of the combined training program is the same training all Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residents receive.

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation training is done at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (located across the street from Cincinnati Children's) and its adult rehabilitation hospital, the Drake Center (located approximately 15 minutes from Cincinnati Children's).

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Combined Residency Program

The combined residency program in Pediatrics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children's and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center is a fully integrated program that is fully supported by both institutions.

After the initial intern year at Cincinnati Children's, the resident rotates in four-month blocks in each residency during the five-year program, so an extended period of time is not spent away from the other residency.

Residents are fully involved in all residency activities of both programs. This includes outpatient clinics for Pediatrics, adult rehabilitation, and Pediatric Rehabilitation, as well as social activities.

Additional information is available through the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation office at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center or the Cincinnati Children's Pediatric Rehabilitation office.

Program Information

The combined residency program was established in 1988.
One applicant is accepted into the program every year.
The combined program has graduated a resident every year since 1993.
One of the few programs in the country accepting one applicant per year with five residents active in the program at one time.
Applicants have come from all areas of the country.
Arranged through Cincinnati Children's, all benefits and salary are competitive with similar institutions throughout the country.
Graduates of the combined program have found positions throughout the country.
Research is encouraged, but it is not mandatory.
Cincinnati Children's is one of only a few institutions with three full-time Pediatric Rehabilitation physicians.

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