MedStar Health Georgetown University/National Rehabilitation Hospital Program

The MedStar Health—Georgetown/National Rehabilitation Hospital Residency Program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers a comprehensive training experience for residents aspiring to develop expertise in this vital field of medicine. This categorical program is designed for four years, accepting six residents each year and is anchored at the MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, a leading facility for rehabilitation in Washington, D.C.

Residents in this program benefit from an extensive range of training opportunities in both inpatient and outpatient settings, allowing them to encounter a wide variety of pathologies. The program places a strong emphasis on an inclusive culture while also encouraging residents to explore their personal interests throughout their training years, integrating five months of electives and a research track into the curriculum.

Curriculum

The curriculum of the residency program encompasses a thoughtful progression through the various facets of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The PGY-1 year is integrated into the program through a spinal cord injury rotation, setting the tone for the interactive and multifaceted training that follows.

PGY-2 Year

The second year of residency incorporates specialty-specific rotations across diverse inpatient and outpatient settings. Residents will cover crucial areas such as:

• Inpatient stroke
• Outpatient neurorehabilitation
• Inpatient brain injury (2 months)
• Patient safety/quality improvement (2 weeks)
• Prosthetics/orthotics (2 weeks)
• Inpatient musculoskeletal
• Inpatient general rehabilitation (2 months)
• Outpatient sports/spine
• Inpatient cardiac rehabilitation
• Inpatient spinal cord injury
• Outpatient pain medicine or elective

PGY-3 Year

For the third year, residents will engage in:

• EMG (3 months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with certain eligibility restrictions)
• Inpatient spinal cord injury
• Inpatient consults (at MedStar Washington Hospital Center)
• Pediatric rehabilitation consults (at Children’s National Medical Center)
• Outpatient pediatric rehabilitation (Children’s National Medical Center)
• Outpatient sports/spine
• Electives

PGY-4 Year

The final year includes more targeted training with options such as:

• Inpatient consults (MedStar Washington Hospital Center)
• Inpatient musculoskeletal
• Electives (3 months)
• Outpatient cancer rehabilitation
• Outpatient at Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (2 months)
• Inpatient brain injury
• Outpatient neurorehabilitation

Research Opportunities

Every resident is expected to engage in a scholarly project during their tenure within the program. There is a notable focus on research, complemented by a structured five-month optional research track at the National Institutes of Health, exposing residents to cutting-edge rehabilitation sciences.

Training Sites

The primary location for this residency is MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, which is renowned for its comprehensive rehabilitation services. Residents will also rotate through the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, allowing them to gain insight into military medicine and rehabilitation procedures.

Visa Support

The program offers assistance with visa applications, enabling international medical graduates (IMGs) to apply for positions through the appropriate channels. It can sponsor J-1 visas for foreign medical graduates.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

This program is regarded as highly competitive, welcoming both DO and IMG applicants. The application process requires the submission of several documents, including:

• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (or Dean's Letter)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official medical school transcripts
• Personal statement
• Curriculum vitae
• USMLE or NBOME transcripts

It is critical that all international applicants submit necessary documents with official certified translations in English. The program adheres to the National Resident Matching Program and follows all rules and regulations associated with the match process.

Didactic Training

Residents participate in structured didactic sessions that include a variety of topics such as ultrasound training, electrodiagnostic series, and board review. Quality improvement initiatives are also an integral part of training, with formal education in process improvement methodologies provided throughout the residency.