UPMC Medical Education Program

The Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh offers an immersive educational experience designed for individuals looking to specialize in the management and rehabilitation of patients with brain injuries. The program is led by highly trained faculty who are experts across a variety of medical disciplines, ensuring comprehensive training for fellows.

Program Overview

The fellowship is affiliated with the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, specifically focused at UPMC Mercy, a level 1 trauma center, and UPMC Presbyterian. This structure provides fellows with extensive exposure to both acute medical and rehabilitation care settings. The fellow's training will primarily occur at the Brain Injury Unit of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at Mercy, which is equipped with an 18-bed facility dedicated to the comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation of brain injury patients 1.

Clinical Rotations

The curriculum includes rotations that offer significant hands-on experience in managing brain injury patients across different phases of care. Specifically, fellows participate in the acute care phase at UPMC Presbyterian and in the rehabilitation phase at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. Rotations also encompass acute care consultations and inpatient rehabilitation team responsibilities, allowing fellows to gain practical insights and skills necessary for their future practice 1.

Learning Opportunities

The curriculum is designed to promote learning in several specialty areas, including:

• Assistive technology
• Neuropharmacology
• Neuroradiology
• Concussion evaluation and management
• Management of disorders of consciousness

Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in the sports concussion program, which provides exposure to patients from diverse athletic backgrounds and enhances the learning experience through direct observation and participation in this specialized clinic 1.

Research Opportunities

The fellowship supports comprehensive research activities, encouraging fellows to engage in both basic and clinical research. There are prospects for involvement in concussion clinics, which focus on sports-related injuries, and also encouragement to attend national and international conferences related to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 1. This fosters a culture of inquiry and discovery within the fellowship.

Educational Activities

Fellows are involved in several educational activities designed to enhance their clinical and teaching skills. They participate in teaching medical students and resident physicians, which helps consolidate their own knowledge while contributing to the educational mission of the department 1.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship program supports various visa types for international medical graduates, although details on specific visa sponsorship are typically outlined in application materials or orientation sessions. The program is known for being highly competitive; applicants are expected to be board certified or eligible in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the time of application. The program generally favors applicants with strong academic records and clinical experiences related to brain injury medicine 1.

Application Requirements

While all applicants must meet standard fellowship eligibility criteria, specific application requirements include being board certified or eligible in physical medicine and rehabilitation and demonstrating a solid background in neurological rehabilitation through prior training or practice 1. There are no stated restrictions on the number of attempted licensing exams like the USMLE or COMLEX, making the program relatively inclusive for DOs and IMGs.