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Rehabilitation Medicine

Rehabilitation Medicine UnitPhysical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is a comparatively new specialty, having achieved independent board status within the American Board of Medical Specialties in 1947. Shortly thereafter, in 1952, the NYMC Department of Rehabilitation Medicine’s PM&R residency training program was established, making it one of the oldest and longest-standing PM&R programs operating today.  Over the ensuing years, the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine has educated and trained countless numbers of students and residents. 

The specialty of PM&R offers a diverse array of clinical areas in which to subspecialize and/or focus one’s practice. Some PM&R physicians, also known as physiatrists, treat primarily acquired brain injury cases, while others practice mainly sports and spine medicine. Below is a list of areas where physiatrists may pursue advanced fellowship training or focus their areas of practice.

  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Interventional Spine / Pain Management
  • Sports Medicine
  • Electrodiagnostic Medicine
  • Pediatric Rehabilitation
  • Cancer Rehabilitation
  • Occupational Health

Our Mission

  1. We strive to provide skilled and compassionate rehabilitative care to all our patients, by recognizing their individual needs and goals, working to overcome barriers, helping them recover strength and function, and providing them with the education and resources they need to achieve the best possible outcomes following an injury or debilitating illness.
  2. We seek to provide our students and residents with the knowledge and skills needed to be highly competent rehabilitation medicine specialists, prepare them for careers of lifelong learning, and demonstrate, through example, the importance of character and professionalism in the delivery of healthcare.
  3. We work to advance knowledge through translational and transdisciplinary research designed to develop effective rehabilitative strategies to enhance functional recovery and quality of life. 

Meet the Team

Robert Holland, M.D., M.H.A.
Catherine and Vladislav P. Hinterbuchner Professor and Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
19 Skyline Drive, 2N-B24

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Rehabilitation Medicine Residency

We seek to provide our residents with the knowledge and skills needed to be competent and compassionate rehabilitation medicine specialists, prepare them for careers of lifelong learning, and demonstrate, through example, the importance of character and professionalism in the delivery of healthcare. We teach them to advocate for their patients, especially the most vulnerable, with limited resources so that every patient can receive the health care and support services they need to recover. We actively seek the recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive workforce of residents, faculty, therapists, rehabilitation nurses, senior administrative staff and other members of our clinical training program that reflects the diverse community that we serve. We introduce our residents to translational and transdisciplinary research with the goal of preparing those that may choose to pursue further training and careers in academic medicine.

Our educational programs include an ACGME-accredited three-year postgraduate training program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). Dating back to 1952, the NYMC PM&R residency program has a long and established record of preparing physicians to excel in the clinical practice of physiatry. We are proud to offer a comprehensive program that provides training in a wide range of clinical settings and a variety of specialty areas. The goal of our program is simple. We strive to instill in each resident not only the knowledge and clinical skills they require, but professionalism, an understanding of how to work as part of a team, how to provide patient care with compassion and empathy, how to prepare for lifelong learning, and how to navigate an increasingly complex system of healthcare. To achieve these goals, we are constantly reassessing our training program and adding experiences to enhance learning opportunities.  We encourage our residents to think outside the box, pursue their interests, and have fun as we all learn together.

Learn more about the NYMC rehabilitation medicine residency programs here.