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Medical College of Wisconsin Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medical Student Program

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at the Medical College of Wisconsin offers many opportunities for medical student education. Given the affiliations with Froedtert Hospital, Children's Wisconsin, and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, there exists a fertile environment for patient care and teaching. The PM&R department consists of 31 faculty members, committed to resident and student teaching, patient care, and research. Medical students participate in weekly resident educational didactic sessions, bedside teaching, as well as other educational opportunities that arise.

During the M1 year, students have the opportunity to learn more about the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation through the Medical College of Wisconsin PM&R Student Club. The students organize this club, with Dr. Jennifer Yacub Martin as the advisor.

During the M2 year, PM&R faculty participates in the Introduction to Clinical Examination course, teaching a component of the musculoskeletal exam. Faculty additionally serves as on-site mentors to the M2 students during the "History and Physical Exam" portion of this course.

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M3 PM&R Student Rotations Graded Electives

Brain Injury – 2 Week
This elective, located at Froedtert Hospital on the neurorehabilitation unit and in outpatient clinics, medical students will learn about neurological and behavioral deficits resulting from brain injury. This will include exposure to the entire rehabilitation team, discussion of pharmacologic approaches applied in brain injury rehabilitation, and long-term care planning.

Neuroscience Rehabilitation/Spinal Cord Injury – 4 Week
This elective, located primarily at the Veteran's Hospital, is designed to assist medical students in the evaluation and treatment of patients with neurologic disorders, including spinal cord injury. Students will learn to perform focused, functional evaluations, correlate the pathologic lesion with physical exam, gain exposure to long-term disability and medical issues, and integrate care within the entire rehabilitation team.

Spinal Cord Injury – 2 Week
This elective, located at Froedtert Hospital Spinal Cord Injury unit and outpatient clinics, medical students will become familiar with the interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation of the SCI patient. This will include exposure to the entire rehabilitation team, discussion of basic treatments for neurogenic bowel, bladder, pressure sores, spasticity and pain and performance of clinical examination for myelopathies.

Spine and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation – 4 Week
This elective, located in the MCW SpineCare and Sports Medicine clinics will provide medical students exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of spine and sports/musculoskeletal disorders.

Pediatric Rehabilitation – 2 & 4 Week
This elective at Children's Wisconsin is designed to introduce medical students to pediatric congenital and developmental disorders, traumatic injuries and disease processes which interfere with normal growth and development. Improved understanding of rehabilitation concepts will occur through exposure to the entire rehabilitation team in an inpatient and outpatient setting.

M4 PMR Student Rotations Graded Electives

Spine & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation – 4 Week
This elective, located in the MCW SpineCare clinic and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics, is designed to assist students in learning about the evaluation and treatment of common non-surgical musculoskeletal disorders involving the neck, back, knee, shoulder, ankle and foot.

Spasticity Management and Rehabilitation – 4 Week
This elective, located at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Wisconsin, is designed to assist medical students in learning about neurological injury and disease processes, functional comprehensive rehabilitation, and long-term management of spasticity utilizing physical and occupational therapy, medication management, BOTOX® injections, baclofen pumps, and surgical treatments.

Brain Injury – 4 Week
Located at Froedtert Hospital on the neurorehabilitation unit and in outpatient clinics, medical students will learn about neurological and behavioral deficits resulting from brain injury. This will include exposure to the entire rehabilitation team, discussion of pharmacologic approaches applied in brain injury rehabilitation, and long-term care planning.

Spinal Cord Injury – 4 Week
During this selective located at Froedtert Hospital Spinal Cord Injury unit and outpatient clinics, medical students will become familiar with the interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation of the SCI patient. This will include exposure to the entire rehabilitation team, discussion of basic treatments for neurogenic bowel, bladder, pressure sores, spasticity and pain and performance of clinical examination for myelopathies.

Pediatric Rehabilitation – 4 Week
This selective at Children's Wisconsin is designed to introduce medical students to pediatric congenital and developmental disorders, traumatic injuries and disease processes which interfere with normal growth and development. Improved understanding of rehabilitation concepts will occur through exposure to the entire rehabilitation team in an inpatient and outpatient setting. Work with multiple pediatric specialties in the Spina Bifida Clinic.

General Rehabilitation – 4 Week
Located in the VA General Rehabilitation unit, medical students will gain exposure to and work as part of a formal interdisciplinary team providing medical and rehabilitative care to individuals with functionally limiting conditions such as amputation, stroke, multiple trauma, fracture, MS and general debilitation following critical illness. Students will be able to differentiate between impairment, disability, and handicap as well as gain fundamental knowledge of acute medical management of common illnesses seen during rehabilitation.

Contact Us

Additional information and course descriptions can be found on the Medical School website.

If you are interested in an away rotation in the department you can view the Visiting Students website.

The American Academy of PM&R website offers further resource information regarding PM&R as a career choice, as well as residency programs.

PMR Education
pmreducation@mcw.edu

Heather Curtiss, MD
PM&R Undergraduate Medical Education Director
hcurtiss@mcw.edu