Overview

Thanks for your interest in our residency program. Listed below are mock schedules for our West Los Angeles VA site and further down the page the components of our curriculum are listed. As you will see below, strong emphasis is placed on both formal classroom teaching, EVERYDAY of the week, in addition to our clinical exposure. Residents are also expected to present morbidity and mortality, journal club, as well as various other presentations throughout the year. Since this is a multi-campus program the typical day will vary greatly based on site. Regardless of location Tuesday afternoons remain protected time for didactics and all sites remain committed to the educational experience of the residents.

  Our typical work day lasts from 8am-5:30pm but at times runs later. Twenty days of vacation are provided with another ten days allowable for illness/required certifications/conferences. Our call schedule varies considerably based on location as well as post-graduate year and we encourage you to ask us questions about it when you visit.

Sample Outpatient Week at West Los Angeles VA  PGY-2

Sample Inpatient Week at West Los Angeles VA  PGY-2

COMPONENTS OF THE CURRICULUM

The three components of Physical Medical and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Pain Medicine curriculum include:

1. Basic Science and Clinical Didactics
2. Clinical Practice
3. Research

1.         Basic Science and Clinical Didactics

Basic Science:        (ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES)

There is a series of modules consisting of 6-12 lectures each, given by specialists in their respective fields on an annual basis, as follows:

• Introduction to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Kinesiology
• Neuromuscular Physiology
• Gross Anatomy and Dissection
• Neuroanatomy
• Electrodiagnosis I & II
• Research Methodology/Statistics
• PM&R Administration/Practice Issues
• Prosthetics

Clinical Didactics:  (CORE LECTURE SERIES)

A second component will be a Core Lecture Series to be presented over a three-year period by Staff and Residents as follows:

• Musculoskeletal and Soft Tissue Disease  (2007-08; 2004-05)
• Rheumatological and Connective Tissue Diseases  (2007-08; 2004-05)
• Modalities and therapeutic Exercises (2007-08; 2004-05)
• Stroke Rehabilitation (2007-08; 2004-05)
• Geriatric Rehab (2007-08; 2004-05)
• Other Neurological Disorder  (2008-09; 2005-06)
• Spinal Cord Injury (2008-09; 2005-06)
• Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Related Topics (2008-09; 2005-06)
• Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (2008-09; 2005-06)
• Pediatric Rehab (2008-09; 2005-06)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (2006-07)
• Pain Management  (2006-07)
• Sport Medicine (2006-07)
• Industrial Rehab (2006-07)

2.         Clinical Practice:

This component offers the opportunity to learn the basis of patent evaluation and care in the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation arena through the following rotations:

• General Rehabilitation
• Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology Rehabilitation
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Amputee Rehabilitation
• Pain Medicine
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Cardiac Rehab
• Nursing Home Care Unit/Palliative Care Rehab
• Wellness
• Sport Medicine
• Interventional Pain Management
• Electrodiagnostic Medicine
• Prosthetic and Wheelchair Clinic

3.         Resident Research Responsibilities:

Each new resident is assigned to a Research Team and faculty advisor by the Fall season of their first year. Residents will have the opportunity to submit their first choice of projects being offered. These preferences will be considered as much as possible in making the assignments. The Team will prepare, conduct, and publish results of the project over the course of the three year residency program.  Teams are encouraged to submit and present their research at annual academic conferences.

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