Washington University Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program

Letter from the Program Director

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at Washington University in St. Louis. The selection of a residency training program is one of the most important decisions you will make in your medical career. Residency training is the time where book knowledge is transformed into clinical knowledge, that can be used to help a patient during their time of greatest need.

Rehabilitation is similar to residency training — they both require goal setting, commitment and hard work. Here at Washington University, we are committed to providing a strong, supportive environment that will challenge you. Our affiliated hospitals include The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Veteran's Administration St. Louis Health Care System and Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital. These hospitals bring in patients from a wide geographic area, and from all ages and walks of life. Patients are looking to improve their function and quality of life following injuries and illness that range from common to exceedingly rare. Our clinics cover the vast array of physiatric disorders from acute musculoskeletal injuries, to those learning to walk with the prosthesis after recent amputation, to those trying to regain function after a neurologic injury.

Photo of Dr. Olafsen Our faculty are committed to not only teaching you the facts you need to know, but also to helping you develop the clinical reasoning skills that you will utilize throughout your entire career in medicine.

Additionally, we are committed to mentorship and to establishing relationships that last far beyond your time here in St. Louis.

Our residents are passionate and committed to obtaining the skills and knowledge required of today's physiatrist. They are also committed to supporting one another and are amongst the finest people with whom you could choose to work and learn.

Nathan P. Olafsen, MD, Program Director

Letter from the Chief Residents

Thank you for your interest in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency Program at WashU Medicine!

At WashU Medicine, we believe in training well-rounded physiatrists who provide exceptional care in all domains of rehabilitation medicine. Our program offers diverse opportunities within a nationally renowned tertiary academic medical center and is home to leading clinicians, educators, researchers, and engineers. We believe this exciting environment will prepare our residents for the breadth and demand of a career in PM&R and cultivate future leaders. Our graduates go on to exciting careers in limb loss medicine, neuromuscular medicine, neurorehabilitation, spinal cord injury, brain injury, sports medicine, interventional spine medicine, pain medicine, pediatric rehabilitation and general rehabilitation.

The PM&R program benefits from its distinct position within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, enhancing its academic and clinical excellence. Our inpatient rotations in polytrauma, spinal cord injury, amputee care, traumatic brain injury, medically complex, and stroke rehabilitation occur at our affiliated stand-alone hospital, The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis (TRISL). In addition, we have inpatient rotations in general rehabilitation and spinal cord injury at the Jefferson Barracks Veterans Affairs Hospital, and pediatric rehabilitation at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. We also have a robust PM&R consult service at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where we care for patients across a variety of specialties, including neurosurgery, trauma, geriatric trauma, and neurology. Our outpatient rotations are equally diverse: residents rotate in musculoskeletal and sports medicine, pain medicine, neurorehabilitation, electrodiagnostics, neuromuscular medicine, and orthotics and prosthetics clinics. Residents can begin rotating on these outpatient specialties as early as PGY-2.

Apart from rotations, residents have many opportunities to foster their area(s) of interest. For those interested in research, we have regular resident research meetings where we brainstorm projects and receive faculty feedback and mentorship. WashU Medicine has an exceptional research infrastructure with support staff and many opportunities for funding. Our quality improvement (QI) program is supported by our health system where residents can systemically impact processes and patient care. Additionally, our residents participate in volunteer opportunities including sideline medical coverage at WashU, adaptive sports coverage, and community events. Our program leadership encourages participation on hospital, local, and national committees.

Our residency program is located in St. Louis, which provides an affordable and entertaining backdrop to complement your clinical training. A resident favorite is Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, which provides beautifully maintained greenspace directly adjacent to our main campus. Residents and their families can often be found in the park running, biking, paddle boating, and golfing as well as exploring free museums and the zoo. The farmer’s market and pickleball in Tower Grove Park are a Saturday morning tradition for many. Let’s not forget, St. Louis is a sports city – a Cardinals, Blues, or St. Louis City SC game never disappoints.

Our residents benefit from a tight-knit community where teamwork and mutual respect are at the core of everything we do. The strong connections between residents, faculty, and staff create an environment that fosters personal and professional growth. In the WashU Medicine PM&R division, we invest in each other’s success.We are excited about the possibility of you joining our program and becoming part of this dynamic training experience.

Welcome to WashU PM&R!