The physical medicine & rehabilitation curriculum
The Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation engages with medical students throughout all four years of their education. We are committed to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of our students on issues especially relevant to the uniformed services, such as complex pain syndromes, combat casualty care, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and amputee care. We work closely with several SOM departments to develop, enhance and support various modules and courses throughout the pre-clerkship as well as post-clerkship curriculum. Our faculty are especially involved in leading small group seminars during the musculoskeletal and neuroscience modules linking clinical syndromes with anatomic correlates. During the post-clerkship curriculum we provide coordinated clinical rotations to integrate relevant rehabilitative principles and disability education.
Because physical medicine and rehabilitation crosses most healthcare specialties and incorporates interdisciplinary care across all allied health providers, we teach our students how to lead interdisciplinary teams. By gaining a better understanding and appreciation of other disciplines such as Physical and Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Neuropsychology, Social Work Services, Nursing Case Management, Vocational Rehabilitation, Music and Art Therapy, as well as the role of Integrative Medicine (e.g. fitness, nutrition, yoga, acupuncture, massage, etc.) in modern healthcare, our students are prepared to lead healthcare professionals from a variety of backgrounds and specialties.
We also collaborate with our graduate programs to provide expert musculoskeletal and neuromuscular education by incorporating clinical examination and musculosketal ultrasound exam skills along with experience in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanical instruction.
B3 INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE MODULE
Through the emphasis of case-based examples, Bench, Bedside, and Beyond (B3) is designed to further integrate basic science with clinical practice concepts in an advanced context. Integrative Medicine (IM) is an approach to wellness that combines conventional (traditional Western) medicine, including medications, surgery, and lifestyle changes, with therapies beyond traditional Western medicine, such as acupuncture, meditation, nutrition, sports, writing, yoga, and more. This IM experience provides third year medical students with the opportunity to learn about and practice techniques which can promote health and wellbeing for themselves and in turn, promote their confidence when advocating for their patients.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
AAPM&R
Assoc of Academic Physiatrists
PMR Knowledge Now
Journals
Arch Phys Med Rehabil
BrowZine Library
AJPMR
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am
USU Library