Hackensack Meridian Health Program

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Analyst Verified · Oct 4, 2026

Hackensack Meridian Health Program

Hackensack Meridian Health Program is a residency program specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, located in Edison, New Jersey, directed by Sara J. Cuccurullo, MD and coordinated by Beverly Bolger. and holds an accreditation status of Continued. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (732) 321-7000. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute is a university-affiliated (Rutgers RWJMS and Hackensack Meridian SOM), high-volume tertiary rehabilitation center built around a distinctive 1:1 resident-to-attending teaching ratio and a highly structured, procedurally dense curriculum spanning EMG, ultrasound-guided joint injections, Botox/spasticity management, and baclofen pump refills, supplemented by named off-site courses at Penn, Temple, and Jefferson. The program's identity centers on comprehensive, well-rounded physiatric training across inpatient and outpatient settings (stroke, TBI, SCI, pediatrics, MSK, cancer rehab, pain) with a 100% board pass rate and a long-standing, editor-led board review course. An original research project is required of every resident, with encouragement toward national AAPM&R/AAP presentation and access to an NIH/AAP-funded Rehab Medicine Scientist Training pathway, though the program's stated outcomes emphasize fellowship attainment (Brain Injury, Pain, Sports, SCI, Pediatrics) and subsequent leadership, academic, and private-practice careers over pure research careers. Distinctive features include chief resident leadership roles, PGY4 elective/off-site rotation flexibility, and a self-described tight-knit "family" culture repeatedly cited by current residents as a differentiator.

Who it fits

An applicant who discovered physiatry through early clinical exposure and is seeking a structured, procedure-rich, mentorship-driven program that supports open exploration among PM&R subspecialty fellowships (sports, pain, brain injury, SCI, pediatrics) rather than a fixed research or single-subspecialty trajectory.

Research intensity

Moderate - an original research project is required and national presentation is encouraged, but the program's emphasis is on clinical/procedural training and fellowship placement rather than a research-driven identity.

Career orientation

Mixed - Fellowship, Community Practice, Academic Medicine

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