Mary Free Bed Hospital Program

Program Identity & Fit

Mary Free Bed is a single-specialty freestanding rehabilitation hospital (the fifth-largest in the country) offering a three-year, PGY-2-start PM&R residency embedded in a high-volume clinical enterprise spanning brain injury/stroke, spinal cord injury, pediatric rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation, ventilator/pulmonary care, spasticity management, and one of the nation's largest Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports programs. Research is institutionally supported through the Butzer Center for Research and Innovation (a partnership with MSU College of Human Medicine) and its own IRB, with residents expected to complete scholarly work and a quality improvement project and present at national meetings (AAPM&R, AAP, AMSSM). Alumni outcomes show strong, varied fellowship placement (sports, spine, SCI, TBI, pediatric, cancer rehab, MSK) at recognized programs, with a stated majority pursuing academic positions after training, indicating an academic/fellowship-oriented culture built on breadth rather than a single subspecialty focus. The program emphasizes hands-on clinical volume, close faculty mentorship, and comprehensive exposure across the full spectrum of physiatric practice rather than a narrow niche identity.