Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program

Program Identity & Fit

Vanderbilt's PM&R program is an academic, university-based four-year categorical training program anchored at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, a nationally recognized inpatient rehabilitation center with dedicated SCI, TBI, and stroke services alongside pediatric rehabilitation and interventional spine/musculoskeletal care. The department emphasizes scholarly output through an annual Resident Research Day featuring nationally prominent invited physiatrist-scientists, and faculty hold leadership roles in NASS, SIS, AAPM&R, and ABPMR, reflecting a program embedded in specialty governance and subspecialty procedural innovation. The majority of graduates pursue fellowship training, and the program supports named subspecialty pathways such as the NASS Interventional Spine & Musculoskeletal Fellowship, signaling strength in interventional and spine-focused physiatry alongside integrative/complementary medicine through the Osher Center. The program frames itself as developing "future leaders in physiatry" through structured mentorship, protected didactic and wellness time, and interdisciplinary collaboration, valuing residents who engage seriously in scholarly activity while pursuing broad clinical competence across the full spectrum of PM&R.