Chairman's Welcome
Welcome to the Penn Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency page. We are excited that you are considering Penn for your post-graduate training.
Penn Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has a long and distinguished history. "The Nation's First" is indicative of our established track record for creativity and innovation in all areas of rehabilitation medicine.
Our mission is to foster a top tier Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program in the United States that provides the highest quality clinical care, trains stellar physiatrists for practice and academics, attracts top medical students into the residency, and serves as a beacon of knowledge for our field through cutting edge research.
The department is actively involved in education for undergraduate students, medical students, graduate students, residents and fellows. Through a unique partnership with colleagues within the disciplines of physical and occupational therapy, we impact training for a variety of healthcare professions and students in other settings. All of these programs take full advantage of the extensive network of facilities and resources available throughout Penn Medicine, one of the most vibrant campuses in the nation.
Timothy R. Dillingham, MD, MS
Our Philosophy
Education is one of our core missions and we are continuously reevaluating the residency program and realigning rotations to provide the most diverse educational experience.
Our philosophy ensures our students, residents and fellows are provided with a strong foundation in the field of physiatry by:
- Providing diverse exposure to the field of rehabilitation medicine
- Providing patient-centered care
- Teaching by example both clinically and via faculty mentors
- Inspiring lifelong learning
- Encouraging self-motivation
- Providing adequate time for didactics and self-directed learning
Residency Training Programs
Penn's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency offers a fully ACGME-accredited 4-year categorical program as well as a 3-year advanced program. Residents rotate through inpatient, outpatient and consultative services with progressive levels of responsibility throughout their training. Residency training takes place at a variety of locations offering inpatient and outpatient services.
We offer both categorical and advanced tracks within our residency programs:
- Categorical – Candidates enter the program as an intern (PGY-1) and reach completion of the program after 4 years.
- Advanced – Candidates enter the program after successful completion of an internship. Residents apply to the program to begin as a Post-Graduate Year 2 (PGY-2) resident.