Home / Education / Residencies & Fellowships / Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency

Fully accredited by the ACGME, our four-year Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program prepares residents to become well-rounded physiatrists, ready to enter independent practice or to pursue further specialization or fellowship upon completion of the program.
Play Video

Diverse Clinical Exposure, Supportive Environment

Our residency training program incorporates multiple outpatient centers and three hospitals, including the 766-bed Albany Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center that is frequently the busiest in New York State. All of our inpatient rehabilitation rotations are completed at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, a 115-bed hospital with dedicated spinal cord, brain injury, stroke, amputee, ortho, pediatric, and medical surgical units. Residents also engage with clinicians and resources at the Center for Disability Services.

The PM&R faculty members are very devoted to teaching and aim to provide valuable learning opportunities to our residents. Our faculty serve at a variety of outpatient sites that capture patient populations from a wide geographical area. Our department has a robust spasticity management practice involving frequent in-office procedures for adults and children as well as OR-based procedures. We have a comprehensive ultrasound curriculum and there are ample opportunities to rotate through the Comprehensive Spine Center with attendings who perform fluoroscopic guided pain procedures. Our electrodiagnostic laboratory is shared with the Department of Neurology with EMGs performed daily. Generous elective time in PGY-3 and PGY-4 is scheduled to allow residents time to further explore clinical interests and develop skills.

Our Research Initiatives

Current Research Projects Include:

  • Impact of Adaptive Gaming on Quality of Life and Social Interaction
  • Assessment of Resident Understanding of the Role of Skilled Rehabilitation Services and Patient Mobility in the Acute Care Setting
  • Implementing a High Intensity Gait Training Program for Stroke Patients in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit
  • Impact of adding Physiatry Residents to Care Team on Patient and Staff Satisfaction Scores on an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

GME Home

Resident Resources

About the Albany Med Health System
Albany Medical Center, the anchor of the Albany Med Health System, is one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York State offering a wide range of outstanding clinical care – from routine preventative care to sophisticated cancer and surgical care to life-saving emergency medicine – while teaching the next generation of medical providers and advancing critical biomedical research.

Living in the Capital Region
Albany is a great place to live, learn and work. It is the center of a region known for its robust economy, arts and culture, colleges and universities and recreational opportunities.

Resident Wellness
As a resident or fellow of Albany Medical Center, there are many resources available to you to help manage the demands of being a physician. Our goal is to promote work-life balance and overall wellness by advocating for you and providing you with the tools to reduce burnout, depression, and other stressors you may encounter during your training.

Distinction in Quality and Leadership
This program promotes professional success for physicians through a deeper understanding of Health Systems Science.

 

Bioness Vector patient John Carver at Albany Med's Outpatient Physical Therapy
John Pianka, MD quote
The attending physicians are dedicated to education as well as quality patient care. The resident community is very supportive and welcoming. And the Capital Region’s many hiking trails, ski slopes, lakes, and rivers guarantee that time spent outside the hospital is never dull!”
John Pianka, MD