Curriculum

Fellows will rotate through a variety of training experiences in the Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship. Learn more about each below.

Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

Our 12-bed acute inpatient pediatric rehabilitation unit was opened in 2003 at the MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) and is a joint venture between MedStar NRH and Children’s National. MedStar NRH is a free-standing 118-bed hospital. There are approximately 100 admissions to the pediatric unit per year with an average daily census of 8 patients ages 3-18 years. The most common conditions include: traumatic and non-traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, brain tumors and other forms of cancer, neuromuscular disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.

Inpatient Consultation

Founded in 1870, Children’s National is one of the nation’s oldest independent children’s hospitals. Children’s National is a free-standing over 300-bed tertiary pediatric hospital. Children’s National has over 10,000 inpatient admissions per year. The Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine fellows participate in inpatient consultations at Children’s National (over 1,400 per year) for patients admitted to the Neonatal ICU, Cardiac ICU and Pediatric ICU as well as the Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Oncology, General Pediatrics and Trauma services. The most common reasons for PRM consultative service are: management of hypertonia, paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity, neuroirritability, and autonomic dysreflexia as well as early mobility. We pioneered an intensive rehabilitation program for the patients with spinal muscular atrophy undergoing treatment to maximize their functional outcomes.

Outpatient Experience

There are over 3,700 outpatient visits per year in the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) at Children’s National. As part of the outpatient rotation, the PRM fellows attend general PRM clinics for children with a variety of functional deficits, including those secondary to brain injury, cerebral palsy, abnormal tone, developmental delay, musculoskeletal disorders, rheumatologic and connective tissue disorders, genetic disorders, oncologic diagnoses and limb deficiency/amputation. Fellows also see patients in multidisciplinary clinics/programs, including but not limited to:

Assistive Technology
Brachial Plexus Injury
Cerebral Palsy
COVID Longitudinal Care Clinic
Muscular Dystrophy Association Care Center
Myelin Disorder
Neurofibromatosis
Neuro-Immunology
Neuro-Oncology
Orthopedic Surgery and Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine for children with Cerebral Palsy
Perinatal Brain Injury
Spina Bifida
Stroke
Therapeutic Equipment and Brace clinics
Torticollis

Procedural Training

Didactic Education

Division of PRM weekly didactic series covers the critical elements of the ABPMR curriculum for Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine and includes lectures/seminars, case presentations with analysis and journal clubs.
The PRM fellows complete training in the Fellows' College at Children’s National.
Children’s National Grand Rounds and Neuroscience Series.
Ethics rounds are facilitated by members of the Children’s National Ethics Committee.
Participation in national conferences (at least one per year) pertaining to Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine.
The fellows play an integral role as part of the training program for PM&R residents from MedStar NRH and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The PRM fellows participate in the training of other rotating residents and medical students through daily supervision in the clinical settings, formal lectures and other didactics.

Rotation Schedule Example - Year One

Outpatient
Research

Rotation Schedule Example - Year Two

Outpatient
Research