Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital was established in 1912 as Rest Haven Memorial Hospital. In 1948 it became an affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago as a facility for treatment of long-term illnesses. In 1963 it was renamed the Charles H. and Rachel M Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital was the Midwest’s first fully licensed and accredited rehabilitation hospital.

Schwab has served the Chicago community through various rehabilitative efforts since 1948. These efforts include a 102-bed rehabilitation hospital located on Chicago’s West Side offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient programs for persons with disabilities. Through our affiliation with Sinai Health System, academic affiliation with the University of Illinois and University of Chicago Hospitals, as well as serving as a referral source for over 50 hospitals in the Chicago area, Schwab is able to provide a continuum of post-acute care for individuals with a wide range of disabilities.

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at Schwab is a large part of the reason that we are able to care for a diverse and complex population of individuals. Resident physicians are continually asking “why?” – which in turn necessitates that our practices are up to date, evidence-based, as well as patient-centered. The resident physicians are integrated into the interdisciplinary team in the inpatient and outpatient setting; as they demonstrate competence in various arenas, they gradually assume the role of team leader, graduating with the ability to practice independently.

Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital is the sponsor of the residency program. The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency Program is a three-year Advanced level program that is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The program is affiliated with the University of Chicago–Pritzker School of Medicine and the University of Illinois, Chicago. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Through diversity in our patient population, rotation sites, and dedicated teaching attendings, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital provides an outstanding residency experience. Over the course of three years, residents gain exposure to various types of rehabilitation and outpatient clinics, as well as the fields of sports medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine, and chronic pain. PGY-II year is spent exclusively at Schwab while the majority of PGY-III and IV years are spent at associated outside facilities.

The primary objective of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at Schwab is to provide a well-balanced, comprehensive training experience for resident physicians in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The educational experience includes direct patient care under the supervision of attending physicians, didactic presentations, specialized clinics, research, participation in Hospital committees, and exposure to, and teamwork with allied health care and specialty services.

Through this program, residents are trained in all aspects of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation including basic medical sciences, clinical care, administrative management, research in rehabilitation and, delivery of community health rehabilitation services throughout the post-acute continuum of care.

Particular emphasis is placed on learning the diagnosis, etiology, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, medical/surgical and other system disorders seen in the usual practice of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Residents completing the program will be able to take an appropriate medical rehabilitation history including the recognition of physical, psychological and cognitive impairments causing functional disabilities across a spectrum of ages and impairments. They will perform a hypothesis driven and targeted physiatric physical examination. They will perform physiatric related procedures including electrodiagnosis, toxin injections, joint and soft tissue injections. The resident is expected to make clinical judgments and to design and implement patient centered rehabilitation programs.

The curriculum is designed around the physical medicine and rehabilitation milestones, as well as the ABPMR Part 1 template. Criteria have been established that document for the resident as well as for the supervising attending, goals and objectives for each rotation. These identify the expectations for achieving a level of competent in multiple domains (clinical competencies) in order to successfully complete each rotation.

It is imperative that the trainee is involved in the process of developing our evaluation systems. While the ultimate responsibility for the program outcome rests with our teaching faculty, having the residents participate in development as well as understanding the evaluation process will make this an even stronger program.

Residents also will gain an understanding of the basic tenets of PM&R treatment through a team approach. They will learn how to prescribe therapy for each of the disciplines, as well as coordinate the team. This skill requires knowledge of the roles of allied rehabilitation professionals including physical therapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, vocational counselors, speech therapists, audiologists, rehabilitation nurses, clinical dietitians, orthotists, prosthetists, therapeutic recreation specialists, and rehabilitation engineers. The resident must be able to communicate with patients and families, and the variety of professionals who make up the rehabilitation team both verbally and using the medical record.

THE RESIDENCY SELECTION COMMITTEE:

The Residency Selection Committee is composed of the Program Director, the Schwab Faculty Associates (SFA’s- teaching faculty), and resident representatives (usually the chief residents). All of the residents are encouraged to let the faculty, program director and/or the chief residents know if they have strong feelings about applicants, whether favorable or unfavorable.

SELECTION PROCESS:

We will continue with virtual interviews for the 2024-2025 application cycle. We review and release interview invitations on a rolling basis and will inform applicants if they are placed on a waitlist or if not accepted. We will begin releasing interview invitations for 2025 approximately mid-October.

We give 72hrs after an interview invitation email has been sent for an applicant to accept or decline before extending an offer to an alternate candidate. We would appreciate interview cancellation communications as soon as possible to enable an alternative candidate an opportunity to interview.

Currently, we are using Microsoft Teams for our interview platform. Please ensure the platform is downloaded and available for the interview. In case of technology issues, the interviewer will call the candidate’s cell phone to complete the interview. If accommodations are needed, please inform us in advance in order to optimize the interview experience. The interview day begins with a virtual overview of the program and video by one of the chiefs/senior residents. This is followed by separate interviews with the Program Director/Associate Program Director, an Attending Physician, and one to two residents/Chiefs. Either following the conclusion of the individual interviews or at the end of the day at an established time, there will be a wrap-up session with a few residents and an opportunity to ask any and all questions.

Evaluations are generated by each interviewer and submitted to the Selection Committee. Resident Physicians are also encouraged to submit evaluations for students who rotated on site.

The Committee meets after completion of the interviews and ranks candidates based on interview evaluations and applications.

PGYII

• Spinal Cord Injury: 10 weeks total
• Traumatic Brain Injury: 10 weeks total
• General including COVID Recovery: 10 weeks total
• Stroke: 10 weeks total
• Outpatient: 10 weeks
  • Consists of MSK/Pain, Amputee, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Spasticity, Telehealth, Wound Care

PGYIII

• University of Chicago Pain Management: 5 weeks
  • Interventional pain procedures (epidurals, ablations, peripheral injections, etc) and outpatient clinic
• Elmhurst Hospital Pain Clinic: 5 weeks
• University of Illinois MSK/Sports Medicine Clinic: 10 weeks total
  • Consists of Running Medicine, Sporting Events, musculoskeletal clinic, ultrasound, and injections (peripheral joints, prolotherapy)
• EMG: 10 weeks total
  • Performed at Schwab, University of Illinois
• Post Acute Care/Spasticity/Wound Care: 5 weeks total
  • Consists of outpatient clinics including spasticity at Schwab and wound care at the University of Illinois, Subacute Rehabilitation (SAR) exposure in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) setting and Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) setting
• University of Chicago Inpatient Consults: 10 weeks total

PGYIV

• Junior Attending at Schwab: 10 weeks
• Mt Sinai Hospital Inpatient Consults: 10+ weeks total
• Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Prosthetics/Orthotics: 5 weeks total
• EMG: 10 weeks total
  • Performed at Schwab, University of Illinois
• Neuromuscular clinic: 4 weeks total
• Electives: 6+ weeks total
• Outpatient: 4 weeks total
• Quality and Safety: 2 weeks total

In addition to the residents’ clinical experience, attendance at a regular series of didactic lectures is required.

The core of the didactic series is the ABPMR Educational Requirements, and the ACGME PMR Milestones. The didactic lecture series is cycled on an 12-month schedule. Thus, residents will be exposed to the required educational requirements in didactic form at least three times during their residency.

Lectures are held in a 3-hour block, once weekly. Attendance is mandatory; residents are excused from all other rotations during this time. Residents are expected to be on time to lectures.

Lectures are typically given by physiatrists, other Physicians from related fields of medicine and by representatives from the rehabilitation team as well as other professionals including orthotists, prosthetists, and other individuals with expertise.

In addition to the lectures, many other formal educational opportunities are offered. They include:

• Journal Club
• Lunch and Learn
• Teaching Rounds
• Anatomy/kinesiology series
• Morbidity and Mortality (CSI)
• Grand Rounds
• Rotation specific journal clubs, grand rounds and lecture series

Resident-Faculty Conferences are held once a month for the purpose of having an open forum for the exchange of ideas on administrative subjects or on areas of concern not addressed otherwise in the core lecture series.

CSI (Continuous Safety Improvement) is held monthly. Residents are responsible for case presentation and leading discussion regarding medical management and/or patient appropriateness for rehab. Recommendations are made to the hospital QI committee.

Residency stipends are paid through SRH and are as follows:

• PGY2 $71,134.68
• PGY3 $73,568.16
• PGY4 $76,251.36

The following are the benefits offered to resident physicians by SRH:

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Resident physicians may select from a variety of plans available provided free of charge by the Hospital. Coverage is effective immediately.

DENTAL INSURANCE

Resident physicians may select employee or employee-plus dependent coverage through this comprehensive plan. Bi-weekly premium deductions from payroll are pre-tax. Coverage is effective the first of the month following forty-five (45) consecutive days of employment.

LIFE INSURANCE

Term life insurance coverage of $10,000 under the provisions of the Hospital and group policy is provided by the Hospital at no cost. Additional coverage may be purchased. Coverage is effective the first of the month following ninety (90) consecutive days of employment.

MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

SRH and Care Network maintains a self-insured malpractice insurance fund.

DISABILITY BENEFITS

Should the resident physician become disabled due to a non-occupational illness or injury, after 21 consecutive working days, short term disability benefits are available after one (1) year of consecutive employment.

TAX DEFERRED ANNUITIES

A variety of plans are available, which offer the opportunity to invest in both variable and fixed rate annuities. Coverage can be effective immediately.

DEPENDENT CARE / SPENDING ACCOUNT

Tax sheltered deduction program for child/elder care. Coverage may be effective immediately.

CREDIT UNION

Free checking accounts, low interest rate loans and credit cards. Savings plan available through payroll deduction

DIRECT DEPOSIT

Bi-weekly paycheck automatically deposited directly into the bank of your choice.

WORK SCHEDULE

During inpatient rotations residents are required to arrive at the Hospital by 8:00 AM and remain until work/patient care is completed (usually until 5:00 PM) and patient care has been transitioned to the next responsible individual. Certain rotations may require additional hours of patient care.

ON CALL SCHEDULE

Residents are scheduled to provide Hospital coverage from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m., during the workweek. Weekend and holiday call is from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. the next day (24 hours). “On-call” assignments are made by the Chief Residents. The frequency of “on-call” is dependent upon the number of residents, but typically does not exceed one time per week averaged over 6 weeks.

Post-call, residents will complete patient care notes and ensure safe, coordinated transition of care to the covering resident/attending. Post-call residents must leave the hospital or their rotation site NO LATER than 4 hours after the 24th hour of being in the hospital. No new patients may be evaluated by a post-call resident.

• PGY 2: Fridays/Saturdays/Weekdays
• PGY 3: Sundays/Weekdays
• PGY 4: Weekdays only

VACATION

Fifteen (15) paid days per academic year. Residents must complete discharge summaries and have HIM (medical records) sign off on their vacation requests prior to taking vacation. Attending physicians should receive notice as early as possible that a resident intends to take vacation, to ensure coverage of the service. Vacation days do not carry over to the next academic year. Residents are not paid for unused vacation days.

Three (3) personal holidays per academic year accrue at a rate of one every 4 months.

HOLIDAYS

• New Year’s Day
• Labor Day
• Memorial Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Independence Day
• Christmas Day
• Juneteenth

Residents who are on-call on one of the above six named holidays (during the day of Federal observance) will be granted a compensatory day off.

SICK LEAVE

Up to twelve (12) paid sick days can be available per academic year. You may be asked for verification of illness based upon the number and timing of sick days taken, especially if sick days occur on Mondays or Fridays.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Book Allowance: Each resident is allowed a stipend of $300.00 per academic year for book purchases and cannot be rolled over into the next academic year.

Conference Time: At the discretion of the Program Director, each PGY-3 and PGY-4 resident is allotted one conference, up to four (4) days, per academic year. This is in addition to conferences where the resident has had a poster or presentation accepted. An education fund allows for a stipend up to $2000.00 to those residents who present a poster at a national conference. These funds are intended to help defray travel expenses and registration fees for conferences.

INTERVIEWS

Each resident is allowed up to 3 days total of administrative leave to attend either fellowship interviews or employment interviews, during their residency, with program director’s approval.

LIBRARY

Residents have 24-hour access to internet resources, as well as on-line access to multiple journals. Residents have direct access to multiple textbooks and monographs located within the resident suite. Books must be signed out and returned in a timely fashion.

Residents will have access to the University of Illinois libraries at all times.

Residents have direct access to the MT. SINAI HOSPITAL (MSH) MEDICAL CENTER system. The library has books on rehabilitation and its related fields with a selection of journals pertinent to the field of PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, as well as general texts on medicine, pediatrics, surgery and all related subspecialties.

Literature searches can be performed at MSH without charge to the resident with approval of the Program Director. Internet access is available to residents.

The residents have access to the University of Chicago libraries during normal operating hours.

In addition to the above services there is an active inter-library loan system by which residents may obtain audio-visual materials, journals, and books from other libraries throughout the city.

We would like to congratulate our current PGY4s on their fellowship matches:

• Dr Dominic Corsello: University of Chicago Medical Center – Pain Medicine
• Dr Brittany Melvin: University of Chicago Medical Center – Pain Medicine
• Dr Michael Rotko: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University – Pain Medicine

Fellowship Match (last 3 years)

• Pediatric Rehabilitation at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (2024)
• Sports Medicine Fellowship at OhioHealth/Riverside Methodist Hospital (2023)
• Pain Fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University (2023)
• Sports Medicine Fellowship at NorthShore University Health System (2022)
• Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Chicago (2021)
• Sports Medicine Fellowship at Maine Medical Center (2021)
• Interventional Spine Fellowship at Washington University (2021)

Career Match (last 3 years)

• Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Illinois
• Advocate Lutheran General, Illinois
• Allina Health, Minnesota
• American Rehabilitation Medicine, Iowa
• CarePoint Health, Colorado
• Community Health (affiliated), Indiana
• Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Florida
• Emory University, Georgia
• Integrated Pain Management and Comprehensive Spine & Sports Center, CA
• Lee Health, Florida
• Medrina, IL
• Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group, Illinois
• Rehabilitation Associates of Indiana, Indiana