The West Virginia University School of Medicine has received approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to offer the state’s first medical residency program in physiatry.

The residency, housed within the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, addresses the need for coordinated, patient-focused care for those with disabilities. Residents will be trained to implement collaborative, evidence-based care approaches that emphasize respect for human dignity for patients and their families throughout the continuum of care.

“West Virginia has long needed this service for patients and by providing a training program we hope to increase the number of specialty-trained providers who can provide them with care rooted in the most up-to-date research and education practices,” John Alm, D.O., MHA, chair of the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, said.

The department, announced in June last year, recently joined the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, enabling trainees to be part of an integrative, multidisciplinary team that addresses the neuromusculoskeletal system and the full spectrum of injury recovery.

“By aligning the continuum of care for patients, providers and trainees, we ensure that all parties are benefiting from the synergy of one of our signature institutes,” Clay Marsh, M.D., chancellor and executive dean for Health Sciences, said. “The world-class research and care being provided at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute makes for an ideal training environment for our incoming residents.”

Trainees will rotate through inpatient and ambulatory settings, primarily at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and the new clinical facility at WVU Medicine’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. As the state’s largest academic healthcare system, Dr. Alm anticipates that exposure to providers and referrals from physicians around the region will benefit trainees and could be beneficial for long-term provider retention in the state.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, nearly 60% of residents remain and practice in the state where they complete their residency program. A 2022 report stated that most physicians stay within a 100-mile radius of where they complete their residency.

“The culture of West Virginia and our program are alike in that we’re people and patient-focused first,” Alm said. “We’re looking forward to addressing the needs of both through this new residency.”

Beginning this fall, the department will accept applications for two residents per year across the four years of training.

For more information on Graduate Medical Education at WVU, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/residents.

To learn more about the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, visit medicine.wvu.edu/physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation.