After a successful interview season and Match process, we are excited to welcome four new PGY1 residents to the Dept. of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the end of June. The incoming PGY1 PM&R residents are Victoria Christian (Campbell University Jerry M Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine), Charlotte DeRose (Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine), Katharyn Lindborg (Florida State University College of medicine), and Casey Pierce (UAB Heersink School of Medicine).
This incoming class will be the first group of residents to participate in a 4-year categorical residency program within UAB PM&R. Previously residents completed their intern year in a different program before joining UAB. This change to a 4-year program has been a priority for PM&R leadership.
This extensive process began over two years ago following the approval for funding of four additional resident positions. This allowed PM&R to apply to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for the addition of a PGY1 training year to our already accredited 3-year residency program.
Obtaining full ACGME approval was a 15-month project from start to finish. The design, planning, and project management for the PGY-1 year started under the leadership of Danielle Powell, M.D., Interim Chair & Associate Program Director and Conley Carr, M.D., Interim Residency Program Director, in January 2021. Lauren Hanhauser, Education Administrator, handled all documentation and submission organization for this project.
The Graduate Medical Education Office at UAB Hospital, the sponsoring institution, and the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine supported the program in this application and confirmed that there is adequate educational opportunities and funding for 4 PGY1 positions.
Dale Colorado, D.O., Vice Chair of Education and Residency Program Director, is excited about the direction and growth of the program, “Transitioning to a 4-year program allows our residency program to have oversight of all 48 months of training. Our leaders were able to create a PGY1 rotation schedule that incorporates training from many different departments within UAB.” He added, “Many applicants prefer to complete all of their residency training in one location. We are very excited to offer this comprehensive training within the UAB system starting from day one.”
The PM&R team is proud of the work everyone put into making this a success and to create this training pathway at UAB for future learners and trainees. The program will benefit from this opportunity and resources for training these additional residents from the following Divisions and Departments within UAB: Family & Community Medicine, Sports and Exercise Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Surgery and Trauma, Neurology, Immunology and Rheumatology, Critical Care Medicine, Gerontology, Palliative Care, and others.
The department looks forward to the growing opportunities in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and supporting the development of and maintenance of accreditation for the full 48-month PGY1-PGY4 PM&R residency program at UAB.