Specialty Tracks

Many of our residents express interests beyond clinical medicine. Our program is committed to providing education and opportunities to grow in the direction a resident wants to go. With that in mind, we have created four optional specialty tracks for residents in our program. These tracks are PM&R-specific and distinctly different from the McGaw Clinical Scholars programs. All residents completing these tracks are awarded a certificate at graduation acknowledging their participation. Residents have successfully participated in more than one track and they have also successfully participated in a track and a Clinical Scholars Program.

Research Track- Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP)

The 5-year optional Resident Research track (PSTP program) in the Department of PM&R at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is one of a kind in our specialty. The goal is to provide the right environment, opportunities and time for a resident predominantly interested in pursuing research as a career path. The optional five-year research track is intended for the resident with aspirations of a career as a funded clinician-scientist. The growth and development of research careers within the field of PM&R is very important to our program. We are the only program in the country to offer financial support for a resident to integrate a year’s worth of research within the last two years of residency rotations. This ultimately extends their training by one year. Residents who are interested in this track will not need to declare their intent for this program until their second year of residency. If they are approved for this optional track, their PGY-3 and PGY-4 rotations will be spread out in three years, while 12 research months are integrated into their clinical rotation schedule to thoughtfully match the needs of their research projects. The goal of a resident on this research track is to collect preliminary data to apply for a research training grant by the end of their five years. Having a PhD is not a prerequisite for this track.

This program is housed at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, but is also a part of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Starzl Academy which offers young trainees access to the resources, financial support and critical mentorship they need to succeed in biomedical research careers within a variety of medical specialties.

Medical Education Track

This is an optional 18-month specialty track for residents interested in a career in medical education. Many of our resident graduates have continued their careers in academic medicine and are actively teaching a new generation of physiatrists. Being a teacher and being an educator are two distinctly different things that is not immediately transparent. Beyond acquiring teaching skills, this track is designed to expose our residents to curriculum design, proper assessment methods and theories on teaching and learning. All residents on this track participate in a medical education project. Many of these medical education projects will also fulfill the resident research requirement of the program. Participants in this track meet monthly to have a faculty guided discussion on educational topics.

Program Components:

Attend Core Didactics/Workshops
Complete Asynchronous Learning
Complete a scholarly project
Attend Core Didactics/Workshops
Complete a scholarly project

Program Objectives:

Develop medical educators by gaining knowledge in medical education topics
Obtain the skills to be an excellent teacher and educator
Learn the basic knowledge and skills to help with future career goals such as residency program director, fellowship director, director of medical student education, designing Continuing Medical Education (CME) content at national meetings
Complete a scholarly product that allows the learner to increase their understanding of the ethical challenges in their own subspecialty

Leadership Track

This is an optional 18-month specialty track for residents who are interested in developing leadership skills. Many of our resident graduates have become medical directors, section chiefs and chairs. Being a leader and a manager are two unique different things that is not always readily apparent to those new to leadership. One of our program aims is to develop leaders of our field. This track provides formal training in leadership skills such as providing feedback, goal/vision setting, strategy development, problem solving and understanding organizational structure and finances. Participants in this track meet monthly to have a faculty guided discussion on educational topics.

Program Components:

Attend Core Didactics/Workshops
Complete Asynchronous Learning and “pre-work” for each session
Participation in discussions
Complete a leadership project

Program Objectives:

Provide education on leadership skills to residents who want to be the future leaders of our field.
Recognize the influence of emotional intelligence on leading others.
Develop of process of self-awareness and consistent self-assessment when leading others so that our leadership styles can match the situation and the audience.
Develop internal and external communication skills in leading teams
Recognize the differences between managers and leaders.
Reflect on conflict management styles and practice difficult conversations strategies.
Understand the value of goals, vision and mission in the context of leading large organizations
Review concepts of teambuilding and leading a team.
Develop skills of mentorship and sponsorship, as both the mentor/sponsor and the mentee/sponsoree
Develop an understanding of organizational structure and the complexities of the finances of healthcare

Quality Improvement and Safety Track

This is an optional 18-month specialty track for residents who are interested in developing advanced skills in leading quality improvement and safety initiatives within the healthcare system One of our program aims is to develop leaders of our field. Clinical leaders in our field will need the critical skill of understanding how to identify quality improvement and safety issues, lead these projects and analyze the outcomes from quality and safety initiatives throughout the span of their career. This track is intended for residents with aspirations in a career of leading quality improvement initiatives in their future work. Participants in this track meet monthly to have a faculty guided discussion on Quality Improvement and Safety projects and topics.

Program Components:

Monthly meetings to discuss ongoing Quality Improvement and Safety initiatives currently ongoing within the hospital
Participation in the PDSA cycle for the Quality Improvement projects of the group
Participation in discussions about the progress of each project
Completion of a quality improvement or safety project

Program Objectives:

To be able to identify a quality improvement issue and lead a PDSA cycle from start to finish including:
     * Writing a problem statement
     * Developing an opportunity statement
     * Determine outcomes for success
     * Analyze outcomes and formulate an action plan
     * Check outcomes and interpret the success of the plan
To demonstrate the ability to lead a root cause analysis for a safety issue and learn how to integrate this in their clinical environments