Program Overview
We offer a four-year categorical ACGME-accredited Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation training program. We are committed to supporting trainees who work with a diverse patient population under the mentorship of outstanding faculty that foster inter-professional teamwork. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is dedicated to excellence in rehabilitative care through advances in rehabilitation research, collaboration across health care disciplines, outstanding educational opportunities and strong patient advocacy.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Vanderbilt Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training is to train future leaders in physiatry medicine in a collaborative and supportive environment that provides training in complex clinical skills, didactic education, and research opportunities in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Our program aims to
- Provide a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and appropriately supervised academic setting in which advanced, highly skilled education in physiatry can occur.
- Develop the resident academically and professionally, while providing resident wellness and balance. Competencies to be acquired include those of medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.
- Provide collaborative opportunities for residents to engage in scholarly activities with faculty who are engaged in leadership positions across the spectrum of PM&R.
- Continuously evaluate the residency program in order to provide the most relevant and diverse educational experience to foster exceptional physiatrists.
Welcome from the Program Director
Welcome to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program. As Program Director, it’s a privilege to lead a program that is not only rooted in academic excellence and clinical rigor, but also deeply committed to developing well-rounded, compassionate, and capable physiatrists.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation medicine is an exciting expertise in medicine that is essential to optimizing patient outcomes and quality of life. Our residents train in a wide range of clinical settings, working with diverse patient populations and learning from faculty who are passionate about teaching and advancing the field. From inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient musculoskeletal care to spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, pediatric rehabilitation, and interventional procedures, our program offers comprehensive exposure to all core areas of PM&R.
What sets us apart is our culture of collaboration, mentorship and support. We take pride not only in the strength of our training, but in the people who make this program what it is; curious, dedicated, and driven physiatrists who care deeply about their patients and each other.
Whether you’re interested in private practice, academic medicine, research or pursuing a sub-specialty, Vanderbilt offers the foundation and flexibility to help you achieve your goals. I encourage you to explore our program, connect with our residents and faculty, and see for yourself what makes Vanderbilt PM&R a truly special place to train.
Warm regards,
Residency Program Director, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Program Goals
The overarching goal of the Vanderbilt Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training Program is to produce physicians who can competently and independently practice general physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine, also known as physiatry medicine.
- Upon completion of this program, residents will be able to
- Demonstrate sufficient competence in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Milestones of The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)*.
- Complete and present a Quality Improvement (QI) Project approved by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R).
- Admissible for Part 1 of the ABPM&R certifying examination.
Why Choose Us
Residents work in a collaborative and supportive environment that provides comprehensive training in complex clinical skills, education, and research in PM&R.
- The majority of our graduating classes are accepted into fellowship programs.
- Residents have protected time for didactics and wellness activities.
- Residents work with faculty who are engaged in leadership positions regionally, nationally, and internationally ranging from the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR), American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), North American Spine Society (NASS), Spine Intervention Society (SIS), Tennessee Department of Health, and the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. See more information about our faculty, including research and clinical interests.
- For the third year in a row, Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital is recognized as one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers, and has dedicated SCI, TBI, Stroke inpatient services as well as General Rehab and Complex Medicine services. in 2022.
- We provide a robust and collaborative environment for residents to engage in scholarly activities across the spectrum of PM&R. View the latest in PM&R Resident Research (PDF).
To Apply
Applications are received through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
All applications must include:
- ERAS Application
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Successfully completion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 1 and Level 2.
Application Submission Deadline: Nov. 1
Residency Interview Schedule
All interviews will be conducted virtually
Date | Time (central time) |
---|---|
Tuesday Dec. 2, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. |
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 | 4-6 p.m. |
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 | 5-7 p.m. |
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 | 4-6 p.m. |
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. |
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 | 4-6 p.m. |
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 | 4-6 p.m. |
Visa information
Due to the vast number of highly qualified applicants, only a small number of international medical graduates are invited to interview. Significant "hands-on" clinical experience in the United States (NOT an observership or research) is highly recommended. For international medical graduates we require
- Three letters of recommendation from clinical supervisors in the United States
- USMLE Steps 1 & 2 scores are required at the time of interview
- Medical School graduation date of 2020 or later
We sponsor J-1 Visas and consider sponsoring H-1B Visas
Meet Our Team
Professor and Vice Chair of Education
Residency Program Director, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Associate Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Associate Program Director, Residency Training Program, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Medical Director of Musculoskeletal Medicine at Concierge Medicine
Irene McKirgan, MSM
Senior Program Manager, Residency Training Program
(615) 936-5502
irene.m.mckirgan.1@vumc.org
Residency Selection Team
Along with Drs. Rinaldi and Yang, the following faculty serve as members of the residency selection team:
Heidi Chen, MD
Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Ashley Eaves, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Elise McClanahan, MD
Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Clausyl J. Plummer, MD
Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
For more information about the PM&R Residency Program and Graduate Medical Education at VUMC, view our virtual tours.
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Vanderbilt University Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency is a four-year, categorical program. We accept four residents per year. Residents spend their first year in the Vanderbilt Internal Medicine Residency Program, while also rotating for one month in PM&R.
Rotations
All inpatient PM&R rotations are at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, which is a stand-alone, 51-bed adult inpatient rehabilitation facility across the street from the Vanderbilt University Hospital.
Outpatient rotations are located at several different clinic sites in Nashville, including Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks, the Nashville VA Medical Center, and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. We have other clinic sites in Mt. Juliet, Franklin and Murfreesboro. Reliable transportation to these clinical sites is required. A personal car is recommended.
Sample rotation schedule
Education
Our program has regular morning didactics two or three times per week. This is protected time for all residents from clinical duties. We also have bimonthly Spine Conference, monthly PM&R Department Grand Rounds, quarterly MM&I, quarterly Journal Clubs and resident-run ultrasound learning sessions.
We have monthly protected Academic Half-Days led by our esteemed Sports Medicine faculty. Residents are excused from clinical responsibilities to learn hands-on diagnostic MSK ultrasound, as well as procedural practice in the Vanderbilt Cadaver Lab.
Research
All residents are expected to participate in scholarly research during their residency. In addition, a QI project is required by the American Board of PM&R to be completed during residency.
Every spring, our program hosts a Resident Research Day, where residents present a research project (e.g., QI, educational, and advocacy projects) to the department at large. This half-day event includes an invited guest professor who kicks off the event with a lecture followed by resident presentations. At the end of the event, selected faculty judges score presentations based on categories of criteria for “Best Research” and “Best Oral Presentation.” All PGY-4 residents are required to present, while other residents are encouraged to do so.
Mentorship
Our residency program has a formal mentorship program, where all PGY-1 residents are paired with a faculty mentor upon arrival to Vanderbilt. Mentorship pairs meet quarterly. Residents are encouraged to identify additional mentors throughout residency as they discern their career path.
Call
Currently, PGY-2 residents take home call an average of two nights per month and eight weekends per year. PGY-3 residents cover on average two nights per month and three weekends per year. PGY-4 residents cover two weekends per year.
Benefits
Salary: PM&R residents are compensated per the VUMC GME stipend schedule, with regular stipend increases per year. View current salary figures.
Funds
Each resident has $2,500 available funds to use toward educational materials and/or travel expenses for national conferences.
PGY-1 residents can use their funds for the USMLE STEP 3 exam fee
PGY-4 residents have an additional $1400 of funding that can be used toward ABPM&R Written Board exam fees (provided they have scored above the 50th percentile on the SAE exam during their PGY-3 and PGY-4 years)
Resident Wellness
We have 2 wellness half-days per year, where the department funds an activity for residents without clinical duties. In the past, residents have enjoyed rock climbing, pottery painting, Top Golf, and attended sporting events.
Our program actively supports resident wellness initiatives with regular check-ins with program leadership. The Vanderbilt GME Office has additional resources which residents are encouraged to explore.
Living in Nashville
VUMC is in the heart of Nashville, a vibrant hub in the southeast. Nashville is a great balance of big-city feel, activities and opportunities with small-town accessibility, neighborhoods and friendly faces!
Within 10 minutes of the Vanderbilt campus, Nashville and the surrounding counties provide plenty of outdoor opportunities such as running trails, hiking, biking, golf, boating, rafting, rock climbing and more. See below some additional information.
VisitMusicCity.com
NashvilleGuru.com
TNStateparks.comGet a further glimpse into our program from two of our current residents.