Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine

1. Lisa Thornton, MD

1. Pediatrics

1. Sidra

1. Interview w/ Sponsor
2. One Month Cancellation Notice
3. Pediatrics Clerkship

This rotation is ideal for a student who is considering a career in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.  It will also provide valuable insights for those considering a career in Orthopedics, Developmental Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neurosurgery.  Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine manages the functional needs of children with physical disabilities with the goal of optimizing health.  There are many diagnoses that can lead to functional impairments. Common causes are cerebral palsy, spina bifida, genetic abnormalities, traumatic brain injury, near drowning, meningitis/encphalitis, etc.

During this elective the student will see outpatients in clinic, inpatient consultations, botox injections (based on patient need).  They will join the following multi-disciplinary clinics (MDT) to observe the efficiency of the medical team in providing care: 

• Spina Bifida MDT (Rehab, Nephrology, Urology, PT)
• Movement Disorders MDT (Rehab, Neurology, Neurosurgery, PT, OT)

There is also an opportunity to informally shadow physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists to gain a deeper understanding of the role of these professionals within the inter-disciplinary rehab team.
 
Course Objectives:

• Understand the role of the Rehabilitation Physician
• Recognize basic development and how to identify when development deviates from normal
• Be familiar with common childhood disabilities (cerebral palsy, spina bifida, etc)
  Recognize common tone abnormalities (spasticity, dystonia, etc)
• Understand the role of Allied Health professionals in the rehab team
• Be familiar with the basic musculoskeletal exam and evaluation of gait

Course Requirements:

• Full participation in the rotation unless discussed with the course sponsors
• Students will discuss daily rehab topics that are provided at the beginning of the rotation

Assessment will be based on participation in the clinical opportunities and compliance with the assignments.