Creating a resident-centric rehabilitation research team

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Medical Education Research

Background:

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residents face barriers to research, including limited exposure and project initiation uncertainty.
• Low resident research participation hinders the growth of Physiatry and overall medical research.
• Despite funding initiatives, a shortage of new Physiatry researchers limits progress in rehabilitation and disability research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a novel, multidisciplinary research program tailored for PM&R residents.
• To foster a research culture and enhance research productivity within the residency program.
• To address the need for increased resident involvement in clinical research.

Main Methods:

• Development of a resident-centric research program integrating faculty mentorship.
• Collaboration with institutional research centers (Neuroscience Nursing Research Center, Neuroscience Research Development Office).
• Utilization of departmental resources, such as a "Shark Tank" competition, to support resident research.

Main Results:

• Successful creation and implementation of a multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Resident Research program.
• The program demonstrated a resident-centric approach to research support.
• Facilitation of academic productivity for residents while accommodating clinical duties.

Conclusions:

• The established resident research program successfully promotes academic productivity.
• Resident research trainees are being developed as future leaders in multidisciplinary collaborative teams.
• The program emphasizes patient function and health outcomes in rehabilitation research.