Vision
A world where all people can fully participate and thrive.
Mission
Cultivating an unparalleled training experience for PM&R physician leaders of tomorrow.
Aims
Integrity: We achieve excellence in graduate medical education. Our faculty and residents exhibit integrity in all interactions and uphold high moral and ethical standards in all endeavors.
Inclusion: We recruit a diverse group of residents from a broad geographic area. We graduate physiatrists with the skills needed to confront systemic inequities impacting underrepresented and marginalized groups.
Innovation: Our residents advance the field of rehabilitation medicine through clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, and by providing innovative, patient-centered care.
Impact: We prepare residents for impactful careers in a broad range of practice settings and locations. We train top candidates for both fellowship and job placement upon graduation.
Individual Well-being: We create a work and learning environment, with a focus on well-being, where all our residents can feel safe. We promote professional growth and transparency without fear of retaliation.
Intentional Curriculum: We produce outstanding clinicians through a competency-based, intentional curriculum driven by the varied educational needs and career interests of our residents.
Integration: We provide a well-rounded rehabilitation training experience with rehabilitation services fully integrated into our hospital systems and the diverse communities we serve.
History
The UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
In 1957, Justus F. Lehmann, MD, was recruited as the first Chair of the University of Washington’s newly established Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. At the time, the Pacific Northwest had virtually no rehabilitation care for those with physical disabilities.
Dr. Lehmann developed research, training and clinical care programs in medical rehabilitation. He established a residency training program in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, as well as divisions of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Prosthetics & Orthotics.
Dr. Walter C. Stolov followed Dr. Lehmann and served as Chair from 1987 to 1999. Dr. Lawrence R. Robinson was Chair from 2000 to 2006. Dr. Peter Esselman is the current department Chair.
UW School of Medicine
Opened in 1946, The School of Medicine is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in medical education, patient care, and scientific research. US News & World Report ranks us in the Top 10 Best Medical Schools in the nation, and first for Primary Care. The School of Medicine is the second largest in the nation with more than 1,300 faculty members, and serves as a regional medical resource for the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
The University of Washington
The University of Washington was founded in 1861 on a ten-acre knoll in what is now downtown Seattle, and moved to its present 660-acre site on the shores of Lake Washington in 1895. The University offers instruction in more than 200 academic disciplines to more than 34,000 students.