We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Become a Rehabilitation Physician?

By Amy Hunter
Updated: Feb 05, 2024
Views: 8,014
Share

To become a rehabilitation physician, you must earn both undergraduate and medical degrees. A medical internship and a residency in rehabilitation medicine are also standard requirements. This type of doctor helps people suffering from disabling injuries or illnesses to regain as much functionality as possible. While each case is unique, the goal for each patient is to live as independently, and as free of pain as possible. Rehabilitation physicians work closely with a team of healthcare providers to enhance the patient's recovery.

To become a rehabilitation physician, a medical school graduate, who has completed an internship, will apply to one of the 80 accredited residency programs for rehabilitation medicine in the US. During this time, the physician may also consider pursing one of the sub-specialties of rehabilitation medicine. These include pain, spinal cord, sport, neuromuscular and palliative medicine as well as pediatric rehabilitation. The American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R) works with the certification boards of pediatrics, internal medicine, and neurology to allow graduates to become board certified in both rehabilitation medicine and another specialty. Rehabilitation physicians may also pursue a Master's of Science or PhD in their chosen field.

To become a rehabilitation physician, a doctor must develop strong leadership and communication skills. During the rehabilitation process, each patient's care will be overseen by a team of doctors and other healthcare providers. The rehabilitation physician is typically the team leader and, with input from the other medical professionals, develops a treatment plan for each patient.

Rehabilitation physicians are the members of the treatment team who are often with notifying the patient's family of progress in treatment, and of modifications to the treatment plan. Rehabilitation physicians also explain to the patient and his or her family when the benefits of treatment are coming to an end. This is a stressful situation, and excellent people skills and empathy are an important part of the job.

The successful rehabilitation physician must be a well rounded doctor, with the ability to communicate with his peers and worried family members, as well as with patients who may have cognitive impairments. To become a rehabilitation physician, the doctor must satisfy rigorous educational requirements, and it is necessary for the doctor to remain up to date on the newest ideas in rehabilitation. Although the job is a demanding one, rehabilitation physicians typically find their work to be very rewarding.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/how-do-i-become-a-rehabilitation-physician.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.