Resident and Faculty Comments

Welcome to one of the most well-balanced PM&R residency programs in the country! I believe the benefits of training at Carolinas Rehabilitation are unparalleled. As the largest physiatry program in the Southeast, CR offers tremendous exposure to a breadth of diagnoses while maintaining the feel of a smaller program with an unprecedented >4:1 faculty to resident ratio. Our comprehensive clinical rotation and didactic schedules provide opportunities to develop your expertise as a well-rounded physiatrist while giving you the flexibility to pursue personal interests within subspecialty fields. (And even within complementary and alternative medicine fields: several of our residents have completed medical acupuncture courses and attended conferences on nutrition.)

Furthermore, we have fun! I think you'll find the family atmosphere and collegiality that exists among faculty and residents unique and refreshing. While you can read about academic specifics, you can't read about our social events which have included: trips to the National Whitewater Center; resident wine & appetizer nights; numerous resident-organized intramural teams including flag football, softball, soccer, and ultimate frisbee; as well as organized cycling rides, triathlons, and half-marathons that we've done together. I invite you to come visit-not just for an interview, but for a week, a rotation, and quite possibly, your future residency!

Hyung Kim, MD, Co-Chief Resident

Welcome to the world of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation! Carolinas Rehabilitation at Carolinas Medical Center hosts one of the best PM&R programs in the country. With ideal faculty to resident ratios, supportive and dynamic faculty, and exposure to just about every aspect in the field of physiatry, our program will well prepare you for the future.

Carolinas Rehabilitation is the largest rehabilitation facility in the Southeast. It is home to multiple inpatient units covering diseases ranging from stroke to spinal cord injury to cancer rehab. We are also a designated Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems facility. Our outpatient clinics cover all forms of musculoskeletal and sports injuries and even branch into integrative medicine with acupuncture.

The residency program itself recently expanded and now includes a total of 12 residents. We are known for our camaraderie and excellent rapport. From ethnic-themed food nights to intramural sports, we spend much of our free time together enjoying all that the beautiful city of Charlotte has to offer. Come see why we produce some of the brightest physiatrists in the world!

Faculty and Resident Comments

Jesse A. Lieberman, MD: "I came to Carolinas Rehabilitation as a resident because I felt like it was the best program in the Southeast. I had an excellent experience as a resident and I felt very well prepared for my fellowship. I came back to join the faculty because of the excellent reputation of the hospital and program and the comradery amongst the faculty and residents. It is an excellent place to work and learn."

Matthew Shall, MD: "After completing my residency training here in Charlotte, I was excited to return as a faculty member to work with a number of the fantastic physicians who mentored me through my training. Carolinas Rehabilitation is in the forefront of rehabilitation not only locally and regionally, but has a growing reputation throughout the United States. I am proud to say that I am part of such an exemplary institution."

Sharon K. Kanelos, MD: "I came to Carolinas Rehabilitation as a resident because of the strong, energetic and enthusiastic faculty. The program is community-based, but has the feel of a major academic center. I chose to stay as a faculty member after graduation because I have such respect the faculty under which I trained. I was also able to find a perfect fit for the type of practice that I wanted to establish. Moreover, this setting provides me an opportunity to not only improve patients' lives, but to also help teach future clinicians."

Vu Q. C. Nguyen, MD: "I came here as a resident because it was the best program in the Southeast. The faculty's level of dedication to the program is unparalleled, and every resident is viewed as a unique gem with great brilliance just waiting to be polished. I chose this faculty job over others because I feel there's a special chemistry here. I am at home with this group of people. They're my mentors, pupils, colleagues and friends."

Sonya G. Rissmiller, MD: "I came to Carolinas Rehabilitation for my residency because of its reputation, and because I had an immediate sense of acceptance and familiarity when I interviewed. The faculty is diverse in their interests, yet cohesive as a group. I feel privileged to call them my colleagues and that I am involved in teaching the residents. I am amazed with each year's group of residents. Just when I think we've found our best group yet, the group that follows emerges and proves to be every bit as dynamic as the group before. I couldn't imagine a better group of faculty or residents!"