Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Current Residents

Degree: Medical Degree

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

After residency: TBD

Career Interest/ Research: General physiatry/procedures in PM&R (injections, EMG/NCS, spasticity management), SCI medicine, stroke care, amputee care, prosthetics/orthotic management, nutrition, and wound care.

Hobbies/ Interest: Biking, golfing, cooking, traveling, hiking, reading, watching soccer (Liverpool FC!), spending time with my wife and daughter.

Bio: I chose the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as a direct result of my time spent serving in the United States Army (2002-2006) as a combat medic. Thereafter, I completed my undergraduate degree at University of Illinois and my medical degree at University of Wisconsin. I chose to complete my PM&R residency at Mizzou because of the excellent quality/character of the faculty leadership and their personal commitment to resident education. There is also something intangible about the culture of the program as well; there is a real sense that everyone works to bring out the best in each other. A very family/team-oriented program.

Degree: BS in Biology, Minor in Chemistry

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine

After residency: Possible ISMM Fellowship

Career Interest/ Research: Interventional spine, MSK medicine, transcriptome analysis

Hobbies/ Interest: watching sports, golfing, working out, music, movies.

Bio: I chose PM&R after an awesome elective rotation during medical school! The faculty makes our program this best!! The attendings truly care about your education and making sure you’re ready to practice after graduating from the residency program. Columbia is a great mix of having everything you’d need from a big city with none of the traffic.

Degree: Exercise Science at Truman State University in Kirksville MO

Hometown: Springfield IL

Medical School: A. T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After residency: On the job hunt now for an inpatient/outpatient PM&R job.

Career Interest/ Research: I really enjoy inpatient PM&R, but I also enjoy neuro rehab in the outpatient clinic.

Hobbies/ Interest: biking, hiking, adventuring with my Husband and 2 dogs, and traveling as much as possible.

Bio: One of the things I love about PM&R is the focus on quality of life, and the ability to see the tangible progress that our patients make while on the inpatient rehab unit. They have just gone through a significant life change, whether that be a Spinal Cord Injury, a Brain Injury, Amputation, Stroke, or multi-trauma, and we see them during their most vulnerable time. I really enjoy working on the inpatient unit, because we are able to watch them progress every day, and we focus on adaptive strategies to getting them home with family so they can return to the life that they left.

Columbia is a wonderful place to live and train. For me it is the perfect size town, to have the variety in entertainment and restaurants you would get in a bigger area, while avoiding the high cost of living and traffic. My husband and I love to be outside, and Columbia is very outdoor oriented. You would be hard pressed to find another town with a better trail system integrated within the city, as well as connecting to the Katy Trail, which spans across Missouri, giving you endless miles of biking and running. There are also 2 state parks within a 15/20-minute drive, with many more within a couple hours, so there is plenty of hiking and camping options as well.

One of the things that makes our program the BEST, is the friendship between all the residents. We regularly get together for board games, happy hours, and dinner. We also have a department Slow Pitch Softball team, which has included attendings, residents and their families. We have previously had kickball teams, and we currently have a monthly book club which focuses on fun books to read, not journals, and includes not just the docs, but all supporting staff in the department. Because of the strong bond we have outside of work, this makes working together even more fun. Everyone supports each other and helps out when needed so that one person isn’t always the resident staying late to finish work. If I could choose my program again, it would definitely be Mizzou.

Degree: MD

Hometown: Libertyville IL

Medical School: Chicago Medical School

After residency: Undecided

Career Interest/ Research:

Hobbies/ Interest: Weightlifting, nutrition, singing/music production, video/board games, basketball, reading, listening to audiobooks/podcasts

Bio: Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Was interested in PM&R since the beginning of med school when I heard about it from a friend. Given my background in exercise, it sounded like something potentially right up my alley. The more I learned about the specialty, the more I loved everything about it. Originally became interested in the Mizzou residency program when I went to the AAPM&R national conference during my 3rd year of med school. I saw all the Mizzou residents and attendings wearing their matching Mizzou polos, and I thought they looked cool. Now I have one of my own, and it is every bit as amazing as I thought it would be. Have loved my time in Columbia and at Mizzou primarily because of all the great people here!

Degree: BS, DO

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Hattiesburg, MS

After residency: Sports Medicine Fellowship in order to pursue a career in Sports/MSK medicine.

Career Interest/ Research: Sports and preventative medicine. Interested in youth sports and the preservation/longevity of the athlete.

Hobbies/ Interest: Sports! Watching football - The University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and the New Orleans Saints (Who Dat!?) Cooking - creole, grilling on my pellet grill, or HelloFresh. Gardening - all types of peppers (the hotter the better) and herbs Traveling - local and afar Bird watching - yes, I have feeders and a house….and possibly 3 bird ID apps!

Bio: Born in New Orleans, grew up in Birmingham, and went to medical school in Hattiesburg. Now this Southern Boy calls the Midwest home! I am married and have one dog. I chose Mizzou because it truly is a “Hidden Gem”, the feel of a quiet lifestyle in a small town along with a powerhouse academic facility and a department that prides itself on resources and connections within the field of PM&R.

Degree: BS, MD

Hometown: Wichita, KS

Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita

After residency: Currently planning to pursue a predominantly inpatient job closer to home.

Career Interest: Inpatient rehabilitation and consults

Research: Quality improvement in billing and coding.

Hobbies/ Interest: Spending time with my wife and daughters. Also, an avid runner and sports enthusiast.

Bio: Columbia is a fantastic city for my active family with its plethora of parks and trails. Mizzou PM&R is truly a family where everyone cares about the success of everyone else.

Degree: DO

Hometown: Lees Summit, MO

Medical School: Kansas City University

Internship: General Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia

After residency: Pain Management/Interventional Spine fellowship

Career Interests/Research: Comprehensive pain medicine, interventional spine, spinal cord neuromodulation, MSK ultrasound

Hobbies/ Interest: boating, cycling, golf, pickleball, softball, video games, traveling, KC Royals and Chiefs, Mizzou football

Bio: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri, and bleed all things KC and Mizzou. I went to the University of Missouri-Columbia for undergrad and attended KCU for graduate and medical school. I completed my internship in general surgery at Mizzou prior to joining the PM&R family. Our residency program is exactly that, a family. Our group is tight knit with extremely supportive faculty mentors. The Mizzou PM&R program has a reputation of producing competent, well rounded and happy physicians. Our program allows for individualized education and rotations, catering to our specific interests. We get hands on training with interventional procedures, ultrasound, Botox and EMG. In addition to our excellent training, we have an incredible quality of life. We work hard and play hard. My wife Mollie and I love living in Columbia, where we are constantly trying new restaurants, biking the Katy Trail, tailgating at Mizzou games and taking our weenie dog Frankie to breweries.

Degree: DO

Hometown: Highland, Utah

Medical School: Des Moines University

After residency: Sky’s the limit, any suggestions?!

Career Interest/ Research: Sports medicine, consult services; research in Ultrasound education.

Hobbies/ Interest: I love to spend time outdoors with my family, work on projects around the house, Play tennis, pickleball, disc golf, lawn games, board games, etc.

Bio: Columbia transformed from a place to do residency to our new home in a very short amount of time. The city is a college town with plenty to offer by way of entertainment and if you need something bigger on a weekend, KC and STL are less than 2 hours away. My family keeps busy with the parks around town, hiking trails, splash pads and such. Our residency program also has a softball team which we enjoy getting together weekly to play and socialize.

Degree: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Hometown: Jefferson City, MO

Medical School: Des Moines University

After residency: Fellowship

Career interest: SCI, General Rehab, Amputee

Hobbies/Interest: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and family, working on my garden, cooking, going for bike rides on Columbia’s awesome trails, practicing yoga, reading, listening to podcasts, and playing with my cats.

Bio: When choosing a specialty, I wanted a field that would allow me to have long-lasting relationships with patients. I chose PM&R because I love working with patients to help them improve function and getting to work with them over a long period of time. I chose Mizzou PM&R because I experienced first-hand how dedicated and personal the attendings and residents were. Every individual I worked with took the time to get to know me and teach me more about the wonderful field of PM&R. I felt like everyone welcomed me as family from the beginning, and I knew this was the program for me.

Degree: DO, MBA

Hometown: I grew up moving all over the world

Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

After residency: Fellowship

Career Interest/ Research: Interventional spine, sports, neuromodulation, ultrasound, regenerative medicine, medical education, systems improvement, physician advocacy and leadership

Hobbies/ Interest: I love spending time with family, exploring restaurants, lifting weights, and being outdoors with friends!

Bio: PM&R is one of the broadest medical specialties, with countless unique opportunities to change lives. It is constantly stimulating, a never-ending mastery of all the organ systems to affect the outcome of the most important domain – function! Success in such an extraordinary field requires passionate mentorship and support, which is exactly why I chose Mizzou. Our program has a rich legacy of learning, innovation, and excitement that culminates in lifelong friendships.

Degree: MD, Doctor of Medicine

Hometown: Jefferson City, MO

Medical School: University of Missouri, Columbia

After residency: Excited to find out! Still trying to decide between doing a fellowship versus going straight into independent practice. Career Interest/ Research: I have previously done research on the fitness habits and perceptions of my peers in medical school. I would love to do more movement analysis, especially as it pertains to improving function for the patients I will be working with most.

Hobbies/ Interest: Spending time with my wife Josie, hiking, hanging out with our dogs and my wife’s pony, Billie, powerlifting, singing, and beatboxing.

Why I chose to be a physiatrist: Ever since I was a young kid in tae kwon do, I really loved how the muscles worked together to make us move. I loved anatomy in medical school, especially relating to the nerves and musculoskeletal system. Luckily at MU, my medical school classes had early exposure to PM&R especially through the anatomy lab. I later became impressed with the physical exam skills of physiatrists, and eventually how I could apply that knowledge to help patients with MSK/neurological conditions. I am truly excited to be a part of this excellent field.

What I love about Columbia: I love the multitude of AMAZING places to eat, and there is a flavorful brewery scene. The paths that cut through the town and connect to the MKT trail are also excellent places to run/hike/bike with the dogs as company. With that being said, Columbia is also one of the most dog friendly places I’ve lived. Last but not least, being in Columbia places my wife and I much closer to family than anywhere else I could have picked for PM&R, with both sides residing in Mid-Missouri.

What makes MU PM&R the BEST: I was fortunate enough to get a lot of time within the department at MOI, UH, and Rusk as a medical student. One of the outstanding things was how much all the residents looked out for one another, especially if one was particularly busy, and would assist in any way they could. From all the places I interviewed, that aspect of warmth and helpfulness to your fellow resident really stood out. I am honored to be working at MU not only for that reason, but also because this was the very program that inspired me to go into PM&R.

Degree: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Medical School: A. T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

After Residency: Maintaining an open mind with regards to fellowship training

Career Interest/Research: Interests in lifestyle medicine, prevention, pain medicine, musculoskeletal/sport medicine, stroke, and brain injury.

Hobbies/Interests: Mountains, forests, rivers, calisthenics, fitness

Bio: Pursuing PM&R felt like the perfect fit for me. As a neuroscience undergraduate major and a medical training in osteopathic medicine, I’m fascinated by the neuromusculoskeletal system and the pathology that falls within it. I love the psychosocial aspects that are taken into account for all patients as this plays a major role in the prognosis of each individual. Mizzou offers a family-friendly program that allows me to be close to my support system, feel supported by my colleagues and challenged by my mentors.