Fellowship Structure

A speech therapist in a blue shirt and purple gloves is interacting with a young person in a wheelchair. They are holding a lollipop near the person's mouth. A large blue exercise ball is in the background.

This 12-month program is designed to help you reach your specific career goals, offering diverse clinical and non-clinical learning experiences for a well-rounded, dynamic training.

You’ll dive into extensive inpatient training, working with a range of complex cases, from mild to severe brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, strokes, anoxic brain injuries, and other acquired neurologic disorders. Over half of your fellowship time will be here, with a weekly continuity clinic woven into most of your rotations to deepen your learning.

You’ll also gain valuable experience in hospital consults and outpatient rotations at partner institutions like Emory University Hospital, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (PAH), and Grady Memorial Hospital (GMH). This fellowship is an exciting journey to sharpen your skills and advance your expertise in brain injury care.

Rotation schedule

A typical rotation schedule includes:

  • Inpatient brain injury rehabilitation: 3.5 months
  • Outpatient brain injury rehabilitation: 4.5 months
  • Research: 1 month
  • Hospital consults: 2 months
  • Electives: 1 month
    • Electives are designed by the fellow based on his or her interests and approved by the fellowship director.
    • Electives must be completed at an approved institution and a program letter of agreement (PLA) must be in place.
    • Some international electives may be accommodated.

Sample fellowship block

The schedule includes four blocks dedicated to primary inpatient rotations, four blocks for primary outpatient rotations, and three blocks with a split focus. Elective rotations will vary based on the fellow’s preferences. The proposed monthly schedule is subject to adjustments to better support the fellow’s learning experience, with all rotations still taking place.

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Month/block Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June
Site location Shepherd and offsite location at GMH or PAH Shepherd Shepherd Offsite location Shepherd Offsite location Offsite location at GMH or PAH Shepherd Shepherd Offsite Shepherd and offsite location TBD based on elective
Rotation name Outpatient clinc/neuro radiology Acquired brain injury Acquired brain injury Concussion Clinic/SHARE Research/ICU Headache rotation PM&R consult Acquired brain injury Outpatient clinic Acquired brain injury day program Neuropsychology/research Elective
Outpatient block 50% 0% 0% 80% 0% 90% 0% 0% 90% 90% 25% TBD based on elective
Inpatient block 40% 90% 90% 0% 45% 0% 90% 90% 0% 0% 20% TBD based on elective
Research block 10% 0% 0% 10% 45% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 45% 0%
Continuity clinic block 0% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 0%

Brain injury medicine fellow spotlight

Our 2023-2024 fellow, Dr. Nathan Barnett, was able to complete his elective at Institut Guttman in Barcelona, Spain. There, Nathan had the opportunity to explore unique transcontinental differences in the management of complex neurorehabilitation care to supplement his understanding of brain injury medicine.

Dr. Barnett observed inpatient and outpatient care, including patients suffering from disorders of consciousness, video fluoroscopic swallow studies, pediatric brain injury, transcranial direct stimulation coupled with virtual reality for the treatment of neuropathic pain, and transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of aphasia.

He was educated on the levels of care and opportunities for patients made possible through Spain’s universal healthcare system, as well as efforts made by the city of Barcelona to make the city accessible for individuals with disability. Nathan learned alongside residents and fellows from various universities all over Europe who also provided unique insight into the practice of rehabilitation medicine abroad.

A medical team performs an ultrasound on a patient lying on a hospital bed. A nurse and two doctors are focused on the procedure, using equipment to examine the patient's abdomen. The room is equipped with medical devices and monitors.
Dr. Nathan Barnett gained hands-on training at the Pain Institute under the mentorship of Physiatrist Dr. Michael Smith. Here, he performs a knee injection with the assistance of an ultrasound machine, using real-time imaging to ensure precision.

Shepherd specific programs

Shepherd Center offers a range of specialized programs designed to support individuals with brain injuries. Our Disorders of Consciousness Program is led by clinicians trained in this unique patient population, while Shepherd Pathways and the Complex Concussion Clinic provide multidisciplinary residential and intensive outpatient care. We also offer targeted support for veterans with TBI through the SHARE Military Initiative. Additionally, Shepherd Center incorporates cutting-edge neurorehabilitation robotics into our treatment programs, ensuring the most advanced care for every patient.

Fellowship training advice and resources

For more information about the many subspecialties available within physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), such as brain injury medicine, please download the Roadmap to a Fellowship guide (PDF) from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Physiatrist in Training Council.