Diversity in Experience
What separates VCU’s PM&R Residency from the rest?
Accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education, our program accepts six residents each year through the National Residency Matching Program. As a trainee, you can expect the following:
- Extensive clinical exposure
- Bedside teaching
- Formal lectures and other didactics
- Research mentoring from our dedicated faculty
We value diversity of experience, and in addition to balancing inpatient and outpatient training, our program emphasizes community outreach. As a resident you can volunteer with adaptive sports organizations, provide on-field sports coverage, treat underserved populations in the Richmond area and participate in integrative health programming during their time at VCU.
Well-rounded PM&R training requires collaboration with neuropsychologists, orthopaedic surgeons, therapists and numerous other talented health professionals. Our diverse, accomplished faculty members bring a breadth of knowledge and experience to the table in order to provide compassionate care for our patients and extensive learning opportunities for our trainees.
We provide structured workshops, lectures and interactive, experiential training for our residents. We ensure that our residents get protected time each week for faculty lectures, departmental grand rounds and workshops. Weekly presentations, journal club and lecture series also occur at different healthcare facilities.
Residency Mission Statement
To educate and develop highly competent and compassion driven PM&R physicians.
We do this through:
- Providing a comprehensive, real world experience that is steeped and vetted in humanistic and systems-based practice education.
- Fostering a diverse and inclusive culture through our recruitment of residents & faculty from a multitude of backgrounds.
- Embracing and leveraging new technology and innovative research to optimize patient outcomes.
Our Vision: “To create world class physicians and thought leaders in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.”
Upon completion of our fully accredited PM&R residency, VCU graduates should demonstrate the knowledge & skills to be highly competent Physiatrists and leaders in the field of PM&R.
Apply
The VCU Department of PM&R participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and those interested in our program can apply using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Each year we accept six residents. You may complete your intern year (PGY-1) at any accredited institution before beginning their PM&R residency here, and if you’re interested in receiving all your training here at VCU you must apply separately to the Department of Internal Medicine's program.
- Curriculum vitae (CV) with your e-mail address and phone number
- Personal statement
- Official medical school transcript
- Test scores
- USMLE
- COMLEX
- TOEFL (if applicable – minimum score 600)
- CSA step 2CS (if applicable)
- TWE (if applicable)
- Notarized copy of visa (if applicable – VCU can only sponsor J-1 clinical visas)
- Letters of recommendation: A minimum of three, preferably with at least one from a PM&R physician
2022: ERAS applications due October 7, 2022
Interview Dates for 2022-2023:
November 4, 2022 - VCU SOM Candidates only
November 18, 2022
December 2, 9, 16, 2022
January 6, 13, 2022
Competitive and Comprehensive Curriculum
A one-to-one faculty-to-student ratio and a diverse patient population creates a well-rounded, robust clinical experience, with procedures included in each rotation.
In state-of-the-art facilities at the VCU Medical Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center (VAMC), Sheltering Arms Institute and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR), you’ll engage in comprehensive training in the following areas:
- Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- Musculoskeletal injury (MSK)
- Orthopaedic and multi-trauma injuries
- Prosthetics and orthotics (P&O)
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury (SCI)
- Pediatric disorders
- Pain management
- Interventional spine care
- Sports medicine
- Electrodiagnosis
- Integrative health
Didactics and Collaborative Learning
We provide structured workshops, lectures and interactive, experiential training for our residents.
We ensure that our residents get protected time each week for faculty lectures, departmental grand rounds and workshops. Weekly presentations, journal club and lecture series also occur at different healthcare facilities.
Sample Schedules
As a PM&R resident, your schedule will include inpatient and outpatient rotations that will gradually build your autonomy and confidence in treating and managing patients.
PGY-2
- Traumatic and non-traumatic SCI
- Long-term outpatient follow-up clinics
- Neurological and functional outcomes
- Secondary complications
- Equipment needs
- CVA, with and without comorbidities
- Restoring functional independence
- Management skills for long-term functionality
- Multispecialty care for patients with various medical problems and comorbidities related to the following rehabilitations:
- Medical
- Orthopaedic
- Cancer
- Polytrauma
- Amputation
- Cardio-pulmonary
- Pediatrics at CHoR
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders
- Concussion through TBI
- SCI
- Spina bifida
- Neurodevelopmental delays
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
- Spasticity
- Burns
- Complex orthopaedic and scoliosis issues
- Sports medicine at the Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness (NOW) Center and CHoR
- Ultrasound diagnostics
- Testing and treatment
- Sports coverage
- Gait
- Dance medicine
- Physically challenged athletes exposure in outpatient setting
- Compartment testing
- Pain at the VAMC and NOW Center
- MSK
- Neurologic
- Cancer
- Post- and pre-operative care
- Spine procedures with:
- Fluoroscopy
- Ultrasound guidance
- Acupuncture
- Integrative pain management
- EMG at VAMC, NOW Center and VCU Medical Center
- Worksheet/testing
- Neuromuscular anatomy and physiology
- Instrumentation
- Interpretation of EMG
- Prosthetics and orthotics at VAMC and VCU Medical Center
- Prosthesis/orthosis indications
- Post-operative care
- Gait rehabilitation
Consults: 2 months
PGY-3
- Traumatic and acquired brain injury
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Brain tumors
- Cerebral vascular insults
- Acute and chronic SCI consults and long-term outpatient follow-up care
- Pediatrics at CHoR
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders
- Concussion through TBI
- SCI
- Spina bifida
- Neurodevelopmental delays
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
- Spasticity
- Burns
- Complex orthopaedic and scoliosis issues
- Sports medicine at the Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness (NOW) Center and CHoR
- Ultrasound diagnostics
- Testing and treatment
- Sports coverage
- Gait
- Dance medicine
- Physically challenged athletes exposure in outpatient setting
- Compartment testing
- Pain at the VAMC and NOW Center
- MSK
- Neurologic
- Cancer
- Post- and pre-operative care
- Spine procedures with:
- Fluoroscopy
- Ultrasound guidance
- Acupuncture
- Integrative pain management
- EMG at VAMC, NOW Center and VCU Medical Center
- Worksheet/testing
- Neuromuscular anatomy and physiology
- Instrumentation
- Interpretation of EMG
- Prosthetics and orthotics at VAMC and VCU Medical Center
- Prosthesis/orthosis indications
- Post-operative care
- Gait rehabilitation
Consults: 2 months
PGY-4
- Polytrauma
- TBI
- Pediatrics at CHoR
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders
- Concussion through TBI
- SCI
- Spina bifida
- Neurodevelopmental delays
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
- Spasticity
- Burns
- Complex orthopaedic and scoliosis issues
- Sports medicine at the Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness (NOW) Center and CHoR
- Ultrasound diagnostics
- Testing and treatment
- Sports coverage
- Gait
- Dance medicine
- Physically challenged athletes exposure in outpatient setting
- Compartment testing
- Pain at the VAMC and NOW Center
- MSK
- Neurologic
- Cancer
- Post- and pre-operative care
- Spine procedures with:
- Fluoroscopy
- Ultrasound guidance
- Acupuncture
- Integrative pain management
- EMG at VAMC, NOW Center and VCU Medical Center
- Worksheet/testing
- Neuromuscular anatomy and physiology
- Instrumentation
- Interpretation of EMG
- Prosthetics and orthotics at VAMC and VCU Medical Center
- Prosthesis/orthosis indications
- Post-operative care
- Gait rehabilitation
Consults: 2 months
Innovative and Inspiring Research
To promote a greater understanding and appreciation of scholarly activity alongside education and patient care, we encourage our residents to engage in a research and/or quality improvement project during their training. Paired with a faculty adviser, each resident will engage in a project with the goal to present at a national PM&R meeting.
Read more about the department's part in CERSE.Benefits at a Glance
2022-2023
PGY-1: $59,920
PGY-2: $61,591
PGY-3: $63,808
PGY-4: $66,298
PGY-5: $68,662
- Three weeks paid vacation per year
- Administrative leave for conferences and courses
- Annual dues for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- PM&R book allowance and AAPMR question bank purchase
- Travel, registration and lodging for conferences
- Access to VCU sports facilities
- Access to VCU on-site daycare
Life in Richmond
We encourage our fellows to maintain a healthy, balanced life, and Richmond is a wonderful place to engage in that well-rounded lifestyle. As the capital of Virginia since 1779, Richmond attracts students, faculty and staff from around the globe. The city’s location affords easy day trips to destinations like Washington, D.C., Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg and the Blue Ridge Mountains, among others.
As a mid-sized city with a metropolitan population of 1.3 million, Richmond provides stimulating activities while maintaining its intimate feel and unique vibe. Vibrant neighborhoods offer distinct, diverse experiences, with no shortage of art galleries, museums, music venues, restaurants, breweries and parks. For the outdoor enthusiast, you can’t beat the offerings in the city’s riverfront parks and urban wilderness areas such as white-water rafting, hiking, mountain biking and cultural festivals.
Learn more about our community.Contact Us

Jessica Hupe, MD

Jessica Hupe, MD
School of Medicine
Residency Program Director and Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Multi-Specialty Medical Director, Sheltering Arms Institute
Phone: (804) 828-4230
Mary Caldwell, DO
Mary Caldwell, DO
School of Medicine
Associate Residency Program Director and Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Director of Ambulatory Medicine, VCU Health
Phone: (804) 360-4669

Allison Hickman, DO

Allison Hickman, DO
School of Medicine
Allison Hickman, DO (She/Her)
Site director
VCU PM&R Residency Program
Chief, PM&R Service
Central VA Veterans Health Care System
Site director and Assistant Professor, VCU PM&R
Phone: 804-675-5117

Kassandra Kelly MS, ATC

Kassandra Kelly MS, ATC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Residency Program Coordinator
Phone: (804) 828-2017
Our Residents
Where are they now?
Jordan Adler, M.D.
VCU SCI fellowship
Ellie Balakhanlou, M.D.
Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation - General Rehabilitation Acute inpatient unit coverage, consults, and outpatient MSK. Rockville, Maryland
Jared Gilman, M.D.
Pain Medicine fellow at the University of Arizona
Seven Hansen, D.O.
Multicare Deaconess Hospital Neuroscience Center in Spokane, WA, outpatient physiatry with emphasis in MSK, EMG, and US
Sean Hoge, M.D.
Integrative Health Fellowship, VAMC Richmond VA
Timur Korshin, M.D.
U.S. Physiatry - General Rehabilitation Acute Inpatient Unit coverage at Johnston Willis Hospital here in Richmond
Where are they now?
Harnek Bajaj, M.D.
VCU Pain Fellowship
Travis Bridges, D.O.
National Health Rehabilitation
General rehabilitation practice including consults at subacute facilities
Brian Dena, D.O.
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Petersburg
Renae Fisher, M.D.
Thomas Jefferson University SCI Fellowship
Kevin Forster, D.O.
VCU SCI Fellowship
James Austin Underwood, M.D.
Sports Medicine Fellowship
Fort Worth, TX






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