"The needs of the patient come first" at Mayo Clinic's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Rochester, Minnesota. The rehabilitation team works together to best serve patients according to the primary mission of Mayo Clinic.

Team members may include the patients and their families, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, rehabilitation psychologists, social workers, nurses, vocational case coordinators and many other specialists. The expertise of each care professional is drawn on, as needed, to ensure that patient needs are met and their questions are answered.

At Mayo Clinic, patients, their families and staff work together to set and follow individualized treatment plans for recovery. When implementing these treatment plans, patients benefit greatly from the low patient-to-therapist ratio. In most instances, patients work one-on-one with their therapists. Patients benefit, too, from the extensive array of patient care resources at Mayo Clinic, including more than 1,000 staff physicians and sophisticated diagnostic and laboratory equipment.

Faculty

In addition to caring for patients in clinical practice, Mayo Clinic's faculty is committed to teaching and facilitating the growth of medical knowledge. All program faculty members have academic appointments in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Many of our faculty members have published and lectured extensively and are nationally renowned in their fields.

Fellows have direct access to all physical medicine and rehabilitation staff throughout the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship.

Advisers and mentors

Fellows are assigned dedicated faculty advisers who can provide comprehensive educational advice and personal support. Trainees meet with their advisers periodically throughout the fellowship to review progress and career goals, and ensure that their educational needs are being met. Advisers also serve as a contact point for introducing fellows and their families to Rochester, Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic system.

Visiting professors

Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present their work during lectures and participate in hospital rounds and have informal discussions with trainees. Fellows are encouraged to take full advantage of these educational opportunities.