Academic Resources
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The award winning faculty contributes to the national reputation of the department and the UPMC Institute for Rehabilitation and Research’s ranking as one of the top rehabilitation programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Pittsburgh is ranked in the top 25 for Top American Research Universities (2006 Annual Report, the Center for Measuring University Performance). Academic programs in the department include a four year residency, rehabilitation scientist training programs, an accredited spinal cord medicine fellowship, and a traumatic brain injury fellowship. Faculty members also hold positions in other centers, academic departments, and research laboratories, some of which are highlighted below.
The Department of Communication Science and Disorders
U.S. News & World Report ranks the Department of Communication Science and Disorders in the top 10 programs in the United States for speech-language pathology and in the top 15 programs in audiology. It has the only clinical doctor degree in the world for medical speech-language pathology. The department also has one of the largest and most productive research doctoral degree programs in the country.
The Department of Physical Therapy
The Department of Physical Therapy is ranked third in the United States and has nationally and internationally recognized faculty. The department offers degrees in several areas, including physical therapy, sports physical therapy, orthopaedic and manual therapy, and rehabilitation sciences. The department has a partnership with UPMC and prides itself on innovative clinical education.
The Department of Occupational Therapy
Faculty at the Department of Occupational Therapy is recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise in neurorehabilitation, hand therapy, industrial rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, occupation-based practice, geriatrics, and ergonomics. Ranked among the best by U.S. News & World Report, the department has seen a 100 percent pass rate on the certification examination of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. The department has funded research programs examining functional outcomes and rehabilitation interventions in stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiac arrest, and late-life depression.
The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology
Faculty in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology have active research programs in rehabilitation engineering, rehabilitation counseling, assistive technology, rehabilitation science, biomechanics, standards development, and outcomes measures. The department prepares students to be innovators in rehabilitation science and technology through advanced degrees and continuing education.