Western University - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - London

Q: Is physiatry right for me?

This is a great question that you should ask yourself prior to your interview. If you have a strong interest in neurology, orthopedics, and musculoskeletal medicine, and very much enjoy working in collaboration with others to maximize patients’ function and quality of life; this might be the right area of medicine for you.

Q: How many residency positions do you have this year?

We have two (2) residency positions for the 2026 CaRMS match. As of July 2025 we will have 8 residents across all years of training, plus the possibility of one or two fellows.

Q: What is it like to live in London, Ontario?

It’s awesome! Although many factors go into whether someone feels at home in any city, the combination of the vibrant medical community, ease of travel, fantastic cultural festivals, beautiful scenery, and a very good cost of living, make London an excellent place to live and learn during residency. Check out London Tourism for more details.

Q: What can I expect during my interview?

Our faculty, residents, and administration look forward to CaRMS time each year! It is our opportunity to meet all of you and come together to highlight some of the things that make our program truly special. This year we will have a “Virtual Townhall Session” where you can meet our team prior to the interviews. Please contact Vanessa Cullen for details (vanessa.cullen@sjhc.london.on.ca). We know interviews can be stressful.

Q: Do you actually read my CaRMS application, personal statement and reference letters?

Yes, we actually read your application. Thank you in advance for all of your hard work. Please read through each section and ensure your application is complete as we will use it during our selection process.

Q: I have a question that isn't answered on the site. Who do I contact?

Feel free to contact us with any questions and inquiries our Program Administrator; Vanessa Cullen is here to help.

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Western University – Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation – London

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Contact

Dr. Rachel Reardon

Program Director

Vanessa Cullen

Program Administrator

Application Details

Canadian Medical Graduates

2 Available Spots

Events Calendar

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Program Highlights

Western has a well respected residency program with a consistent history of graduating residents who are well prepared for the Royal College and EMG exams, and who are desirable candidates for competitive fellowships and academic positions.
Excellent resident to faculty ratio with an engaged, education focused faculty
Interdisciplinary collaborative care between Physiatry and other specialties (Orthopedics, Plastics, Neurology, etc) providing unique educational experiences for our residents.
Large, academic, medical community with a full complement of medical services to allow for a comprehensive residency education without need for travel to other centres.
The city of London provides an excellent setting for resident education, with a combination of beautiful parks and bike trails, excellent cost of living, and a vibrant community with world class concerts, festivals, and dining.

General Information

Thank you for your interest in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Western University) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency program. Our program welcomes all interested applicants to read through the application information carefully and contact us if you have additional questions. Please ensure your applications are completed by the due date specified by the CaRMS website, so that we can review and send out interview requests in a timely fashion.

Salary Information

Post graduate salaries and benefits differ by province and are determined by two things: your training year, and the province you work in. See below the salaries and benefits for Western University - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - London.

London

London is a Canadian city in southwestern Ontario, just north of Lake Erie and the U.S. border. It’s home to the University of Western Ontario. Among the city’s range of museums are Museum London, a showcase for regional art and historical artefacts, and the interactive Children’s Museum. The city centre features numerous parks and greenways along the Thames River.

Resident Experience

Lauren Cormier

PGY-5 as of July 2024

Western prides itself in being an adaptable program. As the needs of residents change over time the program is quick to adjust to both overall program needs as well as tailoring a program to meet your personal learning objectives. The department meets annually to do a review of the resident program. This is also an opportunity for residents to voice any concerns or ideas they have to improve the program however if there are ideas at other times during the year the program director is always happy to listen and act accordingly. Having a smaller program gives residents the flexibility to create their own schedules to meet personal learning goals. As a sole resident on a rotation, you receive the full attention of preceptors for teaching and given the opportunity to take ownership and independence as your skills grow. Your preceptors truly care about your learning and will do everything they can to ensure you learn the material without judgement.

Some of the best times in my residency has been so many incredible people and making new friends. Western has a strong sense of community both within the residency program and within the hospital. All the staff on the wards at Parkwood are friendly and make you feel welcome when you come on service. Having time to do off service rotations also allows you to build connections with other residents in other programs and helps to build your network for after residency.

The resident group is quite close. We are all here to support one another. We try to do a fun social event every 1-2months which can include anything from bowling, playing pool or trying new activities like kick boxing. In the summer we do an annual resident beach day full of snacks and playing games. If you are ever struggling or have questions the residents are quick to come to your aid or point you in the right direction.

I enjoy competing in equestrian events and I’m able to go ride 3-4 times a week while still getting enough time to sleep and study. I have taken a few of the residents out to the local rodeos for a day of fun. Some of the other residents enjoy running and cycling in the summer and it’s their main way of getting to and from work. London is a great place to live and there are trails that connect all the hospitals so it is easy and safe to bike/run to work.

We have official wellness mentors with staff that you meet with every 6 months to check in. We recognize that it can be hard to ask for help or support especially when everyone seems to be doing well or if you feel like something is too small of an issue to bring up. These official meeting help to break that barrier so that the department can help you early before it becomes a bigger issue or just use it as a time to listen. The residents also hold ice cream rounds on the Friday after every stat holiday. This is a chance for us to check in with each other and enjoy a few treats in the process. Residents will face different challenges throughout the program and this is dedicated time to support each other or offer advice. This can range to dealing with off service rotations and expectations all the way to exam prep in your final years and everything in between.

I’m in my final year of residency so next year I will be transitioning into practice which comes with its own excitement and fears. I know that even after I graduate and begin working independently, I will still have the support of the Western PM&R department and they are just a phone call away if I need any advice.

Jin Jeon

PGY-1 as of July 2024

Western has many aspects that I believe make it a great PM&R program. To start, the smaller resident body allows individualized attention and feedback from various staff. It allows us to have 1-on-1 mentors with a particular staff who can help us achieve our professional goals. We are also highly involved in both inpatient and outpatient rotations as the main resident on that service, with plenty of opportunities to learn. Furthermore, I enjoy the emphasis on resident teaching at Western. Even as a PGY1 I was involved in teaching anatomy, MSK, and neuro topics to the group. Finally, we have a reflective program throughout residency that gives us time to reflect on our training and think towards the future for both personal and career goals.

Some of the best aspects involve the support I feel from the whole PM&R team at Western. Fellow co-residents are always there to provide resources and insight on their own experiences. Staff are willing to teach, and I feel comfortable reaching out to any one of them for guidance. The administrative staff is also pleasant to communicate with and they do a great job in providing important information that I may miss given a busy residency schedule.

I felt immediately welcomed during my “Transitions to Residency” blocks which is a testament to the great community we have here at Western. This feeling extends to allied health workers including nurses, OTs, PTs, SLP, and more. We’ve had summer BBQs involving the whole rehab team and I was also involved in the yearly “Parkwood Amazing Race” where I got to meet the wonderful team at Parkwood. It’s easy to see they are all passionate about their patients and it inspires me to be a better doctor as well.

I am trying to continuously keep up with playing my guitar as well as working out during residency. Although the off-service rotations can be busy, the core physiatry rotations always allow us to have a great work-life balance. This involves hanging out with my friends in London as well as driving to Toronto on the weekends to see my family. It’s a great feeling knowing your fellow residents and staff also value this balance and understand the importance.

Aside from the various socials and events that bring the residents and staff together, we have dedicated wellness half-days throughout the year. During these, the resident group get together to participate in a wellness-centered activity. For example, this past summer we went to the beach to de-stress but also shared various ways to manage a tough residency schedule. These events are also supported by the department with funding available. I happen to be one of the wellness coordinators this year and so there are opportunities to get involved if you are passionate about wellness.

I look forward to learning as much foundational knowledge as I can from my off-service rotations and being able to apply it to my core physiatry rotations next year. I also hope to get more involved in a research project and discover what I can focus more within the field. Finally, I can’t wait to meet the new cohort of applicants for CaRMS and eventually the new PGY1’s who will join our team at Western!

Frequently Asked Questions