Department of
Medical Education

Stephanie Ferimer

Name: Stephanie Ferimer

Board Certification: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Medical School: The Commonwealth Medical College

Residency: UPMC, Pittsburgh PA

Fellowship: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor

Special Clinical/Research Interests: Patients with Spina Bifida, Medical Education

Is there a particular population of students (e.g., ethnicity, spiritual, sexual orientation) that you would particularly like to advise?

Any student interested in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or related fields.

What does a typical day in the life of a Physiatrist include?

We may see patients in a variety of different settings such as outpatient clinics, inpatient consults, or on inpatient rehabilitation units. We are a specialty that focuses on function.  We take time to educate patients and their families on their condition and the different treatments to manage that condition.  The goal of a physiatrist is to promote improved function and wellness.

What is the biggest challenge of being a Physiatrist?

You are often seeing a patient and their family after a major life event or trauma.  This can be a difficult situation. It takes a physician with compassion and thoughtfulness to be able to approach the patient and family and provide care during this difficulty time.

How do you foresee Physiatry changing over the next 20 years?

There will likely be new biomedical interventions that may help to assist patients with neuro-recovery. I think that the role of Physiatry may continue to evolve as new models of care develop that we might not even know yet.  

What advice would you give a student who is considering a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency?

I would encourage them to get connected with a physiatrist so they can learn more about what the day to day life is like. It is important that they ask questions to understand more about the field. Also, it is essential to be an active member of the school community through areas such as: research, tutoring, volunteering, etc.. Those experiences help residency programs see your interests and abilities.  And, those experiences help the individual student realize more about what life will be like as a physician.