Message From the Chief Medical Officer

In this issue of the TIRR Journal, we profile two graduates from the residency and fellowship programs at TIRR Memorial Hermann, all of whom have taken leadership positions across the country and become renowned experts in their respective subspecialties.

Across multiple subspecialties, our residency and fellowship programs have graduated scores of professionals, representing the future of rehabilitative medicine. For example, since its inception in 2009, the physical therapy (PT) neuro residency program has graduated 29 professionals; it’s one of only 79 accredited PT neuro residency programs in the United States. Meanwhile, after launching in 2020, our occupational therapy neuro fellowship program has graduated eight professionals and is one of only 10 such programs accredited nationally.

As another case in point, TIRR Memorial Hermann’s unique, two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology has produced more than 35 clinical neuropsychologists over the course of its more than 30-year history. 

This year, we also revived our fellowship in spasticity management, continuing our tradition of taking a leadership role in education in this critical subspecialty. Decades ago, we were the second institution nationally to offer a spasticity fellowship, and, after a 20-year hiatus, our new program will be one of just three across the country. The learner-driven curriculum will see young providers working alongside our world-renowned team of affiliated experts in spasticity management, whose work is also highlighted in this issue of the TIRR Journal.

All of these programs share a common goal: educating future leaders in the field of rehabilitation medicine, in keeping with TIRR Memorial Hermann’s four pillars—excellence in clinical care, advocacy, research and education.

Gerard Francisco, MD
Chief Medical Officer
TIRR Memorial Hermann