Dr. Haris Choudry on Shaping the Next Generation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Leaders at Burke Rehabilitation

We recently connected with Dr. Haris Choudry, Program Director of the Burke Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency, to explore how Burke is shaping the future of Graduate Medical Education (GME) and elevating interdisciplinary rehabilitation training through its residency program.

How do you describe your role as Program Director of the Burke ACGME-accredited PM&R residency program, and what motivated you to lead a program that has grown into a nationally recognized leader in physiatry?

As Program Director, my role centers on shaping the next generation of physiatrists, doctors specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, through a rigorous, supportive, and forward-thinking education environment. We are committed to developing physicians who are not only clinically excellent but also confident leaders in rehabilitation medicine.

 At Burke, we prioritize the educational growth and development of both residents and medical students by providing the clinical experience, strong academic framework, and rigorous clinical training and mentorship needed to become exceptional physiatrists. Mentorship is central to our program. We work closely with residents as they define their professional identities, refine their clinical skills, and navigate key career decisions. Our recent graduates achieved remarkable success, matching to their fellowship or job of choice, passing written boards, and presenting keynotes at national conferences.

What motivated me to take on this role is the unique opportunity to lead as an educator while collaborating with experts in the field. The three-year residency program also serves as a powerful extension of the Burke mission to provide the highest quality medical care and rehabilitation services and amplifies the national visibility of Burke by training physicians who will go on to care for thousands of patients across the country.

What are the distinguishing factors that make the Burke GME residency program a top-ranked national program? 

Several factors distinguish the Burke residency program on a national level. First, we train physicians to be strong advocates and educators for their patients and their families, delivering integrated, patient-centered care that extends beyond the immediate clinical encounter. We are also a leader in the region in spasticity management and one of few programs in the area integrating cryoneurolysis into our spasticity management program.

Since its launch in 2016, the program has grown significantly in size and scope, expanding from four residents per PGY level to a 9‑9‑9 complement. This growth reflects the program’s strong reputation, with consistently excellent outcomes at Burke in education, clinical care, research, and innovation. We are proud of our residency program’s continued academic performance improvements, in fact, the most recent class achieved a 100% board pass rate.

Our curriculum emphasizes communication, system-based thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Residents are trained to manage complex medical cases across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings, preparing them to thrive in the real-world. Our residents also contribute to teaching, research, and quality improvement initiatives. Throughout training, we maintain a strong focus on patient- and family-centered care, ensuring that clinical excellence is always paired with compassionate, collaborative decision making.

Burke is known for integrated, interdisciplinary, patient centered care, with residents training at Burke and through rotations with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and other regional partners. How does that model elevate the resident experience?

Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary care are the standard at Burke as this approach consistently leads to improved patient experience and outcomes. This model is not just a concept; it is embedded into daily practice for both residents and attending physicians.

Residents train alongside a wide range of rehabilitation specialists, including experts in speech therapy, nutrition, psychology, neurology, physical therapy, and nursing. These collaborations create meaningful, shared learning experiences and reinforce the resident’s role as part of the comprehensive care team. The residency program also fosters a dynamic learning environment where residents engage closely with medical students, serving as both mentors and teachers. This helps strengthen their communication, leadership, and teaching skills, essential qualities for future leaders in the field.

Beyond Burke, residents benefit from expanded clinical rotations, research opportunities, and advanced neurorehabilitation training through collaborations with Montefiore Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and Westchester Medical Center. We also actively support participation in national industry conferences and professional organizations. Residents regularly attend key industry conferences, and our faculty contribute to shaping the field by publishing research in peer reviewed journals. I have presented at the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) conference on “Disability Education Guidelines for PM&R Residency” and remain actively involved in organizations such as the NY Society of PM&R, AAP, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R). These engagements help advance educational standards and reinforce our leadership in PM&R education.

Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for the residency program, and how do you see it evolving to meet changing healthcare and patient needs?

Looking forward, our top priorities include continuing to strengthen the program’s academic foundation and strength, with a particular focus on advancing rehabilitation medicine education and clinical training.

The landscape of rehabilitation medicine is rapidly evolving, and so must the training that prepares future leaders to meet it. This includes equipping them to adapt to new care models, emerging technologies, and increasingly complex patient needs, while also positioning them to shape the future of physiatry on a national scale.

We also plan to expand opportunities for resident involvement in research, innovation, emerging technologies, and evolving care delivery models. By doing so, we will further strengthen the position of Burke as a leader in comprehensive rehabilitation and ensure that our residents remain at the forefront of the field.