Departmental History
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was established in 1979. In 1999, the Rheumatology Division was inaugurated within our department. As of 2020, the Algology outpatient clinic and fellowship training services have been initiated under the department. The academic staff of the department consists of 6 Professors and 3 assistant Professors. To date, our department has trained 57 PMR specialist and 3 Rheumatology subspecialists. As of November 2023, 7 individuals who received training from our clinic continue their professional careers as Rheumatology subspecialists, while 1 person continues as an Algology subspecialist. Currently, 15 residents are continuing their specialization training in our department.
As the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, we provide outpatient services in three separate centers with 9 academics and 15 resident physicians, as well as inpatient care with a 22-bed ward. In addition to serving inpatients in our Electrotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit, we provide outpatient care to approximately 30 patients daily. Our outpatient services include Rheumatology, Biological Therapies, Pain, and Osteoporosis clinics. We administer musculoskeletal ultrasound, isokinetic testing, exercise systems, and interventional treatments for spasticity . The Algology Clinic provides medical and interventional treatment for acute and chronic pain, including cancer-related pain, guided by endoscopy and ultrasonography. Through our affiliation with the Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine, our City Centre Clinic and Havza PMR Polyclinics deliver physiotherapy and rehabilitation services to a daily influx of 30 scheduled patients and a substantial number of walk-in cases. Our outpatient units embrace diverse conditions, including musculoskeletal injuries, orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation, and the comprehensive management of cerebral palsy across all age groups and genders.
Department Chair
Prof. Dr. Ayhan BİLGİCİ
Former Department Chairs
Prof. Dr. Ferhan CANTÜRK
Prof. Dr. Ömer KURU
Theoretical Structure and Academic Purpose of the Department/Division
The educational mission of our Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is:
To train Physical Medicine Specialist physicians equipped with sufficient professional knowledge, skills, and expertise, who are open to the innovations of the era and capable of practicing in line with contemporary standards. Additionally, our aim is to train subspecialists in rheumatology and algology.
To cultivate physicians who actively engage with the literature, exhibit curiosity, ask questions, and are open to discussion and professional development.
To foster a sense of professional honor, instill respect for ethical principles, promote harmony with colleagues and coworkers, enable empathy with patients, preserve the doctor-patient relationship, and nurture sensitivity to national issues and social events, as well as respect for the community and elders.
To serve as the largest PM&R clinic in our region, organizing professional development meetings for regional specialists, establishing a social solidarity platform among physicians, and pioneering initiatives in our region.
Vision:
To train specialists in PM&R with interventional skills,
To cultivate physicians with diagnostic and treatment knowledge in joint diseases,
To train physicians capable of assessing and following up with patients suitable for rehabilitation,
To produce physicians actively engaged in scientific research and capable of keeping up with the literature,
To foster physicians who are open to self-improvement and responsive to new developments in their field,
To seek solutions to related problems in our specialty.
Goals:
To produce distinguished scientific research in the field of PM&R,
To become a distinguished, respected, and leading educational institution in our country,
To train PM&R specialists who possess the necessary professional knowledge, skills, and human values required by the era, and who are open to new developments and motivated to advance their profession,
To become a social and scientific center where specialists in PM&R, Rheumatology, and Algology in our region can communicate their problems and find solutions.
Specialization Training Program
Throughout their training, residents are aimed to participate in at least one national PM&R congress, one rheumatology congress, and one injection course. Under the supervision and guidance of faculty members, residents will be encouraged to participate in all stages of work planning, data collection, data analysis, and article writing.
1st Year:
Upon starting as a research assistant, the first 3 months will be spent working in the PM&R ward. Following this, there will be a 4-month rotation in Internal Medicine, followed by 5 months in the pain clinic. During their time in the clinic, junior residents will receive guidance from senior (3rd-year) residents, particularly regarding patients requiring health board reports.
Goals for the 1st Year:
• Acquire familiarity with the existing system and service entry in the hospital. • Should be able to plan physical therapy, organize patient treatment orders. • Perform soft tissue and intra-articular injections. • Prepare medication reports. • Prescribe orthoses. • Attend seminars and articles. • Prepare a monthly presentation on musculoskeletal system anatomy and mechanics. • Conduct locomotor system and neurological examinations.
At the end of the 1st year, residents will undergo an oral examination covering musculoskeletal examination, neurological examination, and evaluation of rehabilitation patients.
2nd Year:
During the 2nd year, the resident will undergo a 4-month rotation in Internal Medicine. Following rotations, they will spend 3 months each in the ward and in the PM&R-Rheumatology outpatient clinic. Subsequently, they will return to the ward for 2 months, during which time they will follow up with patients in the Electrotherapy and Rehabilitation unit. While personally administering electrotherapy, they will observe the treatment program for rehabilitation patients. They will also handle consultations requested from other departments, primarily consulting with the chief resident.
Goals for the 2nd Year:
• Ability to approach patients with pain. • Conduct detailed history taking and physical examinations. • Differentiate between inflammatory and mechanical pain. • Diagnose and differentially diagnose arthritis patients, plan medical treatment. • Effectively and accurately utilize laboratory and imaging methods. • Evaluate and follow up with patients with hemiplegia or paraplegia. • Evaluate and plan treatment for patients with cerebral palsy. • Follow up with patients undergoing orthopedic rehabilitation. • Participate in botulinum toxin applications. • Actively participate in article and seminar programs.
At the end of the 2nd year, residents will undergo an oral examination covering the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and assessment of rheumatological diseases. Residents who pass the exam will determine their thesis topic in collaboration with the responsible faculty member.
3rd Year:
During the 3rd year, the resident will undergo rotations for 2 months in Neurology, 1 month in Cardiology, and 1 month in Pulmonology. They will spend 2 months each in the Havza and City outpatient clinics, as well as 2 months in the pain clinic and 2 months in the Rheumatology Division outpatient clinic.
Goals for the 3rd Year:
• Take on a supportive role in the training of newly started residents. • Prescribe assistive devices/orthoses. • Prepare health board reports. • Actively participate in article and seminar programs. • Provide guidance to 1st-year residents, especially regarding health board patients.
4th Year:
During the 4th year, the resident will have overall responsibility for the wards and outpatient clinics. They will conduct ward rounds twice a week, provide consultation for PM&R, rheumatology, and other services, and participate in injections under fluoroscopy once a week. They will also distribute tasks among research assistants. At the end of the 4th year, they will complete their training by taking the thesis and specialization exams.
Goals for the 4th Year:
• Provide consultation for consultations and seek guidance from faculty when necessary. • Participate in lumbar injections and nerve block applications under fluoroscopy. • Present at least once in monthly case meetings. • **Each research assistant must actively participate in at least one clinical study during their training. They must prepare at least one paper and case presentation.
Head Resident Job Description
• The most senior resident is appointed as the head resident. Among equally senior residents, the head resident is selected based on a review of their 3-year evaluation scores by the faculty members' decision.
• Organize the placement of residents and create the duty roster. • Coordinate resident rotations. • Manage resident leaves. • Regulate the functioning of the wards and outpatient clinics. • Conduct regular ward rounds with the resident on duty. • Provide consultation for consultations and seek guidance from faculty when necessary. • Participate in lumbar injections and nerve block applications under fluoroscopy. • Make at least one presentation at monthly case meetings.
Upon passing the thesis exam at the end of the 4 years and successfully completing the science exam, the resident is graduated as a Specialist Physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Subspecialty Training:
Over a period of 3 years, under the guidance of faculty members, theoretical and practical knowledge about rheumatic diseases is enhanced. Rheumatology outpatient clinics, inpatient services, consultant physicians, and scientific research services are provided. They participate in weekly training seminars, literature hours, scientific meetings, and national congresses as part of their education. During the training, they perform capillaroscopy, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and soft tissue-joint injections.
At the Algology Clinic, diagnostic interventional ultrasonographic applications and interventional procedures under fluoroscopy are performed for the training of residents from PM&R and other disciplines.
Academic Activities Organized by the Department/Division
Case meetings (once a month)
Resident training seminars (weekly)
Resident anatomy presentations (weekly)
Article hours (weekly)
Karadeniz Rheumatology and Pain Society (KARAT) Symposium (annually)
Regional Educational Meetings (four times a year)
Courses
Services Provided
Pain Unit: Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal (lower back and neck) and Extremity-Joint (shoulder, hip, etc.) Pain
Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis
Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Rehabilitation of Neurological Diseases (Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Rehabilitation, etc.)
Pediatric Patient Rehabilitation (Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, etc.)
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Orthopedic Rehabilitation
Sports Injuries Rehabilitation
Isokinetic Testing and Exercise System
Interventional Pain Treatments under Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound Guidance
Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, etc.)
Diagnosis and Treatment of Connective Tissue Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Scleroderma, Myositis, etc.)
Diagnosis and Treatment of Behçet's Disease, Familial Mediterranean Fever, and Autoinflammatory Diseases
Diagnosis and Treatment of Vasculitis
Academic Staff:
Prof. Dr. Ayhan BİLGİCİ
Prof. Dr. Gamze ALAYLI
Prof. Dr. Dilek DURMUŞ
Prof. Dr. Yeşim AKYOL
Prof. Dr. Yasemin ULUS
Prof. Dr. İlker İLHANLI
Assist. Prof. A. Kıvanç Cengiz
Assist. Prof. Bora Uzuner
Assist. Prof. Sertaç Ketenci
National and International Academic Organizations Interacted with by the Department/Division:
Karadeniz Rheumatology and Pain Society (KARAT)
Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Turkish League Against Rheumatism
Future Plans Envisaged by the Department/Division
Continuing to provide education and training in accordance with the requirements of the era, training competent doctors contributing to the development of our country, contributing to international science, organizing informative and educational meetings, congresses, and scientific gatherings for medical professionals and the public, and continuing to provide healthcare services that prioritize patient satisfaction and trust.
Contact Information:
Telephone: 0 362 312 19 19
Polyclinic Secretary: 2338
Department Secretary: 2338
Ward Secretary: 1823
Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
55200 Atakum / Samsun