Cancer Rehabilitation
Carolinas Rehabilitation and the Levine Cancer Institute is offering a one-year non-ACGME accredited fellowship in cancer rehabilitation for a board-eligible/board-certified physiatrist interested in developing further expertise in the academic, administrative, clinical and research components necessary for successful program development. Carolinas Rehabilitation was the first ever hospital accredited in cancer rehabilitation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and hosts the core inpatient services. Cancer providers also serve a consultative role at Carolinas Medical Center, which is the premier tertiary acute care center in the Charlotte metro area. Outpatient services are focused at the Levine Cancer Institute, a US News Top 50 Cancer Center and first cancer center in the United States to receive CARF accreditation. This fellowship allows for flexibility to maximize experiences which will most benefit the candidate for their future career in cancer rehabilitation.
Clinical opportunities include:
• Inpatient cancer rehabilitation services, including solid, liquid and benign pathologies
• Inpatient consultations and outpatient evaluations
• Supportive care services, including integrative medicine, oncological psychiatry, palliative care and survivorship
• Oncological specialties, including solid tumor, benign and malignant hematology, radiation oncology and surgery
Please view our brochure (PDF) for further information on the Cancer Rehabilitation fellowship.
Interested candidates must have excellent clinical and academic credentials and be very motivated to be challenged in a dynamic academic, clinical and operational environment.
Please send cover letter and curriculum vitae to:
Lorena C. Ostrea
Cancer Fellowship Program Coordinator
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
1100 Blythe Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28203
Email: Lorena Ostrea
Meet the Faculty
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Dr. Raj received his undergraduate degree in biophysical chemistry from Princeton University and his medical degree from the Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania, and his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Raj is currently the Medical Director at Carolinas Rehabilitation and Vice-Chair of Clinical Operations for the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is also the Chief of Oncology Rehabilitation for the Levine Cancer Institute. Dr. Raj provides cancer rehabilitation services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, with specific emphasis on lymphedema management, hematological malignancy, and neurological tumor rehabilitation. Dr. Raj is active in many regional and national initiatives regarding the rehabilitation of oncology patients, and participates in research activities relating to functional improvement for individuals suffering from cancer. His program was the first ever accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for cancer rehabilitation. He is also very involved in national initiatives relating to health care reform, patient accessibility, and utilization for inpatient rehabilitation in the United States.
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Dr. Pugh received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. He completed an Internal Medicine internship at the UAB-Montgomery Internal Medicine Residency Program. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Carolinas Rehabilitation where he served as Chief Resident and joined the faculty at Carolinas Rehabilitation focusing on Cancer Rehabilitation.
Dr. Pugh is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Association for Academic Physiatrists and the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
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Bhavesh Patel, DO Dr. Patel completed his medical degree at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, SC and his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Patel completed a Cancer Fellowship here at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Department of PM&R-Carolinas Rehabilitation. |
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Dr. Mitchell graduated with honors from the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medical School in 2014. During medical school he was inducted into Sigma Sigma Phi (the honorary Osteopathic service fraternity), earned an MBA from the Lincoln Memorial University, and taught for an additional year as an OMM/Anatomy Teaching Fellow at his medical school. He later graduated from the University of Cincinnati's PM&R residency program in 2018. During residency he was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award and participated in several research projects, including a retrospective pediatric cancer rehabilitation chart review and a prospective robotic intervention for post-stroke hemi-neglect. Dr. Mitchell's career interests are in cancer rehabilitation, transitional care for pediatric to adult cancer survivorship, and medical technologies for rehab medicine. In his free time, he enjoys biking nature trails, exploring local food fairs and festivals, and travelling to National Parks. |
Current Fellow
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Daniel Trinh, MD Hometown: Fort Smith, AR Why Carolinas Rehabilitation: Carolinas Rehabilitation was the absolute best match for my professional goals—a great balance of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, plenty of resources, and tons of support. They have a well-established cancer rehabilitation program, which will expose me to what I need to start my future career. The faculty has been committed to my profession development not in just my fellowship but also for future endeavors like program development and career options. I am excited to be part of such an excellent team, and future fellows will definitely love being here. |
Past Fellows
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Bhavesh Patel, DO, Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Why Carolinas Rehabilitation: I loved my time rotating here as a medical student and was excited for the opportunity to return for further training! Carolinas Rehab has a strong, well-established cancer rehabilitation program with a very welcoming and supportive group to work with. Dr Raj is committed to ensure well rounded training for his fellow, not only in cancer rehabilitation but also program and practice development. I feel confident that my training here will prepare me well for my career in cancer rehabilitation, and I am excited to stay in an academic setting to help mentor future physiatrists! |