Resident Chiefs and Alumni Faculty Comments

Chief Resident - Academic

Natalie Cignetti, MD

Training at Carolinas Rehab has been an incredibly rewarding experience and I would most definitely do it all over again. Located in Charlotte — a busy, growing city that serves much of North Carolina and even parts of neighboring states — we see a wide variety of diagnoses and unique, interesting cases. The program is well-balanced, offering strong inpatient and outpatient exposure. In addition to the experience we gain in a clinical setting, we offer several workshops throughout the year to further our hands-on skills with NCS/EMG, ultrasound, peripheral joint injections, botulinum toxin injections, and interventional spine. Our partnership with Wake Forest has brought many new opportunities to our residency, especially with medical student education and collaboration, and there is more to come with the new Wake Forest SOM - Charlotte campus opening this summer! I’ve loved living in Charlotte; it’s a vibrant, clean city with plenty to do, yet does not feel overwhelming. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for excellent well-rounded training in a great place to live.

Chief Resident - Administrative

Thomas Powell, DO

Welcome to Carolinas Rehabilitation! As part of the Atrium Health network in Charlotte, we are well integrated into the care of the city and surrounding areas. The program also uniquely allows residents to tailor their experience for their respective interests upon graduation. Opportunities are extensive outside of normal clinical duties facilitated by a dedicated research department, robust patient safety/quality improvement connections, and community events such as MedFest (provision of physical examinations for local adolescents with disabilities for the Special Olympics). Unmatched comradery amongst residents and faculty and the focus on work-life balance creates a healthy work environment. This is ideal in a city such as Charlotte which has more to offer than time in the day. The city's central location allows for day or weekend trips to the mountains near Asheville or the beaches of Wilmington! This program adequately prepares and allows a budding resident to find their place in the ever-changing world of medicine.

Chief Resident - Quality Improvement

Emily Rothermel, MD

Welcome to Carolinas Rehabilitation! Based in the heart of Charlotte, NC, our program offers a comprehensive and well-rounded training experiencing for aspiring PM&R physicians in a flourishing city. Here, residents will receive a robust foundation in physiatry through our inpatient and outpatient experiences. Residents will also get in-depth, hands-on procedural experience with nerve conduction studies, ultrasound, peripheral joint injections, botulinum toxin injections, and interventional spine procedures. What I love most about our program, however, is its strong emphasis on mentorship and professional development. Our dedicated faculty are helping to shape us into compassionate and innovative leaders within the field of PM&R. Finally, getting to spend my free time exploring the nearby parks, greenways, lakes, Whitewater center, and thriving food scene of Charlotte has been more than a dream. There is no place I would rather be!