2023 PM&R Residency Program Graduates

Hats off to the 2023 class of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency Program. Graduate physiatrists include Graeme Boyter, D.O.; Matthew Gerrelts, D.O.; Grant Langhofer, D.O.; and Nikita Wagle, M.D. The program is in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. Samuel Bierner, M.D., serves as professor and department chair and is the Madonna Rehabilitation medical director for the Omaha Campus. Michael Weaver, D.O., is the program director.

The only PM&R program in Nebraska, it’s also the first of its kind in a five-state upper Midwest region, with Madonna’s Omaha Campus serving as the primary training hospital for all 16 residents working with patients, both adults and kids, recovering from stroke, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other complex medical issues.

In the last year, the program has expanded to include a brain injury fellowship program through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. In addition, Sonia Shah, M.D., will return to the Omaha Campus in the fall as an attending physician and faculty member. Dr. Shaw is the program’s first alumna and former chief resident who’s finishing up a spinal cord medicine fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her job will include inpatient and outpatient duties and the development of outpatient spinal cord medical services in the Omaha Physicians Clinic as well as seeing pediatric spinal cord injury patients.

The resident physicians have spent the past four years working hard at developing skills, forging friendships, building and raising families, all while working with Madonna care teams to help restore patients recovering from illness or injury.

Before they left, we caught up with them to ask them about their experience, next steps, what they love and will miss about their time in Omaha. Here’s what they told us.

Graeme Boyter, D.O.

Q: Tell me what you’ve gained through the PM&R residency program?

A: I have gained awesome colleagues and lifelong friends.?

Q: How did working at Madonna impact your residency?

A: Madonna offered great clinical experience in terms of volume and patient complexity.?

Q: Three things I love:

1)?I love to hunt and fish.

2) I’m a big KC chiefs and STL cardinals fan.

3) I like to listen to country?music.

Q: Three things I will miss about Omaha?

A: I still got one more year to explore this awesome city!?

Q: What’s your advice for future residents?

A: Make sure you take the time out of your busy day to take care of yourself and your family.?

Q: Where does your career take you next?

A: I am staying at "THE" University of Nebraska Medical Center to do an interventional pain fellowship.

Matthew Gerrelts, D.O.

Q: What have you gained through the PM&R residency program?

A: The knowledge and confidence to practice medicine independently. Also, a diploma.?

Q: How did working at Madonna impact your residency?

A: I've enjoyed learning from and working with the teams here at Madonna. We have excellent therapists, nurses, social workers, case managers, respiratory therapists, psychologists and nutritionists. It has been a privilege working with everyone.?

Q: What are three things you love?

1) My family.

2) Bikes.

3) Doughnuts.

Q: What are three things you’ll miss about Omaha?

1)?Bike trail system. ?

2)?Meal cards.

3)?Ann's Coffee Cart sandwiches.?

Q: What’s your advice for future residents?

A: "Life is pain ... Anyone who says differently is selling something." - William Goldman from “The Princess Bride”

Q: Where does your career take you next?

A: I am headed to LaCrosse to do general physiatry.

Grant Langhofer, D.O.

Q: What have you gained through the PM&R residency program?

A: I wanted to leave this program feeling confident in my ability to care for patients with debilitating needs and I feel that this program has prepared me for just that.?

Q: How did working at Madonna impact your residency?

A: Most of our education, as it pertains to rehabilitation, was here at Madonna. To me, the most impressive thing about Madonna, and the thing that impacted my education the most, was the opportunity to work with expert therapists, nurses, case managers and social workers who provided exceptional care for their patients.?

Q: What are three things you love?

1)?Spending time with family.

2) Being outside.

3) The CHIEFS!

Q: What are three things you’ll miss about Omaha?

1) I will always have very fond memories of this place because I was able to watch both of my daughters start to grow up here.?

2) Both in this program and outside of residency, I have met some really great people here in Omaha who will be lifelong friends.?

3) I truly feel that we have a great group of residents, and I will miss the feeling of comradery and commiserating in the resident workroom.?

Q: What’s your advice for future residents?

A: Don't forget what it was like to be poor. I received this advice in medical school and feel that it is extremely important to never forget what we all had to go through to get to where we are.?

Q: Where does your career take you next?

A: I am headed to Kansas City to do an interventional spine fellowship.

Nikita Wagle, M.D.

Q: What have you gained through the PM&R residency program?

A: I have received great hands-on experience and training and feel comfortable with practicing independently in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Q: How did working at Madonna impact your residency?

A: Working at Madonna was a wonderful opportunity to work with a number of different types of patients with varying diagnosis and complexities including transplant and LVAD survivors. I also enjoyed collaborating with specialized therapists and other clinicians in a state-of-the-art facility with the most up-to-date technology/equipment.

Q: What are three things you love?

1) Spending time with family and friends.

2)?Cooking and eating good food.

3) Traveling.

Q: What are three things you’ll miss about Omaha?

1)?Omaha steaks.

2)?Friends who live in Omaha.

Q: What’s your advice for future residents?

A: Time will go by faster than you think. Don't hesitate to ask your seniors for any questions, concerns and complains.

Q: Where does your career take you next?

A: I am headed to St. Louis, Missouri, to practice general physiatry. ?

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