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Wilmington, North Carolina
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician (Medical Director Opportunity)
Novant Health – Wilmington, North Carolina
Novant Health is seeking a Board-Certified/Board-Eligible Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Physician to join and lead inpatient rehabilitation services in Wilmington. This is a unique opportunity to step into a Medical Director role and help shape the future of a growing rehabilitation program within the Neurosciences Institute.
Position Overview
- Full-time (1.0 FTE)
- Start Date: October 2026
- Primarily inpatient rehabilitation focus, with future opportunity to expand into outpatient services
- Reports to the Neurosciences Institute
Practice Setting
- Current Location: New Hanover Rehab Hospital, 2131 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC
- Future State-of-the-Art Facility (Opening January 2028): 60 private rooms at Orthopedic Hospital campus (5301 Wrightsville Ave)
This is the only inpatient rehabilitation facility in the region, serving a broad coastal population across multiple counties, with the next closest facility over 1.5 hours away.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation care
- Serve as Medical Director (minimum 20 hours/week; current structure ~28 hours/week)
- Maintain on-site clinical coverage (36–40 hours/week)
- Collaborate with hospitalists and multidisciplinary teams
- Provide on-call support (nights/weekends) for APP team
Team Structure
- 1 PM&R Physician on-site Monday–Friday
- 4 Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)
- APP coverage on weekends/holidays (6-hour shifts)
- Additional PM&R physician available for backup coverage
Work alongside a highly skilled interdisciplinary team:
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Rehab Nurses and support staff
Patient Population & Volume
- Average daily census: 29–31 patients
- ~900 admissions annually
- Patient mix:
- 60% neurological conditions (primarily stroke/CVA)
- Amputation, debility, and multi-trauma cases
- Primarily adult population (average age 64), with occasional adolescent cases (12–17)
Call & Coverage
- APPs serve as first line; physician provides backup support
- Hospitalists available 24/7
- PM&R physician considered on call when not on-site
Ideal Candidate
- Board Certified/Eligible in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Experience in inpatient rehabilitation medicine required
- Interest or experience in medical leadership preferred
- Passion for collaborative, team-based care
Why Join Novant Health?
- Lead and grow a well-established rehab program (32+ years)
- Be part of a highly regarded Neurosciences Institute
- Help transition into a new, modern rehabilitation facility (2028)
- Serve a rapidly growing coastal community with significant need
Location Highlights – Wilmington, NC
Located along the coast, Wilmington offers:
- Easy access to beaches within 10 miles
- Growing arts, dining, and entertainment scene
- Mild climate year-round
- Family-friendly communities across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Onslow, and Columbus counties
Additional Notes
While PM&R is a highly specialized and smaller field, this role offers a rare opportunity to focus on meaningful inpatient rehabilitation care and program leadership in an underserved region.
#NHMGphysicians
What We're Looking For:
Education:
- Graduate of an accredited school of medicine required
- Completion of an accredited residency program required
- For specialty physicians - completion of an accredited fellowship program specific to medical specialty
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
- Current MD license in appropriate state
- Board certification or eligibility
- Current DEA license required
What You'll Do:
It is the responsibility of every Novant Health team member to deliver the most remarkable patient experience in every dimension, every time.
- Our team members are part of an environment that fosters team work, team member engagement and community involvement.
- The successful team member has a commitment to leveraging diversity and inclusion in support of quality care.
- All Novant Health team members are responsible for fostering a safe patient environment driven by the principles of "First Do No Harm".