a little guidance please?

[EddieMD]

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For various reasons I’ve had PM&R in my mind as a specialty choice for a while. I’m an M1 at a large state university. Trouble is, none of our state’s med schools has a PM&R department, my school matches a grad into physiatry maybe once every other year, and I think there are only 20 practicing physiatrists in the entire state.

So, I’m a little short on guidance. Do you have any suggestions on ways I can better expose myself to the field? How about tips on making myself a competitive applicant? I’d like to do some summer research, should it pertain to physiatry to up my CV?

Thanks for the help.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Even if your med schools don't have a pM&R dept, hospitals somewhere near you must, or their must be an independant group or some soloists around. See who you can tail on your off time. Plan to do 1-2 away rotations early 4th year in PM&R. Research is not that important for PM&R. Doesn't hurt, but no one gets bounced for lack of it.

 

[Ludicolo]

Obviously, do well in your pre-clinical classes and clinical rotations. Rock the boards. Agree with arranging away PM&R electives early in your M4 year or late in your M3 year if possible. Do well on these rotations and obtain strong letters of recommendation.

To find local physiatrists, you could start on the AAPM&R website and click on ‘Find a PM&R Physician’. Start contacting some of them to arrange shadowing opportunities. The AAPM&R also has a medical student mentorship program you should check out. Perhaps contacting your school's unique alumni who went into PM&R for guidance on what they did would also be helpful.

Given your school’s/state’s lack of PM&R – I suspect you'll find it challenging to do purely physiatry related research. Research in related fields like neuro, ortho, rheum, pain, even family med may be pertinent, and better than nothing. But research is not an absolute requirement as PMR 4 MSK said. Summer externship programs like the RIC program between the M1 and 2 years may have been a good option, but unfortunately I believe the deadline for application has passed.

 

[EddieMD]

Thanks for the replies! I did look at the AAPMR website, that's how I discovered that there are so few PM&R specialists. I'll see if I can tag along with a local private practice doc.

Now, I know that the field of PM&R varies widely in scope of practice. The only PM&R docs I've shadowed have developed a well chiseled niche for themselves; be it spine rehab, EMG, or occupational medicine. Is this common? Are there many "general" PMR docs out there that do a little bit of everything?