There's a similar thread running in the EM/radiology/anesthesia/surgery forums with some great and informative responses. I know there's a lot of talk here about the general future of this specialty, but I think people would enjoy hearing from current young and older PM&R attendings how things actually are for you (aside from the whole covid thing). I fear the responses may not be as robust as other forums since it’s usually quieter here, relatively. Nonetheless, here we go:
Are you happy working as an physiatrist (0-10)?
What was your reason for going into PM&R in the first place?
Did you decide to do a fellowship? Why or why not?
Do you like your hours? Do you feel like you have enough time with your family/other interests?
Do you work in an academic center or private practice? Have you ever switched from one to the other, if so why?
Do you feel fairly compensated?
Would you mind sharing rough approximate of your compensation?
Would you choose PM&R again?
If you HAD to choose a different specialty, what would it be?
Anything else you'd like to share?
Are you happy working as an physiatrist (0-10)?
8.5/10
What was your reason for going into PM&R in the first place?
I went into medical school knowing I wanted to do sports medicine. Flirted with ortho (and actually GI) and decided PM&R sports was my calling after treating some CP/spina bifida kids.
Did you decide to do a fellowship? Why or why not?
Sports fellowship. I wanted to be a team doc for a major university or pro team and wanted to do procedures along with avoiding the stereotypical "pain patient".
Do you like your hours? Do you feel like you have enough time with your family/other interests?
I love my hours. My call is going to sporting events. I love sports in general - so its not really even work to me. Sometimes it interferes with a family event, but 4-6 hours on a weekend at a sporting event beats 24 hour call dealing with kidneys or vents or some other such thing. Clinic is typical 8-5.
Do you work in an academic center or private practice? Have you ever switched from one to the other, if so why?
Private practice. I have no time or patience for the arrogance and bureaucracy involved with academics. If I/the practice wants to make a change - we just do it. We don't need to beg to six sub-committees to decide our fates. Plus we can tailor our research and QI to what we do best and improve it.
Do you feel fairly compensated?
Absolutely. Production based compensation - work hard, get compensated for it.
Would you mind sharing rough approximate of your compensation?
PM me.
Would you choose PM&R again?
Absolutely
If you HAD to choose a different specialty, what would it be?
Optho - it was my very last rotation before graduating medical school and they have the coolest machines to treat eyeballs.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Regardless of the path you choose in PM&R make sure you develop useful procedural or other relevant skills (EMG, US, fluoro, Botox, prosthetics, etc.). Inpatient PM&R can (and perhaps will) be overrun by IM or NP/PAs, "general" outpatient PM&R will be taken over by ortho PA/NPs - you need to be able to do something that others can't do ... and read a finance book every once in a while so you know how money works and you have a relative chance of not getting screwed by your employer or advisor.
