Can I improve my chances in matching PMR?

[wantPMR]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone, I've long had an interest in MSK and Rehabilitation. During medical school I ended up pretty torn between psychiatry and PM&R but ended up going psych substantially because I'd been interested in it far longer. I enjoyed psych but found myself wishing I could do MSK and work directly in rehab.

After 2 years of residency I had to resign due to health issues (SCI, spinal issues 2/2 MVA). Now, I'm on the mend and confident that my health is good enough to return to residency. I thought about going back to psych but as I looked at my interests and what I really wanted out of my career I figured now was the time to 'reset' and make a try at going into PM&R.

My timing is less than stellar as I haven't been able to set up any experience in PM&R as of yet. It does not help that my medical school does not have an attached PM&R department. So my applications are in but without PM&R letters.

Anyway, my stats are as follows:
Graduated 2009 from LCME medical school, top half of the class
Step 1: 239
Step 2: 257
Step 3: Pass (no idea, but not as good as 1&2)

As far as residency goes, I did get three departmental awards (2 teaching, 1 academic) and solid evals from attendings.

I have 4 excellent recommendation letters from residency. Family, Internal Med, Neuro, and Psych (with several more psych letters that I didn't have room for obviously),

Obviously the best thing I can do is get some PM&R clinical exposure (I have plenty as a patient, and worked with them daily on my peds, neuro, and psych consult rotations) and a letter.

Is there anything I'm missing? And would it be worth it to email the PD's of the places I've applied to (everywhere) and let them know I'm currently working on attaining PM&R clinical experience? What if I'm unable to get a PM&R experience/letter? Is it likely I'll get PM&R at all?

p.s. my backup is going family->sports

 

[illWillOliver]

Are you applying this cycle or next year or after? If you're applying in 2013 or after you have a considerable amount of time to get experience working with Physiatrists. From a numbers standpoint you would be very competitive.

 

[wantPMR]

I'm applying this cycle and currently in the process of setting up at least 1 if not 2 observerships.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Finish psych and then go for pain fellowship if you can.

Otherwise, spend some time with PM&R docs, then get to some LORs. Watch for PGY-2 spots to open and apply for them as soon as you see them. Many programs with a sudden open spot will take any living body. Your scores should place you higher in the pack. Make a good personal statement to send to them with your experiences.

 

[Jitter Bug]

You will definitely need PM&R clinical experience. Your own experience as a patient will give you solid talking points for interviews and a good personal statement, but doesn't replace being on the other side of the coin.

I think your best option is get hooked up to shadow a PM&R doctor (preferably who does inpatient) as a civilian, and get a letter for it. Start with your city, call around to the hospitals with an acute rehab unit, and compose a nice letter to fax or email to the PM&R doctors, see if someone will pick you up. Your former residency PD or your medical school dean may be able to make some calls for you as well.