How to become a good PMR applicant?

[OofWillis]

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Hello, I'm in my first year of med school and am interested in PM&R. I would like to start early in building my application. What do you who have gone through the process recommend? I'm currently volunteering ~2X a month at a homeless clinic, doing research on the genetics of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and have done well (honors in some, but not all) courses so far. Am I on the right track or what else should I do over the next few years?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Taus]

I was in your shoes a couple years ago. Thats great that you have an early interest in the field. The stickied FAQ thread at the top of the PM&R forum has a TON of very useful information and some threads that directly offer excellent advice for your question.

I would also highly rec looking into the summer externship at RIC for b/w M1 and M2 and to seek out a mentor in the field. Whether it be a recent graduate of your school, local PM&R doc or someone off the list of mentors on this site and/or the AAPM&R site.

Stick around this forum too..... there are a lot of very helpful and knowledgeable people who actively post on this here

 

[dc2md]

i agree with taus. a summer externship at one of the top programs would be great. keeping up to date with SDN is a good idea too. the annual assembly of our academy would be a great networking opportunity too. it's free for students. all that and you should be golden.

 

[tchoupdoc]

Hello, I'm in my first year of med school and am interested in PM&R. I would like to start early in building my application. What do you who have gone through the process recommend? I'm currently volunteering ~2X a month at a homeless clinic, doing research on the genetics of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and have done well (honors in some, but not all) courses so far. Am I on the right track or what else should I do over the next few years?

Any help is appreciated.

Hope this seems like idiotic advice. When meeting with any attending on any rotation, even ones you don't like:

1) Don't be late.

Once you have arrived early,

2) Don't be lazy. Figure it out. Every rotation is different. But I have had students that I miss and others that I wish had never shown up. Be the former.

Once present, early, and working hard:

3) Don't lie. If you don't know the answer, don't hem and haw. just say you didn't ask. Do not ever make up an answer. Attendings don't remember a student. They remember liars.

I am an attending, not clinical faculty, by the way. I make rank lists, lecture students, etc. I read dean's letters of recommendation as part of my job.

As for PMR? Learn as much MSK as you can, because your other training will neglect it.

 

[MSKalltheway]

I agree with all of the above. The RIC externship was excellent and I think its the only organized one around, as Cincy seems to have discontinued theirs (does anyone know why?) I have also started a PM&R interest group at school, and shadowed as many docs as I can for mentorship and education. If you have a local Rehab hospital, go snooping around there. Most everyone in this field that I have met and the info on this board have been incredibly helpful.

Unfortunately, if you spend an hour reading about PM&R on SDN, youll know more about the field than most med students...hopefully my attempts to change that here will work 🙂

 

[DOctorJay]

it looks like you're in Utah, Univ of Utah has a great PM&R program where you should be able to get some good exposure to the field. best of luck and I echo the sentiments of the above posters.

J

 

[oreosandsake]

I agree with all of the above. The RIC externship was excellent and I think its the only organized one around, as Cincy seems to have discontinued theirs (does anyone know why?) I have also started a PM&R interest group at school, and shadowed as many docs as I can for mentorship and education. If you have a local Rehab hospital, go snooping around there. Most everyone in this field that I have met and the info on this board have been incredibly helpful.

Unfortunately, if you spend an hour reading about PM&R on SDN, youll know more about the field than most med students...hopefully my attempts to change that here will work 🙂

Just chiming in as a third voice that took part in the RIC externship.

Very awesome experience. Excellent attendings/residents that love to teach and interact with medical students.

If you want to do it you should jump on it NOW. I think the deadline for applications is coming up soon.



also, here is ANOTHER SUMMER PROGRAM in PM&R 😱 (outside the forementioned program, and the one in NY that only accepts NY students)

good luck!

IUSM DEPARTMENT of PHYSICAL MEDICINE and REHABILITATION
Posting Date: November 16, 2007
DEADLINE: Until Positions filled
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is an exciting, interesting field that is growing rapidly across the country. We are currently offering (3) one-month scholarship positions for this coming 2008 summer. This would be for a one-month time period with a $1000 stipend. Your duties would basically be to observe one of our faculty members in day-to-day clinical activity and help out as needed and as applicable for your skill level. This will give you a greater exposure to what I consider a wonderful specialty and let you know a little bit more about what we in PM&R do on a day-to-day basis. We are offering two such positions, which will be limited to the top three candidates. If you are interested in applying, please contact my office and enclose a one to two page letter describing why you should be selected for this position.

Please send your information to:
Cyndi Herrera
Residency Coordinator
Indiana University School of Medicine
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Ph# 317-278-0200
Fax# 317-278-0206

 

[MSKalltheway]

Yeah I dunno why the NYU/Rusk program is only for NYU med students, I find that rather unfortunate...

Also willis, if you are by U of Utah like DOctorJay said then you could always try to get in on some Rehab research there with one of the faculty, applying for this http://www.foundationforpmr.org/programs/erf-msr.html. One of the good fellows sent this to all the other externs after the programs are done. I think its a good deal also if you are unable to go or arent accepted into one of the externships. Feel free to PM any of us if you need help in applying.

PS I dunno about this year but the RIC app was due April 6th last year. It opened up in mid Feb and I submitted it around this time last year...dunno if my early submission helped or not though!

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

What really helped me was working for the disabled as an aid - made my beer money and really helped the CV. Also did a lot of volunteer work at disabled sporting events.

 

[fozzy40]

1) I would also like to stress the fact that PM&R likes "well-rounded" applicants. It already sounds like you're doing all the extracurricular things.

2) Obviously, getting good grades is always a plus. If you are an in the middle of your class (rank wise) student I wouldn't worry. Just show that you consistency in your scores over the next 3 yrs and hopefully an upward trend.

3) I would also try to diversify your PM&R experience. When I was on the interview trail, the programs really liked the fact that I had outpatient as well as a variety of inpatient experience. I had about 10 wks total of PM&R rotations.

4) Attend at least 1 AAPM&R meeting for networking purposes. They are having a medical student forum included in the programing. This year's meeting is in San Diego so not too shabby of a place.

5) Last but not least, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO APPLY EARLY!!! This is not PM&R specific but this is only to your advantage.

 

[rxexercise]

Yeah, I'm not sure what is up with the Cinci program. They cancelled it at the last minute (well a few months before it was suppose to start) last summer and it will NOT be offered this upcoming summer. The summer after next is still up in the air. Def get apps in soon for RIC, the deadline is March 7, 2008. MSKalltheway and Oreosandsake, we have another Toledo student applying....trying to keep that Ohio connection going 😉