Info on the "Focuses" of these PM&R Programs

[Loves_Chai]

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I've got a couple of interviews coming in the next few weeks and from what I have heard certain programs have certain "focuses" whether it be musculoskeletal or neurorehab. I am wondering if someone can look at the list of programs I'm going to and tell me which programs have a stronger musculoskeletal component or vice-versa, or if they are balanced with both. Also which programs will give the best EMG training. Mainly I'm concerned about which will give me the best opportunity to get a fellowship in Spine/Sports and/or Pain Management. Thanks.

Washington University in St. Louis
UPenn
UMichigan
Case Western
Tufts
University of North Carolina
NYU
University of Pittsburgh
University of Colorado
Rehab Insitute of Chicago
UCLA
University of Texas, San Antonio
Harvard
Columbia/Cornell

 

[drvlad2004]

U of Pitt--big on research, model systems in TBI and SCI. Residents have won AAPMR presentation 3 out of past 4 years. Can do a lots of sports med, which is what I want.

UT San Antonio--Dumitru is the guru of EMG. He wrote the bible for it. Walsh is the man for interventional spine

NYU--well balanced program but malignant (many unhappy residents). They have an excellent doctor who does sports med.

From my interviews thus far, any good program should be strong in musculoskeletal. If not, they are probably a weak program. MSK rehab is vital component to PM&R.

 

[Ligament]

University of Michigan: I'm a PGYII resident here. We have a PM&R run fellowship in Interventional Pain (ACGME accredited) and also a PM&R run fellowship in Interventional Spine. Each fellowship takes two PM&R fellows per year. I believe we are the only program with *both* of these fellowships.

In addition, the Anesthesia based pain fellowship here takes 1 or 2 PM&R fellows per year. It too is ACGME accredited.

So in total there are 5 or 6 spots per year in Pain/Spine fellowships here. There are only 6 PM&R residents per class...being a resident here does give you an advantage at landing one of these fellowships.

There are also fellowships in spinal cord injury, and a 2 year NIH/research fellowship.

Strengths: Spine (great spine center), EMG (all EMG attendings are EMG board certified, co-run by Neurology and PM&R). SCI model system. Orthotics/Prosthetics experience is strong. Trauma/Burn experience is strong.

Weaknesses: Sports med (locked up by Ortho, who does not want to share at all). Cardiac Rehab (poor exposure).

Overall I would say there is a focus on outpatient PM&R Vs. Inpatient, but the inpatient experience is intense with very ill patients, so if you can handle them here you can handle them anywhere. I think we only do 12 months of inpatient total, 10 of those months in the PGYII year.

best, Ligament