PGY3 Elective advice?

[DannMann99]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm a PGY3 and have an elective slot to fill.

At this point I'm leaning towards general rehab for my career, because of that I don't think I need to do any 'auditions' so to speak. I was looking for some advice for a good elective to take during my PGY3, i'll also have one my PGY4 year.

I was thinking potentially sports medicine or palliative care as I don't get much frank sports medicine through my program, and other then pain management I don't get any pall care experience (just thinking pall care cause thats a potential subspecialization).

Just looking for some extra thoughts, maybe you all can help me out.

 

[j4pac]

I think you have a good plan.

Something to consider...

I have come across applicants at Baylor and Mayo who have been granted interviews...because according to them... they did a rotation. If you are looking for a spot at one of the gunner programs...it would be a way to practically ensure you get one interview to one of those programs.

 

[RangerBob]

I did a palliative care rotation during intern year--I thought it was a great rotation. It's one that I think all PM&R residents should do at some point if they can because you work on a lot of things critical to PM&R:

1) Delivering bad/cautious news (we're usually not the ones to say someone is paralyzed, but we are the ones the patients trust the most on functional recovery, and it takes some finesse to help set the patient's expectations before/in rehab so that they don't feel like a failure because they aren't 100% independent when they leave
2) Family meetings-- these take a whole new dimension in palliative care vs. rehab.
3) Focusing on caring for your patients emotional needs-- this is a big part of palliative care and part of what I enjoyed about it. And it really doesn't have to take an entire hour.
4) Pain. It never hurts to get more experience, and you'll get far more comfortable with prescribing narcotics on palliative care.

If you're thinking of general inpatient rehab, I really think palliative care would be a great choice. And if you're thinking of doing a fellowship, that would make it an even better choice.