PMR Residency Problem...

[skeweddoc]

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OK I have a huge problem. I am seriously considering PMR but I am not doing the rotation until december. The problem is that I wont have a PMR letter in time to apply to the match. How HUGE of a problem is this? Can anyone give me any insight to how bad this might be? Not doing the rotation nor having a letter....thats a big whammy!

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Potentially a big problem - how do you know you want to do PM&R if you haven't tried it yet? How are you going to convince anyone that PM&R is what you want to do?

I would believe a LOR from a PM&R would be mandatory to get into a good program. Get your Dean involved STAT!

 

[ShrikeMD]

Potentially a big problem - how do you know you want to do PM&R if you haven't tried it yet? How are you going to convince anyone that PM&R is what you want to do?

I would believe a LOR from a PM&R would be mandatory to get into a good program. Get your Dean involved STAT!

Agreed.

While you may have grades and scores that prompt an invitation for an interview, you may find yourself at a disadvantage at the time of the interviews, or worse, at time of ranking.

 

[lord_jeebus]

PM&R and Anesthesia and you haven't been able to get rotations in either?

(are you interested in pain?)

What rotations are you doing right now that you can't rotate in either of your fields of interest?

 

[Ludicolo]

Agree with all of the above.

Depending on the rest of your application, you probably will get some interviews. However, without a PM&R LOR, or even a rehab rotation, no decent program will rank you.

 

[Paddington]

My guess is that 5 years ago it wouldn't have mattered much, judging from some of the residents I've met. It's pretty sad, but it seemed like even some of the better programs would take pretty much anyone. But in the last year or two, PM&R has actually become fairly competitive.

I think not having a letter is not necessarily a deal breaker, but not having rotation experience could be. I would keep your main interview month as January, that way you can at least speak about your PM&R experience.

 

[Disciple]

Not having done a rotation or getting a LOR looks bad not only for PM&R, but really when applying to any specialty.

Whomever is reviewing your file will get the impression that you don't really know what specialty you want to practice or that you're using their specialty as a back up.

 

[predodoc]

I thought my situation was bad. I have done one PMR outpt musk. rotation and have a letter which is on its way soon (I HOPE). I dont have a rotation with a residency program or rehab until november.
My plan was to try to schedule my interviews as late as possible Nov-Jan , that way I can talk more about my experiencies and have a letter when i interview. Good luck.

 

[globallmedicine]

would it be too late to be doing a PMR elective next month in september?

 

[agdoc04]

I think getting the rotation done before december is the most crucial thing. Your interviews will be nov. dec. jan.