Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: Where to Start as a Med Student
- Learn your anatomy.
A strong knowledge of musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy is essential for success in PM&R residency. You can start learning this stuff during medical school, and you’ll have more opportunities to brush up during residency. But the more you can learn now, the easier it will be later. Pay special attention to the muscles in the upper and lower extremities, as well as their innervation. Knowing the innervation of an individual muscle is critical when performing electrodiagnostic tests, such as an EMG.
- Gain Clinical Experience
If you can get experience in a PM&R clinic, it will be to your advantage. You’ll meet patients and learn their primary concerns, common diagnostic tests and the physical examination skills physiatrists use for evaluation and treatment. It will help you be confident that you’re choosing the right specialty for your future! Additionally, it demonstrates a clear commitment to the specialty when completing your residency application and provides exposure to physiatrists who may be able to write letters of recommendation in support of your application.
- Get involved with professional organizations
The Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) and the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) hold annual assemblies and offer special programming for medical students. If you can attend either (or both) of these conferences, you’ll get some excellent learning opportunities and the chance to meet program leaders from across the country. The organizations’ websites also contain information about the field and ways to be more engaged with the specialty as a medical student.
- Choose PM&R electives and clinical rotation
Some medical schools include physiatry as a part of their core clerkships (often during neurology or internal medicine rotations). Many schools also offer electives for third- or fourth-year medical students with their local departments/residency programs. If your medical school doesn’t have a PM&R department, don’t worry. PM&R electives are available to visiting medical students at various hospitals, including ours.