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THE MEDICAL STUDENT'S GUIDE TO PM&R
How can I best prepare to be a good residency candidate?
As a first or second year medical student, exploring PM&R as an option can be done through shadowing, contacting local residents and faculty, and through pursuing research on a PM&R relevant topic. There are some “externships” in PM&R available to first year medical students during the summer between first and second year. As a third or fourth year medical student, you may wish to consider rotating through a clerkship in PM&R. Understanding the depth and breadth of PM&R is crucial in expressing your interest in the field in your personal statement and during interviews. The rotation serves both for you to get to know a particular residency program and for the program to get to know you. Making a good impression on a program by being proactive, motivated, and interested can help your application. Identifying faculty members who can write you a solid letter of recommendation during this time is also important.
The major components of a residency application are board scores, medical school grades, Dean’s letter (a compilation of your evaluation and summary of your performance in medical school), letters of recommendation (at least one from a physiatrist), personal statement, CV (professional resume), and your performance on your interview (if you are invited for an interview). Because physiatrists work with teams of other health care professionals to care for a patient, program directors not only look for solid grades and board scores, but also team-oriented students with good communication skills.
Specialties/Clerkships that Complement PM&R
| Specialty | Usefulness |
| Anesthesiology | To understand the pharmacology and pathophysiology of pain and use of appropriate interventions, including medications |
| Neurology | To learn neurologic exam techniques, management and complications of acute stroke, and secondary stroke prevention |
| Neurosurgery | To learn neuroanatomy, neurologic exam techniques, neurosurgical emergencies, and neuroradiology |
| Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine | To learn musculoskeletal anatomy, physical exam techniques, surgical and nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, casting and splinting techniques, and post-op precautions and management |
| Pediatrics | To learn normal and abnormal functional development |
| Radiology | To better understand and interpret radiological studies and to order appropriate imaging to work-up specific differential diagnoses |
| Rheumatology | To learn joint injection and physical exam techniques |
| Urology | To learn management of neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury, stroke, brain injury, and other neurologic disorders |
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