Musings of an Intern 

As a tired medicine intern in the middle of a record-breaking Chicago winter, the end to my internship seemed so remote. Now with spring here and three-quarters of my internship behind me, I find myself repeating this mantra: I am ready for rehab medicine! I can finally indulge in fanciful thoughts about my chosen specialty. Here I present my “Top Ten Reasons for Choosing PM&R”:

1. Where Everybody Knows Your Name. The PM&R community is a lot like the gang at Cheers: It is likely the closest knit group of professionals in medicine. This is a definite strength of our field, allowing us as a group and as individuals to be agile in the ever-changing terrain of medicine.

2. Diverse Professional Opportunities. What other field of medicine allows this much latitude to its members? Practice settings are as unique as our colleagues in physiatry. Subspecialty training opportunities abound with choices like Pediatric Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury, Pain Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Hospice/Palliative Medicine, in addition to numerous other non-ACGME fellowships.

3. Generalist Approach with Specialist Skills. To be an effective rehabilitation physician, all needs of a patient must be addressed and treated whether they are neurological, musculoskeletal, or psychosocial. We have an armamentarium of skills that include the use of EMGs, joint and soft tissue injections, orthotics/prosthetics prescriptions, manual medicine, and so on.

4. Outreach and Teach. Currently, the 7,000 physiatrists in practice represent a modest fraction of all medical specialists. Every encounter is an opportunity to alert outsiders of our presence. By providing comprehensive care afforded to us by our training, we affect patient lives in ways no other specialist can; in this manner, we become ambassadors to our field.

5. Ride the Vibe. Physiatrists often work alongside other health professionals with one objective in mind: promoting functional goals for our patients. The spirit of collaboration permeates PM&R, lending itself readily to a dynamic and collegial environment.

6. The Last Line. As our patients find themselves transitioning from the acute portion of their illness to chronic lingering issues, it is often only the PM&R physician that continues to strive for solutions. Our role is dictated by what our patients need, not the other way around.

7. No God Complexes Here. Physiatrists are given a dose of humility on a daily basis. Our patients often have long and protracted recoveries, if not in body, then at least in spirit. Success sometimes cannot be measured in tangible terms. Along with our patients, we must embody patience and humility in the face of great challenges.

8. People Are People. Physiatrists are more than physicians – we are people too! We have spouses, children, and pets. We have hobbies and outside interests. We often come home at night and sleep in our own beds. These are not the ramblings of someone with factitious disorder! It is true, my fellow interns; we will be human once again!

9. Continuous Flow of Levity. PM&R folks are easily the nicest, most social people you will encounter in the hospital. Well-rounded and funny personalities are in abundance in PM&R. We can find humor in what can be the most dismal of circumstances.

10. No Regrets! I wake up in the morning, look forward to a new day of new successes and new relationships, and love what I do!

Anjum Sayyad, MD
PGY1 – Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
RPC Liaison to AAPM&R Nominating Committee
 

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