Fellowship Training Advice & Resources

The question of whether to pursue fellowship training is a tough one. Some believe that the knowledge and expertise gained during fellowship training is an indispensable asset to their professional career, while others believe that solid residency training in general rehabilitation is sufficient for a future in this field.

Need help making the decision? AAPM&R and the Physiatrist in Training (PHiT) Council offer these resources to help you decide on a fellowship opportunity that meets your needs.

• Find a Fellowship Program Directory
  Now available to all members is a searchable database with all fellowship programs open to PM&R candidates. This directory is the largest of its kind and dedicated solely to PM&R fellowships. 

• Fellowship Database
  To streamline our career development offerings, we’ve moved the Fellowship Database to the AAPM&R Job Board. The database is a searchable listing of open PM&R fellowship opportunities within the United States, which represents the broad clinical diversity of the specialty of PM&R.
  
  
• Roadmap to a Fellowship
  The Physiatrist in Training (PHiT) Council recently updated its handy resource, Roadmap to a Fellowship. Revised annually by the Academy’s resident leaders, this valuable document provides in-depth information to help guide residents on their path to choosing a fellowship opportunity that meets their needs.

• Fellowship Transition Checklist
  Member residents, use this handy checklist to help transition from fellowship into your attendee year in practice.

• Preparing for a Sports Medicine Fellowship: A Guideline for PM&R Residents
  Written by Jason L. Zaremski, MD, Michael Fredericson, MD, and Jonathan T. Finnoff, DO, this guide provides an overview of ways to prepare and apply for a Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) fellowship. 

• AAPM&R Fellowship Podcast Series: Interventional Training
  With the overlap of the specialties, PM&R residents are often left in a confusing situation. The purpose of this podcast series is to provide listeners with a wide breadth of information that will help them better understand interventional fellowships. 

Still need assistance? Use these external resources to determine what subspecialties interest you.

• The Association of Academic Physiatrists' Directory of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Training Programs. 
• American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)
• American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM): Additional training is available in this area through a two-year residency program. You can learn more by calling ACOEM at  (847) 818-1800.

Becoming well informed about the various fellowships offered is essential in making this decision. Information can also be obtained by rotating at the programs in consideration, reading available literature, and talking to program directors, fellows (former or current), and residents who have had some experience with the programs in consideration.