Overview
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as physiatry, is a medical specialty that emphasizes the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people disabled by disease, disorder or injury.
National demand for rehabilitation services has been increasing steadily over the years, and the number of PM&R residency spots has followed suit. Unfortunately, medical students often have little exposure to the specialty early in their careers with an estimated 12% of medical schools having a required PM&R rotation. Establishing a PM&R interest group in the school will help increase students’ awareness of the specialty, help you connect with like-minded peers, and open up opportunities for future leadership in the specialty.
This page was created to assist you in establishing or maintaining a medical school interest group for PM&R. Regardless of whether you have a well-established PM&R department at your medical school, it is possible to have an engaging and innovative PM&R interest group. With this guide, your PM&R interest group can help medical students better understand the specialty and successfully match into residency. To find even more tips and resources, visit AOCPMR's website.
Initial Start-Up
Every medical school has its own policies and procedures for initiating an interest group. Consult your Dean of Student Affairs to see how to get started. Try sending a school-wide email or setting up an initial meeting to gauge the level of interest among students. Here are some other things to consider:
- Faculty Advisor: Your medical school may require a faculty advisor to oversee the interest group. Even if not required, having one can be extremely valuable, especially when setting up group activities and meetings. Additional advisors can also be sought and consulted via email if you need further assistance. Contact your PM&R department to find a faculty volunteer. If no one is available or if your school does not have a PM&R department, it is still possible to recruit a faculty member - many other departments (e.g. Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, etc.) may have a physiatrist on their faculty or have an affiliation with a community physiatrist. If not, these departments may be able to identify a faculty physician who is involved with rehabilitation and willing to act as an advisor.
- Funding: Food and supplies are the primary expenses for a student-run interest group. Talk to the Dean of Student Affairs to determine if there is money available for medical student groups and the procedure for requesting these funds. Fundraising can help cover additional costs. Soliciting your PM&R department is also a possibility. Depending on your school’s policies, funding from “outside” sources, such as private companies, may be possible. Grants of up to $1,000 are available from the AAP to support hosting a PM&R Medical Student Fair at your institution. A fair is a great way to introduce other medical students to the specialty and get them engaged in your interest group. A grant application, sample budget and planning guide are available here.
Planning Your Meetings
Proposed Activities
Organizing PM&R Fairs
Introduce students at your medical school and surrounding schools to PM&R by holding a PM&R Fair. A hands-on look into the specialty is a great way to increase interest in your interest group, as well. The AAP can help you by providing a grant of up to $1,000 to assist with costs. We also have a sample planning guide for your event and resources from other groups who have previously hosted fairs.
Interest Groups Across the Country
Register your group to join this growing list of PM&R Medical Student Interest Groups! If you're a physiatrist and would like to provide your expertise to guide students in choosing a career in PM&R, find the group nearest you. If you're a student and would like to connect to the interest group at your institution, this is your resource.
Join the PM&R Student Interest Group (SIG) Registry!
Registering your PM&R SIG with the AAP will be provide access to an online community designed especially for the needs of medical students.
The goals of the PM&R SIG Community are to:
- Help medical students explore and excel in the field
- Stay up-to-date on the upcoming events regionally and nationally
- Provide resources for PM&R SIGs
To join the online PM&R SIG Community, you must be an AAP member. Not sure if you are a member? Email the Membership Manager or you join now! Medical Student membership is only $65 a year!
Register your PM&R SIG
Fill out the form to register your Student Interest Group.