Why We Love PM&R

Why we chose PM&R as a specialty

"Is there a better specialty? Everyday we work tirelessly to directly improve patient's quality of life."

"PM&R is by far the most team oriented specialty in all of medicine, which is why I was initially attracted to it. It’s also a broad specialty that provided both inpatient and outpatient experiences and plenty of different procedures."

"I chose PM&R as a specialty because of the team-centered and holistic approach to treating a wide array of neuromuscular conditions with a strong belief that exercise is medicine and our bodies were meant to be in motion."

"I was amazed by the physical exam skills of the PM&R attendings at my medical school and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. In Neurorehab, I love the intersection of anatomy, neuro, and function."

"I knew I was interested in MSK and Sports Medicine and wanted to do a residency program where I would get maximum exposure to that field throughout my training. In general I also think the field of PM&R does the best job of targeting the patients' goals over the physician's agenda which is super important in partnering with the athletes I'm interested in helping!"

"I went to medical school knowing I wanted to take care of children with disabilities. While in medical school, I found out the name of that field: pediatric rehab. When I learned about PM&R, I really appreciated that the field focuses on addressing patients' every day function and their goals to improve their lives."

"The unique focus on improving function and quality of life.
Helping people to return home and return to the things they love after facing hard times.
The opportunity to follow patients right after their injuries all the way through to clinic years down the road. The people in PM&R are awesome"

"I chose Peds PM&R as a specialty because I knew that I wanted to have a career in Pediatric Rehabilitation, and I saw a lot of value in being able to do both Pediatrics and PM&R simultaneously. I felt like having the knowledge and experience that comes with doing a Pediatrics residency would supplement my PM&R and Pediatric Rehabilitation training very well and allow me to serve my future patients better. Also, I just love working with kids!"

Why do we love PM&R?

Here's why.

"I love PM&R because I enjoy being able to help people through a big life transition and watch them regain their independence. For me it’s the perfect combination of a holistic approach, neuropathology and seeing people get better."

"Physiatry allows me to become a part of powerful patient transformations after challenging situations. We often meet people after life changing events, but we are able to shift the focus from illness and disability to improving function and maximizing their quality of life."

"Oftentimes our patient's come from dire circumstances with limited insight into their injury, few available resources and dwindling hope. We get to empower these people with adaptive skills, educate them regarding their injuries and help motivate them to challange the barriers before them. Helping someone feel whole and hopeful for the future is inspiring and rewarding in itself. It is an honor to be part of this process."

"I love physiatry because I love problem solving with patients to figure out ways to optimize their function in their environment. It truly is a team effort with the patient as the lead."

"We are the ones asking folks this very scary but infinitely important question: what matters most to you? What are your hopes, your expectations, how badly do you want it and what are you willing to give? And then to ourselves: how can I make that real? We as physiatrists are tasked with helping patients feel like people again, helping people feel like themselves again. And each time, it is a transforming and remarkable redemption to be a part of."

""I really like the diversity that exists within the field of PM&R, and I enjoy the unique niche that we fill within the greater medical community.""

"Rehab medicine blends the most interesting aspects of neurology and sports medicine and applies it to patients of almost any injury etiology to improve their quality of life and function. I love the rehab technologies we can incorporate into diagnosis and treatment. I also love how important communication is to our field, with respect to being a team leader among caregivers as well as between patients and their families. Our career life is neatly balanced with our family life, which mirrors the healthy mind and body we preach to our patients."

"The top reasons I love PM&R are that I love the focus on improving function and quality of life, and I love being able to build relationships with our patients and their families supporting them through challenges and celebrating victories."

"One of the many reasons I love rehabilitation medicine is the redemptive qualities it brings to patient care. Our specialty provides us with a unique skill set and perspective that enables us to help patients return to activities, work, and rejoin family at home in ways that they may not have been able to do without physiatry. The focus is less on what a patient can't do, but rather what they are able to still do. I also love the wide scope of practice our field enjoys."