I’m looking to see how competitive it’s becoming and whether it’s becoming hard to apply in the recent years like some other competitive specialties?

How would increase my chances?

Any particular IMG friendly programs? I have seen residency program list but idk how accurate it is and truthfully the number are concerning (less than 10) but I’m not sure whether it’s because of the difficulty or simply not many people apply

where can I learn about programs with good training in general?

Hi everyone (sorry I know of lot of these have been posted recently),

Looking for some advice. Long story short, I underperformed on step 2 scoring in the high 230s. I made the decision to apply PMR earlier this year, currently at a lower tier US-MD with no home program.

Step 1: pass first attempt
Step 2: high 230s
Passed all rotations no honors.
Not AOA
4 Pubs, 1 Oral Presentation at a national conference, multiple poster presentations, submitting another manuscript soon before ERAS.
2 elective PMR rotations at my institution.
3 PMR letters, 1 SLOE, and one great letter from FM preceptor. Also obtained IM letters in case I dual apply.
3 Aways. 1 university affiliated, the other two are community programs I specifically sought outside of VSLO.

I have a decent amount of leadership as well as some volunteering work but none PMR specific.

I’ll I’ve already been told to apply broadly and kill interviews, the rest of rotations, and the away. With PMR becoming more competitive just looking for some ideas of how to approach this cycle the best I can, and opinions of what my realistic chances are.

Thanks everyone.

hi i have an upcoming rotation at a pm&r sports clinic. what are good resources for understanding management.

for example, how do you know when to prescribe different treatments such as hydrodissection vs nerve blocks vs pt/ot and medication management

how to differentiate between acute/somatic dysfunction and chronic pain and how does management for each of this vary

for what duration is medication management for chronic pain- is this indefinite?

appreciate specific resource recs and insight!

Join us and register now! QR code link: https://osu.zoom.us/meeting/register/7wvwC40ZSbORWRXJt60lYw. Hope to see you there!

4th year DO student contemplated between ortho and PMR for last three years. Really thought about it and now changed my mind to PMR for various reasons. Is it still possible to match even without any away rotations?

Step 2 - 252
Step 1 pass first attempt
Level 2 597

First quartile

17 publications/posters with several being PMR focused.

Have a mentor who can fill out my SLOE and will be solid. As well as solid FM letter.

Any help much appreciated!

Hi everyone, I'm a 3rd yr DO student on rotations.

Originally, I had been dead set on doing psychiatry and mixing OMM in it - I have enjoyed a lot of MSK throughout preclinical and had seen DO psychiatrists mix it in practice.

Now that I am on rotations, I have noticed myself thoroughly enjoying coming up with differentials, treatment plans, etc. for MSK related issues and gravitating more towards procedures.

Currently, my applications is very psych heavy; I have attended conferences, did posters for them, and I am involved in small organizations. But now, I am realizing that I do have an interest in PM&R and am slightly worried about how psych heavy my application is.

I have passed Level 1 and Step 1; what are some steps I can take or should take now to ensure I can have a chance in pursuing PM&R?

I am from a metro area and would like to match back within proximity to it!

Thank you so much.

Older docs, i’d love to hear how things have changed in the last 20 years

hello is it necessary to pick geographic preferences. i do not want to limit myself. i am mostly applying to california, ny and florida programs which would fit in the geo prefernces but applying to 4 programs outside of that so wondering if i should pick no prefernce or preference the three that most encompass my signals. thanks

Level 2: 45x

I scored 650+ on two separate COMSAEs the week leading up to my test date. Unfortunately, 3 days before I was to sit, my youngest sibling was killed in a drunk driving accident. Yes, I probably should’ve rescheduled but furthest I could’ve pushed back was 1 week which I felt would be worse since the gravity of everything would be heavily setting in at that point. What’s so disappointing is the fact that I felt so well prepared and ended up dropping the ball because my mind was elsewhere.

- 2 pubs in PMR related topics
- 1 poster pres at PMR conference
- 5 total PMR rotations (3 auditions; 2 at core site through school)
- 3 PMR LoR, 1 SLOE
- held leadership position in a club advocating for better healthcare opportunities for disabled
- involved in PMR related things (clubs, disability volunteering etc.) since 2nd year of med school
- good clinical grades, passed level 1 first try, no other red flags

I feel like given a chance to explain, programs may understand the situation but with a score so low will I just be screened out before my app is even read? I know I have to address this somewhere in my app but my personal statement is already done. Do I add something in there about this situation or add it elsewhere in ERAS?

Hi! I'm applying PM&R this cycle and have 2 PM&R letters, both SLOEs (+ 2 narrative letters from other specialties). Are multiple PM&R SLOE's ok? Or is it recommended to get a narrative letter from a PM&R attending as well?

I passed both step 1 and level 1 last year. Found out a few weeks ago that I got a 245 on step 2, which I was thrilled about. I felt so much worse about step 2 compared to Level 2. However, scores just came out for Level 2 and I was pretty shocked to see I got a 490. My last COMSAE 3 days before my exam was a 573, and I felt very confident leaving that exam. Does anyone know how programs weigh these 2 exams? I feel like a lot of people say COMLEX can be very random and Step 2 is more universally accepted. Would love to hear other people’s thoughts. Thanks!

📣 Calling all IMG presenters interested in PM&R!

We are excited to launch the IMG Virtual Journal Club! This is an opportunity for international medical graduates and medical students to engage with PM&R research, strengthen their presentation and critical appraisal skills, and connect with fellow IMGs interested in physiatry.

📅 Application deadline: August 31, 2026
📲 Scan the QR code to apply!

So I was consulted on a patient Youngish had a stroke near his hippocampus had some visual deficits and poor cognition, got sent home and then came back with basically no ability to remember. I only had them consult me because I thought it would be a good case for my intern but now I’m caught up.

Besides his own name he can’t tell me anything, I was looking up through all the stroke rehab textbooks and I can’t find anything on prognosis.

My Tbi books are recommending stimulants, bromocriptine and the like.

So I’m asking has anyone here had first hand experience with memory recovery after near complete amnesia ? Should I pretty much treat it like a TBI ?

Thanks in advance

i’m an intern on IM service. question about managing MSK pain in hospital -

i feel like usually for unspecific muscle pain from an IM standpoint patient is given tyelenol or lidocaine patch or some sort of basic pain management without investigating the underlying cause since that’s usually not patients primary diagnosis and the patients are usually medically complex so there are other emergent things going on

my question is in an IPR setting - how would MSK pain be worked up/managed and how does this differ from IM?

sometimes i feel i’m learning a lot of IM which is helpful but then the msk knowledge takes a backseat if that makes sense

just trying to get some perspective

Hi everyone! I know it’s recommended to have two PM&R letters for applying, however, I only have SLOE. Should I try to secure a narrative PM&R letter? I’m also worried that it may be late to ask.

Hi everyone!

I’m a current IM resident and am interested in switching to PM&R for the upcoming Match cycle. I’m trying to get a realistic idea of how competitive my application would be and which programs might be worth applying to.

A little about my background:

* US DO graduate
* COMLEX Level 1: Pass
* COMLEX Level 2: 476
* GPA: 3.6
* 10 research publications
* Master’s degree in Pharmacology & Toxicology
* Currently an IM resident

I’m particularly interested in pursuing a pain fellowship down the road, but my main goal right now is to overcome the hurdle of matching into PM&R.

I know PM&R has become increasingly competitive, especially for DO applicants, so I’d really appreciate some honest feedback. Are there programs where someone with my profile would be reasonably competitive, particularly as a current IM resident? Would love to hear from anyone who has gone through a similar transition or has insight into the current PM&R application landscape.

Thanks in advance!

Im curious about what some of the private practice guys are doing? Trying to see all the different options while im going through training. Inpatient? Outpatient? Hybrid? And what does the outpatient consist of? Part of a group or solo?

If I'm applying to PM&R, should I only apply to Internal Medicine preliminary positions, or should I also apply to PM&R-specific preliminary positions?

For example, Baylor has multiple Internal Medicine preliminary positions. If I want to apply to their preliminary IM intern year only but not their advanced PM&R program, can I still apply to their Prelim-PM&R position?

Also, are PM&R preliminary positions generally reserved for applicants who are also applying to that institution's advanced/categorical PM&R program, or can applicants applying to PM&R programs elsewhere apply for those preliminary positions as well?

I'm a current M4 applying PM&R and am not sure if I'm shooting too high for residency programs. With PM&R getting more competitive I can't really tell where my application stands. For context, I'm from the Midwest region, from a smaller MD school with no home program. I've been interested in PM&R since M1 and did an away externship at UPMC between M1-M2, where I did clinical work in a few clinics along with research resulting in 1 first-author paper. I presented this abstract at a PM&R conference as well. I'll have a total of 3 pubs and 2 abstract presentations when I submit. I was lucky enough to get a 255+ on Step 2. Mostly high-passed clinical year with a few honors and great reviews from preceptors. I have 4 aways at great programs and will have 2 strong PM&R letters and an IM letter.

I'm planning to signal toward the Northeast US in addition to my home Midwest region, given my interest in UPMC as well as chicago and new york programs.

My goal is obviously to shoot for top programs, but I can't tell if I actually have a shot or not. Additionally, idk how many of those top programs to actually signal. I dont wanna shoot myself in the foot with too many reach schools.

Thanks and good luck to all who are applying this cycle!!

In the “search programs” category of ERAS there is no section that says “prelim- internal medicine.” I attached a screenshot so it’s easier to understand. In the P section of select a category there is no prelim option. There is only an internal medicine option. In the internal medicine section there is no “internal medicine - prelim option” how do we add prelim programs to our ERAS app??

Hi everyone

I'm a PM&R R2 in Brazil, and I'm currently looking into PM&R programs in the United States where I could complete an elective rotation next year during my PGY-3 (R3) year.

My main interests are musculoskeletal medicine, diagnostic and interventional ultrasound, and sports medicine. Based on my research so far, programs that seem particularly strong in these areas include Shirley Ryan AbilityLab/Northwestern, Mayo Clinic, Stanford, and Spaulding Rehabilitation/Harvard.

I’d love to hear from current or former residents, fellows, or visiting rotators about their experiences with these programs; especially regarding the exposure to sports medicine, procedures and msk ultassound, and the overall educational experience for visiting residents

I'd also be very interested in recommendations for other PM&R programs  that I may have overlooked.

Thanks!