r/pmr

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!

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.

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!!

Hello, I am applying to this year's match and I've been eyeing PM&R my entire medical school career. This is my entire app, I'm not shy to share, and I definitely might be overreacting. I am at a DO school.

Preclinicals: Finished in 1st quartile. Labeled as "Outstanding" candidate for postgrad education on MSPE (not really sure the significance of this).

Volunteer: medical trip to panama. worked at local boys and girls club, crisis nursery. founder of community volleyball group (running for 4-5 years; consists of 200+ members). created comprehensive study guides since we were an inaugural class and those guides have continuously been used in subsequent classes and has spread to our sister campuses as well.

Leadership: Delegate for our AMA-MSS chapter, PR for asian pacific american medical student association, finance chair for our medical trip to panama. peer tutor for anatomy my first year, then became a TA for the class our second year.

Work: Did work as patient transport/department lead for 5 years, my last 1.5 years there occured while I was in medical school

Research (very weak): 3 poster presentations at our school's research day, and won first or second for all 3. One of those was also orally presented at the research day as well. I have 0 publications. Have worked on 2 case reports that will be submitted, but might not be published before submission

Boards: never failed an exam. passed comlex 1, did not take step 1. comlex 2: 515; step 2: 241.

Rotations: High passed IM, elective, FM, Surgery. Only honored FM. Never failed, received IM LoR. In regards to aways, I got one at a regenerative/pain clinic LoR secured there, UPenn SLOE secured here, Sinai baltimore, Northwestern Marianjoy, Rutgers, and Case Western Geauga.

What kind of applicant am I? Am I competitive? Can I swing for top programs or no?

PGY-4 MD Resident. Before running a chatGPT script thats inaccurate, would rather hear from you guys. I am strongly considering doing the AOBPMR due to it being October, Online, and only 100 questions. Also I hear, half the freaking price, and the recert process seems just as easy now with non-quarterly longitudinal recertification vs ABPMR. Also heard horror stories from colleagues who recently took the ABPMR test feeling that no question bank helped, super confusing, limited breaks, etc

So my main quesiton, for that 30% of the exam, whats the best resource to study osteopathic manipulation? And whats the better or adequate resources to use to just pass the Osteopathic test online? Can I just do ABPMR questions? Or is there a bank that more closely resembles AOBPMR? Please would appreciate any insight on the topic.

As title says, I got my level 2 score back yesterday and got between a 430-450. My comsae going into the exam was closer to 500 but this exam is a shit show. I have 2 auditions lined up but that's about it. Is it still worth it to try based on this information?

- didn't take steps

- passed level 1 and 2 first attempt

- have one letter from PMR attending so far but not a second one yet

I’m applying to a specialty that starts in the PGY2 year…

In a very difficult situation and currently scheduled to take my boards during an away rotation for PM&R. Was wondering how this can be done and any tips?

Help me please 🥲

Hi I’m about to start my big boi attending job in inpatient mixed rehab unit attached to an acute hospital. Just graduated residency at an inpatient heavy program but was wondering if there are any resources to brush up on to be an attending for inpatient rehab, especially since It’s been a bit since I’ve done inpatient as a residency.It’s nice to be done with residency, but being in charge has me a little nervous.

Thank you!

Hi, I am an MS3 at a US MD school without a home program. My interest in PM&R stems from personal experience and watching a parent go through the rehabilitation process last year; I also spent majority of last year flying home to help take care of my parent and navigating business/financials for my family. Therefore outside of personal experience, I don’t have any other exposure or experiences related to PM&R as I have been primarily focused on passing and helping out at home, but now I feel like I am behind and don’t know what to do. Is it possible to become a strong applicant over the next year? How can I connect and find mentors? What should I be doing over this next year to become a strong applicant as my goal is to match close to my family (in a more competitive state)? Thanks.

Current US MD M2 here wondering how I should be changing my approach to research. Currently wanting to pursue PM&R and have essentially completed 3 first author projects with 3 different doctors since med school. Each project however has seemed to stall out and I keep getting ghosted after completing all the chart reviews and data extraction and finish the initial drafts of the manuscript. Very frustrating as I’m essentially completing all these projects and working very hard but idk if anything is gonna get published or I’ll actually have anything to actually show on my residency apps. Meanwhile have friends doing research in other specialties that is much more low lift and they’re cranking about 20 pubs per year. How do people even get on such projects? What should I be doing differently in my approach or like how do people get these projects completed? I’m not sure what’s happening as I’m not receiving any feedbacks from the attendings as to why the projects are just suddenly dying out like this. Any advice is appreciated as I’m starting to get concerned that I may have to take a research year.
FYI these 3 doctors are basically the only ones doing active research in the PM&R department at my school