Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Contacts
Specialty Advisor, Residency Program Director and Specialty Interest Group Faculty Advisor
APEX Champion
Specialty Overview
A specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, also called a physiatrist, evaluates and treats patients with disorders or disabilities in the muscles, bones, and nervous system, including neck or back pain, sports and work injuries, stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, spasticity, and any other disability or disorder that affects function.
A physiatrist may lead a team of medical professionals to help patients improve their physical, psychological, social, and vocational function, and are dedicated to the whole person, including treating pain, restoring function, and improving quality of life. Treatment modalities may include medications, injections, therapeutic exercise, electrodiagnosis, and any equipment required for daily activities.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)
How long is this specialty's residency?
Four total years are required to complete a PM&R residency. Some programs are categorical, where you complete all four years within one program, and others are advanced, where you complete a separate intern year (prelim medicine, prelim surgery or transitional year) and then complete years two to four at the PM&R residency.
Websites for Reference
AAPM&R Medical Student Resources
Away Electives
Away Electives
Depends on the applicant and the reason for the away elective- speak to the specialty advisor
Order of Away vs Home
Take their home rotation in the specialty BEFORE they do an away elective
Programs where ISMMS students have completed away electives.
CA
Stanford School of Medicine
1
CA
University of California Irvine School of Medicine
1
IL
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
1
MA
Harvard Medical School (Spaulding Rehab Hospital)
1
NJ
NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative
1
UT
University of Utah School of Medicine Eccles
1
VA
University of Virginia School of Medicine
1
WI
Gundersen Health System
1
Match Statistics
Information provided by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, last updated August 2024
Mean Number of Contiguous Ranks
13.7
Mean USMLE Step 2 CK Score
248
Mean Number of Research Experiences
3.4
Mean Number of Abstracts, Presentations and Publications
8.6
Competitiveness
Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables
In the 2025 Match there were 240 categorical positions in 55 programs, 52.5% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
In the 2025 Match there were 334 advanced positions in 69 programs, 48.5% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
Application Information
Application System
ERAS
Match System
NRMP
Signaling
Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data
How Many?
20
Signal Home Program?
Yes
Signal Away Program?
Check with individual programs
Average Number of Applications Submitted
48.61
Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?
Yes-should be completed by Physiatrist
Departmental/Chair Letter?
No
Who should other letters come from?
Minimum of 1 letter from PM&R
1 SLOE
Other letters from whoever will write the best clinical letter
Interviewing and Post Interview Communication
Applications are downloaded by programs...
On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date.
This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.
Yes
Interviews are sent out...
Usually during the 2nd week of November
Thank You Emails
Yes, definitely a good idea- discuss with PM&R mentor prior to sending though.
Letters of Intent
Yes, first choice letters are helpful to programs and applicants- discuss with PM&R mentor prior to sending though.
ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025
Carolinas Med Ctr-NC
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY
0
0
2
1
0
0
3
Mass General Brigham-MA
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
U Washington Affil Hosps
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Last updated