VCU Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Electives for medical students

The VCU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers electives for medical students. In addition to clinical activities, students will be exposed to the didactic lectures and grand rounds with the PM&R residents and faculty.

MI - “Intro to PM&R” (Jan-Feb)
MII - “Intro to PM&R” (Oct-Dec)
M-IV (4th year)

1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation “Acting Intern” (Course 6000): Inpatient PM&R Service (spinal cord, vascular, multiple traumas, orthopaedic, stroke or other neuromuscular disorders).
2. Brain Injury "AI" (Course 6001): Inpatient PM&R Brain Injury Rehabilitation Services.
3. PM&R Rotating Elective (Course 9500): Exposure to PM&R Consult Team, Inpatient Rehab and Outpatient PM&R Clinics.
4. Pediatric Rehabilitation (Course 9600): PM&R exposure at VCU and Children’s Hospital.

For further information please contact:

Wanda Carlton Allen
Residency coordinator
P.O. Box 980661
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0661
Phone: (804) 828-4233
E-mail: Wanda Carlton Allen

William McKinley, M.D.
Residency program director
VCU Department of PM&R
P.O. Box 980661
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0677
Phone: (804) 828-4233
E-mail: wmckinle@hsc.vcu.edu

Information for medical students from other universities

For information, contact the VCU Elective Office at (804) 828-9784.

Housing arrangements can be made by contacting Sam Stuart (804) 828-1800 to see if anything will be available during your time here. You also may inquire about a housing list, but for those accommodations you will need a car. Also, if you drive your car you will need to check with our Parking Office to see if there will be a space available for you; that number is (804) 828-0501, please inform them that you are a visiting student from out of town.

The Electives Office will need proof of your health insurance before you can start with us; your school covers you for malpractice insurance. Upon your arrival to VCU, please report to the Electives Office, 8 a.m., 1st-floor, Sanger Hall, Room 1-002 for information about obtaining a VCUCard. which you will need at all times while on our campus.

Resources

What is physical medicine and rehabilitation?
Frequently asked questions
About Our residency
Contact information
Links to other important PM&R sites

What is physical medicine and rehabilitation?

Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry, is the medical specialty that works with improving patients’ function after a debilitating condition. Some people refer to PM&R as the specialty that deals with individuals with disabilities. Although this is true, physiatrists also work with patients in many other settings, including non-operative management of musculoskeletal injuries, pain management, sports medicine, occupational medicine, medicolegal, etc. PM&R physicians are probably best known as physicians who work with people with spinal cord injuries, amputations, brain injuries and strokes.

The field of PM&R was founded in the aftermath of World War II, when many veterans began returning with physical impairments. From this beginning, PM&R grew into a nationwide specialty, with 75 residency programs graduating about 300 residents per year. There are currently approximately 5,700 practicing physiatrists who are members of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

The goal of a physiatrist, or a physician who specializes in PM&R, is to restore individuals to their highest level of functioning by tailoring a program of medical treatment and therapy to best fit the individual’s needs. This specialty is practiced in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation centers, acute-care hospitals and nursing homes.

Frequently asked questions

1. What types of patients do PM&R specialists see? PM&R doctors treat patients with a wide variety of conditions. A physiatrist may care for individuals with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple trauma, musculoskeletal disorders, pain, sports injuries, neuromuscular disorders, amputation, congenital malformations, cardiopulmonary disorders, industrial injuries, rheumatic disorders, neuropathies, cancer and burns.

2. What is the future outlook for PM&R as a specialty? With the aging of the population in America, it is anticipated that the need for rehabilitation services will continue to grow. In addition, the incidence of many of the conditions treated by physiatrists is on the rise, such as stroke, spinal cord injury and brain injury. The availability of practice opportunities depends on a number of factors, particularly on geographic location, but it is anticipated that there will continue to be a need for PM&R physicians well into the next century.

3. Where do PM&R doctors practice? Practice sites vary, and may be as wide- ranging as strictly outpatient to strictly inpatient. Most practices are a combination of consultations, inpatient, and outpatient services. In the past, PM&R was more of an “academic” specialty, as the services provided were associated more with a major academic medical center. Recent years have seen a change in availability of rehabilitation services, and now there are equally as many doctors practicing PM&R in private practice, community settings. Because of the population base needed to support a PM&R practice, most opportunities are in large metropolitan areas, but there are some physiatrists who work in more rural settings.

4. What type of procedures do physiatrists perform? All physiatrists receive training in performing Electrodiagnostic studies, such as Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies, used to diagnose peripheral nerve and muscle disorders. Additionally, physiatrists may perform joint injections, nerve blocks or soft tissue injections for the treatment of pain and spasticity.

5. What are the requirements for training in PM&R? All PM&R specialists must complete medical school and receive an M.D. or D.O. degree. Postgraduate training includes one year of an accredited internship in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, surgery or a “transitional” internship. After completion of the internship, PM&R physicians must complete a residency of an additional three years consisting of specific training in PM&R. To be "Board Certified" in PM&R, one must pass both written and oral Board Examinations administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation after the completion of an accredited residency program.

6. How do I obtain a residency position in PM&R? Most programs now participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP, or “The Match”). It is strongly suggested that students interested in pursuing PM&R as a specialty perform a rotation in PM&R, preferably in the beginning of their senior year. Since most programs begin in the PGY-2 year, you will need to obtain an internship separately, although there are certain residencies that include the internship in a four-year program. The “Match” process begins early in the senior year, with collecting information and applications from programs you are interested in. Applications are due in most programs in late fall. Information considered for deciding on a candidate’s qualifications include medical school grades, scores on national board exams, dean’s letter and letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, honors & awards, and the applicant’s personal statement, which is an essay describing why the applicant is interested in PM&R. Applicants who qualify are then invited for an interview. For the NRMP, applicants and programs submit a list ranking their first, second, and third choice, and so on. The results are announced on “Match Day” in the spring of senior year.

7. How do you determine which programs to apply to? How many programs should I apply to? The number of programs that an individual applies to is highly individual, and depends on the student’s grades, scores, and other qualifications. To answer this question, try to get advice from someone in the field or your academic advisor. The variables one must consider in determining which programs to apply to include desired geographic location, type of practice desired (academic vs. private practice), any particular specialized training desired (Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury, Musculoskeletal), salary, cost of living, quality and quantity of didactics, research opportunities, size of the program, faculty to resident ratio, performance of residents on PM&R boards, the personalities of the residents and attendings, and so on.

8. What is the average income of a physiatrist? In general, starting salaries vary depending on geographic location, but begin around $90,000 to as high as $180,000. Salaries in academic settings tend to be on the lower end of the scale. These compare well with other medical specialties.

9. What is the lifestyle of a physiatrist? Compared to other medical specialties, the lifestyle of PM&R is excellent. Because of the nature of the problems the patients have, “call” is not as intrusive as other specialties. Many physiatrists have found that they are able to practice “part time,” while caring for their family, etc. Conversely, many physiatrists spend long hours providing patient care. Of course, the demands of a practice will vary from location to location. Overall, the quality of life of a physiatrist is excellent.

Contact information

For more information about PM&R as a specialty, or about VCU’s residency training program, please feel free to contact:

William McKinley, M.D.
E-mail: wmckinle@hsc.vcu.edu
Phone: (804) 828-4233
Fax: (804) 828-5074