Challenges and Opportunities in Academic Physiatry

Abstract

Environmental scans determine trends in an organization's or field's internal and external environment. The results can help shape goals, inform strategic decision making, and direct future actions. The Association of Academic Physiatrists convened a strategic planning group in 2020, composed of physiatrists representing a diversity of professional roles, career stages, race and ethnicity, gender, disability status, and geographic areas of practice. This strategic planning group performed an environmental scan to assess the forces, trends, challenges, and opportunities affecting both the Association of Academic Physiatrists and the entire field of academic physiatry (also known as physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical and rehabilitation medicine, and rehabilitation medicine). This article presents aspects of the environmental scan thought to be most pertinent to the field of academic physiatry organized within the following five themes: (1) Macro/Societal Trends, (2) Technological Advancements, (3) Diversity and Global Outreach, (4) Economy, and (5) Education/Learning Environment. The challenges and opportunities presented here can provide a roadmap for the field to thrive within the complex and evolving healthcare systems in the United States and globally.

The Presence of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Across Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis

“…For example, an environmental scan conducted by the Association of Academic Physiatrists concluded that many creative recruiting strategies are imperative to sustaining the workforce of committed physiatrists of excellent quality. 1 Many who graduate from medical school have yet to hear of PM&R, and very few find their way to the field. The Association of Academic Physiatrists observed that compared with other specialties, these few graduates entering physiatry "are less racially and ethnically diverse."…”

“…The Association of Academic Physiatrists observed that compared with other specialties, these few graduates entering physiatry "are less racially and ethnically diverse." 1 Currently, in the United States, there is an evident lack of medical schools that require a PM&R rotation and many that lack an adequate rehabilitation education curriculum. 2 A survey of 2067 medical students similarly found that of those that discover the field before graduation, underrepresented minorities are far less likely to be present.…”

“…National physiatric organizations seek to use broad strategies, including social media campaigns, to distribute information about rehabilitation medicine to all and increase knowledge of the field. 1 To understand the exposure to physiatry one might have by searching the topic on social media, we assessed how PM&R is depicted and interacted with across three popular platforms. We conducted this assessment on the social media platforms of Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.…”

“…Substantial efforts have been made to remedy this situation and advocate for the profession. For example, an environmental scan conducted by the Association of Academic Physiatrists concluded that many creative recruiting strategies are imperative to sustaining the workforce of committed physiatrists of excellent quality 1 . Many who graduate from medical school have yet to hear of PM&R, and very few find their way to the field.…”

“…Many who graduate from medical school have yet to hear of PM&R, and very few find their way to the field. The Association of Academic Physiatrists observed that compared with other specialties, these few graduates entering physiatry “are less racially and ethnically diverse.” 1 …”