BrooklynDO,
Thus far, I finished a PM&R elective at JFK Johnson Rehab in Edison, NJ. I loved this rotation and it confirmed that I want to go into PM&R. I spent 2 weeks at the Brain Trauma Unit. The program has an excellent TBI model system. I learned a lot from Dr. Malone, DO at the BTU. The rest of time was outpatient clinic, Prosthetics and Orthotics, wheelchair, pain management. This is an excellent student rotation. JFK has the nicest people and I felt at home at this hospital. It definitely has no inferiority complex to Kessler. It is a solid residency program. 100% board pass rate. The program director, Sarah Cuccurulo, has just written the board review book for PM&R. The residents have landed prestigious fellowships in fields like pain management. They really get you to enjoy your PM&R experience.
Currently, I am at NYU Rusk Institute. Contrary to common opinions about this program, I actually like this rotation. You definitely work harder, especially at PGY2 level. Rusk is a huge rehab hospital (about 170 beds) and unfortunately you do overnight calls as a resident by yourself. It does get better after PGY2. There is a high volume of patients at both Rusk and Bellevue. As a student, I do inpatient morning rounds at Rusk and outpatient clinic at Bellevue, as well as Cardiac Rehab and MDA. I think Bellevue is where the real patients are at (e.g. the underserved, uninsured, etc.). Working mainly with the attending, Dr. Moroz, is awesome. He is a very personable guy and really knows his stuff. He does an awesome every Wednesday morning with physical exam rounds. Today, we did a hands-on musculoskeletal examination of the knee. There is a lot of NYCOM alumni that you feel very welcome. Dr. Thistle, the program director, is a pleasant guy to talk with. I look forward to have my interview with him at the end of the rotation. Honestly, the facilities at Rusk look old compared many PM&R programs. Everybody is very nice despite having a busy work environment.
I heard that Mt. Sinai is okay but little overrated. SCI is very good over there. The Manhattan programs tend to be longer work hours compared to out-of-state programs. St. Vincent's is a tiny program that is narrow in that they gear resident's toward outpatient musculoskeletal. I've met students in my NYU PM&R rotation that have rotated at Einstein-Montefiore. The workload is the same as most NYC PM&R program. The program is not that bad. You may like the Montefiore program as long as you like living in the Bronx. Cornell-Columbia seems to be an up and coming program that will soon be the best in NYC besides Kessler. Overall, the NYC (New York) programs are okay but probably ranks lower than programs in Philly, NJ, and Chicago.
This is very important, most of the NYC programs tend to take residents who have done a medical student rotation at that hospital. Pick very carefully where you imagine going. NYU definitely overwhelmingly favor students who have rotated there. I would avoid NUMC or any LI PM&R program. The programs there are weak and unstable.
I'm sure that an OMM fellowship may be nice to have for PM&R. Eventually, I also want to do sports medicine (with maybe TBI or pain management also) and use my OMM skills in practice. PM&R is maybe the only specialty where OMM fellows match well (2 of them landed Spaulding). However, the OMM fellowship is not necessary. As someone who is not a fellow, I have already received 7 interviews (4 out-state, 3 in NY). Thus, I wouldn't worry about the fellowship.
PM me if you have more questions.
. Also, again there have been talks that NUMC may shut down (In reality, since it's a county hospital it cannot) or reduce the number of residency positions. I hated my 3rd year rotations at NUMC because the hospital is a huge mess.
