Academic productivity in physical medicine and rehabilitation

Academic productivity of faculty members in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) was evaluated retrospectively by using the numbers of scientific publications as a measurement instrument. This study was completed by examining ten medical peer-reviewed journals that regularly included original articles in the specialty area of PM&R during the years 1988 through 1990. The number of articles was weighted according to the specific journal's impact on the Science Citation Index. Academic productivity of physiatric departments showed wide variation. Ten units published at least 20 articles during the 3-yr period. Eight departments achieved a ratio of at least one article per faculty member based on reports from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Further study will be needed to assess the factors underlying these wide variations in departments' productivity.