The US Academic Physiatric Footprint: The Types and Names of PM&R Departments: The US Academic Physiatric Footprint

Significant physiatric workforce disparities exist across the United States (US), linked to regional presence of academic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) departments. This analysis provides an updated catalogue of PM&R departments and divisions at US medical schools to appraise growth trends, geographic distribution, and naming variability. Findings reveal regional differences. The Northeast has the highest concentration of PM&R academic entities, with 74.1% of medical schools having a PM&R affiliation, compared to only 32.1% in the South, 38.5% in the West, and 54.2% in the Central region. Likewise, since 2018, PM&R's academic growth has failed to match the pace of new medical school creation in all regions but the Northeast, despite creation of new PM&R departments or divisions in all but one region. Additionally, PM&R departmental and divisional names were noted to be variable. While most entities were named "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation," others employed names such as "Rehabilitation Medicine," "Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine," and "Rehabilitation and Human Performance." Overall, persistent geographic disparities in academic physiatry are seen with PM&R's growth failing to match the pace of medical school growth, likely propagating workforce disparities. It is unclear if the name variability undermines the mission, public perception, or academic value of PM&R.