Physical medicine in medical curricula: training primary care physicians and students

The demonstrated need for the education of primary care physicians in the principles of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is not matched by the curricula of medical schools and primary care residency programs. This anomaly of medical education is discussed from the standpoint of the hindrances inherent in the medical professional as a whole and more specifically in PM&R itself. Several concepts are suggested to stimulate thought about how PM&R may change perceptions of the specialty. Increased general medical knowledge is an important element of the PM&R learning experience. The emphasis of medical education should be on the students' needs rather than those of the specialty.