Undergraduate instruction in physical medicine and rehabilitation

The New York Medical College core curriculum includes a 1-week compulsory course in rehabilitation medicine in the student's senior year. The most common disabilities seen in rehabilitation medicine are discussed. The presentations consist of didactic lectures and patient demonstrations. The program which has evolved over the past 10 years has proved to be successful and has gained recognition from the school and students alike. Instructors teach topics of special interest to them and in which they have particular expertise. A written examination is given at the end of the course. Students also complete an extensive questionnaire which attempts to evaluate the course, compare it with the other rotations, and point out any changes in their attitudes. Of the 103 students who responded to the questionnaire, 75 indicated they achieved a better understanding of physical disability after the coarse, and 32 reported an improved attitude toward disability and improved perception of the field of rehabilitation medicine. Earlier exposure could have influenced the student's choice of a specialty. We believe that we have been allocated adequate time for effective presentation of the basic principles in rehabilitation medicine. However, crucial to attracting young students into the field is rotation through rehabilitation medicine early in their medical training.