Integration of physical medicine and rehabilitation into a medical school curriculum - Musculoskeletal evaluation and rehabilitation

The issue of increasing awareness of the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation is a primary concern of physiatrists in both teaching hospi tals and private practice. Over the years, exposure to this specialty in me dical schools has decreased, although there is simultaneously an increasing awareness of the importance of providing adequate musculoskeletal educatio n for medical students. The authors describe one institution's success at i ntegrating musculoskeletal medicine education, along with exposure to patie nts with chronic disease and disability. Curriculum content and a unique mu sculoskeletal skills acquisition test are discussed. Increased exposure to the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation in medical school can introduce numerous benefits for both the specialty and musculoskeletal edu cation as a whole.