From Interest to Impact: Early Outreach’s Role in Bridging the Gender Gap in PM&R Among Pre-Medical Students

Background and/or Objectives: Women are underrepresented in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), comprising only 36%-39% of residents versus 47%-48% in other specialties. This disparity limits diverse perspectives in patient care, particularly for conditions like chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders. While early exposure boosts interest in other specialties, its impact on PM&R recruitment among female pre-medical students remains underexplored. This study examines their perceptions of PM&R and identifies strategies to enhance awareness and engagement.

Design: To evaluate female pre-medical students' perceptions of PM&R and identify effective early intervention strategies to boost awareness and interest in the field.

Setting : A cross-sectional study utilizing an anonymous national survey distributed to female pre-medical students in the United States.

Participants : Online survey data collected via outreach to pre-health advisors, professional organizations, and student-led groups across undergraduate institutions.

Interventions: The study surveyed 870 female-identifying pre-medical students aged 18-35, representing 198 colleges across 40 U.S. states and territories.

Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes included PM&R familiarity, barriers to medical school, specialty interest, and strategies to boost PM&R engagement.

Results: Only 30.61% of respondents were familiar with PM&R. The most common sources of exposure were social media (42.62%) and personal connections (31.15%), while only 9.02% had shadowed a PM&R physician. Financial concerns (68.66%) and lack of mentorship (60.11%) were the most significant barriers to entering PM&R. However, interest in PM&R significantly increased with structured mentorship, hands-on workshops (76.63%), and shadowing opportunities (81.81%). Additionally, 62.77% of respondents expressed interest in a “Women in PM&R” workshop, highlighting the demand for gender-specific programming. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to improve awareness and engagement.

Conclusions: Early exposure, mentorship, and financial support can help reduce gender disparities in PM&R. Expanding outreach, integrating PM&R into pre-med education, and promoting gender-specific programs can enhance recruitment and retention. Building mentorship networks and financial support systems is key to fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce.