Bringing rehabilitation medicine to light: Preliminary outcomes of a novel multi-institutional workshop for high school students.

Abstract

Awareness of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) is limited among students, contributing to underrepresentation in the field. Underrepresentation can be tackled through early exposure, which has shown promise as early as high school in inspiring future physicians. To develop a structured, multi-institutional half-day workshop to introduce high school students to PM&R, highlighting innovative technologies and approaches. The workshop involved collaboration between physicians, medical students, and premedical students from New York City. The curriculum included lectures on PM&R, discussion about virtual reality, and hands-on activities like ultrasound training, yoga, medical device design, and networking with doctors and students. Multi-institutional. High school students. Half-day workshop. Baseline knowledge of PM&R, demographics, learning environment, and workshop learning objectives post workshop and at 3-month follow-up. Seventy-nine students attended the workshop and 69 students completed the preworkshop survey, with 65% self-identifying as female. Most participants (71%) belonged to an underrepresented racial minority group and/or were prospective first-generation medical students. None had prior experience shadowing or being mentored by a PM&R physician. Postworkshop results (n = 63) indicate a significant increase in the appreciation of virtual reality in medicine, yoga as rehab, the importance of continuity of care, and overall understanding of PM&R and the physiatrists' role (p < .05). Three-month follow-up (n = 23) demonstrates sustained outcomes and no significant differences in metrics such as interest in medicine and PM&R (p > .05). This workshop is the first to provide structured mentorship and lectures to high school students within PM&R, highlighting innovative technologies and approaches. The curriculum was well received by students and successfully promoted awareness and interest in PM&R, both short and long-term. The results could inspire other programs and specialties to adapt the workshop curriculum.