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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician

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AVG. SALARY

$223,920

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EDUCATION

First professional degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

Interviews

Insider Info

If the worse thing you can say about your career is that it's not really well known, chances are you lucked into the ideal career for you.

That's the case for Dr. Jennifer Yao. She's a physiatrist (a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor). She has a healthy outlook on her chosen field.

"In truth, there is really very little that I would consider a downside in this career. The only difficulty that I have observed and experienced is that because physiatry is not well known, many people (lay and medical) do not fully understand our role.

"Physiatry is not a 'sexy' specialty and some do not even realize that we are real medical doctors. It takes time and experience for the young physiatrist to gain enough personal confidence and comfort in the field to develop his or her identity as a physiatrist."

Dr. Timothy Doherty is also a physiatrist. He loves his chosen field too, but admits the challenges can be difficult.

"We deal with a lot of people with pretty nasty, devastating illnesses. Probably the biggest downside is you're constantly dealing with people who have experienced often pretty serious illnesses and loss. And at times that can be draining and overwhelming."

Physiatry may not roll off any tongues, or easily spring to a patient's and traditional doctor's mind as a possible solution to a range of health issues. But for those who find their way to a physiatrist, the rewards can be great -- for both the patient and the physiatrist.

Dr. Doherty explains, "You kind of step back and say this [injury or illness] has happened and it's going to continue to happen. The goal is to say, 'let's look after that problem to the best of your ability'. So even though there's a downside, there's a challenge and reward eventually."

Dr. Doherty continues with this telling example. "You might initially see someone who's quadriplegic. And then over the course of two or three months, you see them gradually recover, and you facilitate them actually getting home. Maybe it's with a walker. Maybe it's with a cane. Maybe they're still using a wheelchair.

"But it's rewarding to seem them rejoin their families; rejoin life. And it's really rewarding knowing that you've taken part in helping them accomplish that."

What type of person is drawn to such challenges? People like Dr. Yao. She says she was drawn to physiatry for its human appeal and its varied pace. "Ultimately, I enjoy working in the interdisciplinary setting that is found in physiatry and I was attracted to the diversity of the field."

Dr. Doherty was attracted to the notion of going beyond only pinpointing a patient's underlying problem. "I also have interest in, and find it rewarding to look after a little more of the whole patient. By this I mean you not only look after the initial problem but you also help facilitate the person returning to work, or their return home to live with their families."

He cites the example of a 17-year-old car accident victim. "It's a spinal cord-injured patient and you're dealing with not only the [physical] impairments they have...but also the emotional and psychological burden. And a lot of people who are physiatrists actually find it rewarding to look after all those aspects of the patient.

"I think that's what draws a lot of us to the field. It's not a kind of hurry-up-and-let's-get-this-problem-diagnosed area of medicine."

Generally, the relationship between patient and physiatrist doesn't end when the patient is discharged from hospital or a rehabilitation program.

"We often look after people for long periods of time. So we develop relationships with the patient that we hope will allow them to do as much as they can within their families and communities as they can, given their underlying problem," says Dr. Doherty.

Patients may well be grateful and even in awe of their physiatrist's skills and devotion. But the same could be said of the physiatrist's feelings for their patients. Dr. Yao says the most gratifying part of her work is "the privilege of getting to know her patients."

She admits she's "fascinated by the individual stories that accompany each patient. And I look forward to the challenge of learning to work with the patient's particular circumstances.

"I have always viewed medicine as a service industry. Many of my patients have suffered great injuries and disabilities, yet they are able to find some inner strength to continue on with life. It is a life-affirming experience to be able to help them in that quest."

Dr. Paul Pannozzo of Peoria, Arizona echoes that sentiment. "The greatest satisfaction is treating a pain for a person and giving them their life back. It is extremely gratifying when a patient gives an honest 'thank you' for what you have provided them."

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