I (Mostly) Matched!

This post is bitter-sweet to write. This morning I learned that I matched and get to find out where this Friday!

But I’m not going into PM&R.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved my rotations this Fall. The role of a rehab physician is one that is so underappreciated and underutilized in our modern medical system.

But it wasn’t for me. I quickly grew bored in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Seeing only musculoskeletal problems made me nervous about my comfort in caring for anything that happens.

As a medic, I place a higher value than I expected on the skills and role of the emergency physician. I don’t want to be caught unable to handle anything patients throw at me (at least the first hour or two). I like thinking about and caring for a little bit of everything, and I feared that PM&R would make me uncomfortable with common complaints.

And so, I only applied to intern programs. I only have a scheduled job for the next 12 months. Next year, I’ll re-apply to Emergency Medicine. While it’s hard to not go directly into it this year, I’ll be a better doctor, and I will no longer have doubt about whether or not I should go somewhere else for the rest of my career.

So here’s to Match Week. See you all on the other side.