I always knew I wanted to help people. I entered college with the goal of doing basic science research and I spent my entire college time working towards that goal.

Eventually, I decided that while I understood the tremendous impact one can have by pursuing a career in clinical or basic science research, I did not want to have a job where I did not have regular contact with the people I was helping. I switched to medicine even if that meant that over the course of a career, I would reach less people through medicine than through research.

PM&R is about helping people in ways that matter to those people or in ways that affect their lives in tangible ways.

It’s about quality of life and function and pain and so many wonderfully important things.

Anyone who gets to learn more about PM&R can see that our patients, especially those with disabilities, face structural inequities. In this sense, PM&R is all about equity.

Our field can do a better job of reflecting the population we treat. I always say that I want my program to reflect the great diversity that exists in NYC. I hope that by consciously promoting diversity efforts and encouraging a culture of equity, then diversity, equity and inclusion follow.

I should note that there are many great physiatrists out there putting pen to paper. I have been privileged to work with Dr. Julie Silver and Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, in particular, who publish a lot on this topic.

I have been turned down or away at several steps along the way. For example, I didn’t get many interview offers for medical school. It felt like a miracle that I got into medical school at all. After residency and before I settled into my faculty position at Mount Sinai, I was not chosen for several positions.

Repeated failure for high achieving individuals (basically anyone in medicine) can cause doubt for sure. I think it’s important to know that we all have those moments.

They are not failures and don’t speak to the quality of person you are and will be. I will also add, and it’s a bit tongue in cheek, that even if I wanted to get out of medicine, I couldn’t due to the huge amount of debt I acquired from college and medical school.

For myself, it’s simple. Help people.

Other titles have come along and I have gladly taken on new challenges, but I do not have a 5 and 10 year plan. I take every day as it comes.

For the field, I want us to be recognized as essential and indispensable. A big part of this involves contributing to the efforts our national organizations are pursuing to help PM&R be more visible and understood.

If you care about the visibility and future of the field, joining and being a part of one of these organizations (AAP and AAPM&R) is important.

@dr_escalon on twitter

@dr_escalon on instagram

Please don’t be scared to reach out to people within PM&R for guidance, questions and advice. We are a happy and helpful bunch by nature.

INTERVIEWS

Dr. Miguel Escalon discusses the Rehabilitation Care Continuum and PM&R BOLD

Disparities in Health Care for Black Patients in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in the U.S.

RESEARCH

Link to pubmed articles