Ultimate CV Building Guide for DO Graduates in PM&R Residency

Crafting a strong, strategic CV is one of the most controllable parts of your PM&R residency application. As a DO graduate, your CV is not just a list of activities—it’s a narrative that says, “I understand physiatry, I’ve prepared intentionally, and I’ll bring value to your team from day one.”

Below is a comprehensive guide to CV building specifically for DO graduates applying to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. You’ll find structure, examples, and residency CV tips tailored to the physiatry match.

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Understanding the Role of the CV in the Physiatry Match

Your CV is not the same as your ERAS application, but the two must work together. Think of the CV as:

• A professional snapshot of your training, skills, and trajectory
• A document you will email to programs, mentors, and letter writers
• A living record that extends beyond the osteopathic residency match into fellowship and early career

In PM&R, programs care deeply about:

• Longitudinal commitment to the field
• Experience with interdisciplinary teams (PT, OT, SLP, neuropsychology)
• Exposure to disability, function, and quality-of-life–centered care
• Demonstrated compassion, communication, and adaptability

Your CV should make it easy for a program director or faculty member to see those qualities quickly.

For a DO graduate, the CV is also your chance to:

• Highlight osteopathic training and philosophy as a strength
• Show how OMM/OMT experience can complement musculoskeletal, pain, and neurorehabilitation care
• Demonstrate that you’ve actively engaged with both osteopathic and allopathic worlds

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Core Structure: How to Build a CV for Residency in PM&R

There is no single “correct” format, but residency CVs tend to follow a predictable, professional structure. Here’s a recommended outline tailored to PM&R:

1. Contact Information
2. Education & Training
3. USMLE/COMLEX and Licensure
4. Clinical Experience
5. Research & Publications
6. Presentations & Posters
7. Leadership & Service
8. Honors & Awards
9. Teaching & Mentoring
10. Professional Memberships
11. Skills & Certifications
12. Interests (brief, curated)

Let’s walk through each section with residency CV tips and PM&R-specific examples.

1. Contact Information

Keep this simple and professional at the top of your CV:

• Full name (as used on your application)
• Professional email address
• Cell phone number
• City, State (you don’t need full address)
• LinkedIn (optional but increasingly common, ensure it’s polished)

Avoid photos, personal data (age, marital status), or anything that could introduce bias.

2. Education & Training

List in reverse chronological order:

• DO degree
• Undergraduate degree
• Additional degrees (MPH, MS, PhD, MBA, etc.)

Example:

Education
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Lakeview College of Osteopathic Medicine
2019–2023, Erie, PA

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, University of Michigan
2015–2019, Ann Arbor, MI

If you completed a transitional year, prelim year, or rotating internship (for a DO graduate applying after a gap or reapplication), include that under a subheading like Postgraduate Training.

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Highlighting Your DO Identity and Clinical Strength in PM&R

3. Exams and Licensure

For a DO graduate residency CV, list:

• COMLEX Level 1, 2 CE, 2 PE (if applicable), 3 (if taken)
• USMLE Step scores if you took them
• States where you hold any limited/temporary licenses

Example:

Licensure & Board Examinations
COMLEX-USA Level 1 – Passed, May 2021
COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE – 585, June 2022
COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE – Passed, August 2022
USMLE Step 1 – 222, June 2021
Michigan Educational Limited License – Active (2023–present)

You do not need to list failed attempts. That will be apparent in other application materials if relevant, but the CV should remain clean and forward-looking.

4. Clinical Experience: Making PM&R-Relevant Rotations Stand Out

This is where you can differentiate yourself as a future physiatrist.

A. Core Clinical Rotations

You don’t need to list every single core rotation unless you’re early in training. For a DO graduate, group them:

Core Clinical Rotations – DO Training
Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Neurology, Emergency Medicine (2019–2021)

If you had particularly meaningful experiences in neurology, orthopedics, or pain that influenced your interest in PM&R, you may briefly highlight them with bullet points.

B. PM&R and Related Electives

This is critical for the physiatry match. Create a dedicated subsection:

PM&R and Related Electives
Inpatient Rehabilitation – University Rehabilitation Hospital, City, State
Sub-intern, PM&R Service (08–09/2022)

• Managed 8–10 patients daily with stroke, SCI, TBI, and polytrauma under attending supervision
• Co-led family meetings focusing on functional goals and disposition planning
• Collaborated with PT/OT/SLP to create interdisciplinary care plans

Sports & Musculoskeletal Medicine – Osteopathic Sports Clinic, City, State (06–07/2022)

• Performed joint exams, ultrasound-guided injections under supervision
• Utilized OMT techniques in management of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions

You can also include electives in:

• Neurology
• Pain management
• Orthopedic surgery
• Rheumatology
• Geriatrics or palliative care

These all speak to PM&R’s broad scope.

C. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM/OMT) Experience

As a DO graduate, you have a built-in advantage in musculoskeletal and holistic care. Dedicate a short section:

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Experience

• OMM Fellow, Department of Osteopathic Principles & Practice (2021–2022)
• Weekly continuity OMM clinic focusing on chronic low back pain, neck pain, and headache
• Developed teaching workshop on safe OMT techniques in post-operative patients

Frame this as directly relevant to musculoskeletal and pain aspects of PM&R rather than as a separate, unrelated interest.

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Research, Presentations, and Scholarship in Physiatry

Programs don’t expect every DO graduate to have multiple first-author PM&R publications, but demonstrating curiosity, follow-through, and some scholarly activity is highly valued.

5. Research & Publications

Organize into clear subsections:

• Peer-reviewed publications
• Non–peer-reviewed articles
• Abstracts / in-progress manuscripts (clearly labeled)

Format consistently, typically using a standard citation style (e.g., AMA). Example:

Peer-Reviewed Publications
Patel A, Smith J, Lee R. Outcomes of early mobilization in ICU patients following severe TBI: A retrospective cohort study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023;104(2):123–130.

In Preparation / Submitted
Smith J, Patel A, Chen L. Impact of virtual reality on upper extremity motor recovery post-stroke: A systematic review. Manuscript in preparation.

If your work is not in PM&R but in, say, primary care, orthopedics, or neurology, it still has value—frame it in terms of patient function, outcomes, or interdisciplinary care where possible.

6. Presentations & Posters

These are highly relevant to your growth as a resident who can communicate and teach.

Presentations & Posters
Smith J, Patel A. “Understanding Functional Goals in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Patient-Centered Approach.” Oral presentation at State Osteopathic Association Annual Meeting, May 2022.

Smith J, Lopez M. “Utilizing OMT in Chronic Low Back Pain: Outcomes in an Underserved Population.” Poster presented at American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, Nashville, TN, November 2023.

If you have a PM&R or physiatry-focused presentation, move it higher in the section to emphasize relevance.

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Leadership, Service, and PM&R-Relevant Experiences

Physiatry is a team-based, patient-centered specialty. Your CV should highlight ways you’ve already practiced those skills.

7. Leadership & Service

This is where DO graduates often underestimate themselves. Leadership and service can include:

• Class officer roles
• Student government
• PM&R or OMM club leadership
• Free clinic roles
• Community disability advocacy

Example:

Leadership & Service
President, PM&R Interest Group, Lakeview College of Osteopathic Medicine (2021–2022)

• Organized 6 faculty talks and 2 hands-on ultrasound workshops
• Coordinated 4 student shadowing opportunities with local physiatrists

Volunteer, Adaptive Sports Program, City Recreation Center (2020–2022)

• Assisted wheelchair basketball league and adaptive rock-climbing events
• Educated participants on injury prevention and safe equipment use

Experiences with adaptive sports, spinal cord injury support groups, stroke survivor groups, or rehab units are particularly powerful for a PM&R residency CV.

8. Honors & Awards

Include academic, clinical, and service-based awards:

Honors & Awards
Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor Society, Inducted 2021
Excellence in Neurology Clerkship Award, 2022
Community Service Recognition – Free Clinic, 2020

This section helps validate your performance and dedication in a concise way.

9. Teaching & Mentoring

Physiatrists constantly teach: patients, families, students, and interdisciplinary team members. Showcase early evidence of this:

Teaching & Mentoring
OMM Small-Group Tutor (2020–2021)

• Led weekly sessions for first-year DO students to reinforce OMT techniques

Peer Mentor, Medical Student Success Program (2019–2020)

• Coached two first-year students on time management and board preparation strategies

Programs will see you as someone who can contribute to resident education and future medical student teaching.

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Skills, Certifications, and Interests That Strengthen a PM&R CV

10. Professional Memberships

Being plugged into your field signals real commitment.

Professional Memberships
American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), Student Member (2021–present)
Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP), Student Member (2022–present)
American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Member (2019–present)

Include osteopathic specialty societies if applicable, but emphasize PM&R organizations prominently.

11. Skills & Certifications

This is often mishandled—avoid long generic lists. Focus on meaningful, verifiable skills:

• Basic Life Support (BLS), ACLS
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound (with notes like “introductory workshop completion”)
• Basic Spanish/another language, especially if used clinically
• Experience with a specific EMR if extensive (e.g., Epic, Cerner)
• Data skills if relevant (e.g., SPSS, R, RedCap)

Example:

Skills & Certifications

• BLS and ACLS, American Heart Association – Current through 2025
• Basic conversational Spanish; used in outpatient clinic settings
• Experience using Epic and Cerner EMR systems
• Introductory proficiency in musculoskeletal ultrasound (20+ supervised scans)

PM&R is very communication- and procedure-oriented, so language ability, teamwork skills, and procedural comfort are all valuable.

12. Interests (Brief but Strategic)

Programs read this section, especially in PM&R where fit and personality matter. Keep it:

• Professional yet human
• Specific, not generic
• Occasionally linked to PM&R themes (e.g., adaptive sports, music and motor recovery)

Example:

Interests
Adaptive sports (volunteer with local wheelchair basketball league), distance running, classical piano, medical education podcasts.

Avoid controversial topics or anything that might overshadow the rest of your application.

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Residency CV Tips: Strategy, Style, and Common Mistakes for DO Graduates

1. Align Your CV with Your PM&R Narrative

Everything on your CV should fit a coherent story: “I am a DO graduate who understands function, disability, and team-based care, and I’ve actively pursued experiences that prepare me for physiatry.”

Ask yourself:

• Does my CV make it clear why I chose PM&R?
• Can a reader see consistent exposure to rehab, neurology, musculoskeletal medicine, and disability?
• Does my osteopathic background appear as a strength and not just a credential?

2. Tailor Without Rewriting From Scratch

You don’t need totally different CVs for every program, but you may slightly emphasize different experiences when emailing mentors vs. fellowship directors later.

For the osteopathic residency match in PM&R:

• Keep PM&R electives, OMT, and rehab-related service high on the document
• De-emphasize unrelated experiences (e.g., a short business internship) or move them down

3. Keep It Clean, Consistent, and Readable

Formatting is content. Use:

• One clear font family (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Times)
• Bold for section headings
• Consistent date formats (e.g., 08/2021–06/2022 or Aug 2021–Jun 2022, but not both)
• Bullet points that start with a strong verb: Led, Managed, Collaborated, Developed, Presented

Avoid:

• Crowded margins and tiny font
• Paragraph-style descriptions (bullets are easier to scan)
• Overly flowery language or subjective adjectives (“Excellent communicator”)—let your roles and activities imply that.

4. Be Honest and Verifiable

Everything you include should:

• Be something you can discuss comfortably in an interview
• Match what your letter writers and mentors might say
• Be verifiable if someone called a supervisor

Inflated roles (e.g., calling yourself “Principal Investigator” on a med school project you helped with) can damage credibility.

5. Address Gaps or Nontraditional Paths Strategically

Many DO graduates entering PM&R are nontraditional or have taken:

• Research years
• OMV/OMM fellowships
• Preliminary or transitional years in other specialties
• Time off for health, family, or other reasons

Your CV should chronologically show what you did in each period. Explanations belong more in your personal statement or interview, but you must avoid unexplained blank time spans.

Example:

Clinical Experience
Preliminary Internal Medicine Year, XYZ Hospital (2023–2024)

• Rotations in general medicine, neurology, and intensive care with strong emphasis on functional outcomes and discharge planning

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Bringing It All Together: Example Snapshot for a DO Graduate PM&R Applicant

Below is a condensed illustration of how pieces might fit (not a full CV, but a structural example):

John A. Smith, DO
Email | Phone | City, State | LinkedIn URL

Education
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Lakeview College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2019–2023
B.S. in Kinesiology, University of Michigan, 2015–2019

Licensure & Board Examinations
COMLEX-USA Level 1 – Passed (05/2021)
COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE – 585 (06/2022)
COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE – Passed (08/2022)

Clinical Experience
Sub-Intern, Inpatient Rehabilitation, University Rehabilitation Hospital, 08–09/2022

• Managed 8–10 patients daily with stroke, SCI, and TBI
• Participated in weekly spasticity and baclofen pump clinics

OMM Fellow, Department of OPP, Lakeview College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2021–2022

• Weekly OMM clinic with focus on chronic pain management

Research & Publications
Smith J, Patel A. “Functional Outcomes After Early Mobilization in Stroke Rehab.” In preparation.
Poster: Smith J, Lopez M. “OMT in Chronic Low Back Pain in an Underserved Clinic.” AAPM&R Annual Assembly, 11/2023.

Leadership & Service
President, PM&R Interest Group, 2021–2022
Volunteer, Adaptive Sports Program, City Recreation Center, 2020–2022

Professional Memberships
AAPM&R, AAP, AOA

Skills & Certifications
BLS/ACLS (current), introductory musculoskeletal ultrasound, conversational Spanish

Interests
Adaptive sports, distance running, classical piano

This example integrates DO identity, PM&R exposure, and a clear interest in function and disability—exactly the message you want your CV to send.

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FAQs: CV Building for DO Graduate in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

1. How is a CV different from my ERAS application?

Your ERAS application is standardized and structured by the platform; your CV is a flexible, professional document you control completely. ERAS is what programs must see; your CV is:

• What you send to mentors and potential letter writers
• What some programs may request by email
• A foundation you’ll refine for fellowship applications and job searches

They should be consistent, but your CV can show structure, emphasis, and detail in ways ERAS cannot.

2. How long should my residency CV be as a DO graduate?

For most DO graduates applying to a PM&R residency, 2–4 pages is typical and acceptable. The key is quality and clarity, not page count. If you have significant research, prior careers, or a transitional year, it may reasonably run longer. Avoid padding—only include entries that add real value.

3. Do I need PM&R-specific research to match into a PM&R residency?

PM&R-specific research is helpful but not mandatory. Programs know not every medical school has robust physiatry departments. What matters more is:

• Any research that shows scholarly curiosity and follow-through
• Activities that can connect logically to PM&R (e.g., neurology, orthopedics, primary care outcomes, disability-related work)
• Willingness to learn and engage in future QI or research projects

If you do have even small physiatry-related projects (case reports, posters), feature them prominently.

4. How should I list osteopathic experiences (OMM/OMT) on my PM&R CV?

Treat OMM/OMT as a clinical and educational strength, not a side hobby:

• Include OMM fellowship or advanced training under Clinical Experience or a separate OMM Experience section.
• Highlight how you applied OMT in managing musculoskeletal pain, posture, and functional limitations.
• If you presented on OMT, list those in your Presentations section.

Programs increasingly appreciate the synergy between OMM and PM&R’s focus on function, pain, and holistic care—your CV should make this connection clear.

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A thoughtfully crafted CV will not win the physiatry match on its own, but it can significantly strengthen every other part of your application—letters, personal statement, and interviews—by presenting a clear, compelling picture of you as a future physiatrist. As a DO graduate, lean into your strengths in holistic care, musculoskeletal medicine, and patient-centered thinking, and let your CV tell that story with clarity and confidence.