Essential Questions for DO Graduates Pursuing PM&R Residency Success

As a DO graduate applying to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), the questions you ask programs can powerfully shape how you are perceived—and how well you understand whether a program is right for you. Strong, insightful questions show curiosity, maturity, and a genuine interest in physiatry. They also help you uncover critical details that aren’t obvious from a website, brochure, or social media.

This guide is designed specifically for the DO graduate headed into the physiatry match. You’ll find structured, high‑yield question lists for each part of the interview day, including specific angles relevant to osteopathic training, plus tips on how to prioritize what to ask and how to interpret answers.

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Understanding Your Goals as a DO Graduate in PM&R

Before you can decide what to ask residency programs, you need to be clear on what you’re looking for. As a DO graduate, you bring unique strengths—and sometimes face specific questions about the osteopathic residency match and how DOs are integrated into programs.

Think about your priorities across a few domains:

• Training quality and scope

  • Breadth of inpatient vs. outpatient exposure
  • Interventional procedures vs. EMG vs. musculoskeletal ultrasound
  • Exposure to a wide range of diagnoses (SCI, TBI, stroke, MSK, pediatric rehab, pain, etc.)

• Osteopathic culture and support

  • Presence of DO faculty and leadership
  • Support for OMT/OMM use in clinical care
  • Program’s track record of DO graduate residency success

• Career trajectory

  • Fellowship opportunities (interventional pain, sports, SCI, TBI, etc.)
  • Academic vs. community practice exposure
  • Board pass rates and job placement

• Fit and well‑being

  • Call structure and workload
  • Resident culture and psychological safety
  • Geography, cost of living, family needs

Write down your top 3–5 priorities before interview season. This will help you tailor questions to differentiate programs that look similar on paper.

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Core Principles: How to Ask Strong Questions

Not all questions are equal. The best questions to ask residency programs:

1. Cannot be answered from the website
   Avoid: “How many residents do you have?” or “What are your rotations?”
   Instead ask about how those structures feel and function in practice.

2. Invite specific, concrete examples
   Good: “Can you describe a recent change the program made based on resident feedback?”
   This yields more insight than: “Do you listen to resident feedback?”

3. Demonstrate that you’ve done your homework
   Reference their clinical sites, unique tracks, or research areas.

4. Are tailored to the person you’re speaking with

   • Residents: ask about culture, workload, lived experience.
   • Program director: ask about vision, outcomes, and expectations.
   • Faculty: ask about teaching, mentorship, and clinical opportunities.
   • Coordinators: ask about logistics and support systems.

5. Reflect your identity as a DO graduate
   Subtly highlight your osteopathic background and interest in whole‑person care and function, without turning every question into “Is this OK for DOs?”

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High-Yield Questions for Program Leadership (Program Director & APDs)

When you think about what to ask program director during a PM&R interview, focus on their vision, outcomes, and how they support residents—especially DO grads.

Program Vision, Training Philosophy, and DO Integration

• “How would you describe the overall training philosophy of this PM&R residency, and how has it evolved in the last few years?”
• “As a DO graduate, I value a holistic view of function. How does your program incorporate whole‑person care and interprofessional collaboration into daily practice?”
• “Can you share how DO graduates have historically performed and progressed in your program? What strengths do you typically see DOs bringing to PM&R training here?”
• “What changes do you anticipate in the next 3–5 years for the program or institution—new rotations, clinical sites, or service lines that will impact resident education?”

These questions highlight your osteopathic background and invite them to show they value DOs in the osteopathic residency match landscape.

Clinical Training, Rotations, and Procedural Exposure

For a PM&R residency, you want clarity on inpatient/outpatient balance and procedural training.

• “How is the balance between inpatient and outpatient PM&R structured across the three or four years of training?”
• “What is the typical exposure to:
  • EMG/NCS
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound
  • Interventional spine procedures
  • Baclofen pump management and chemodenervation?”
• “Are there any areas where you feel residents have to work harder to get enough exposure—for example, certain procedures or subspecialty clinics—and how do residents successfully address that?”
• “How much autonomy do residents have in managing their clinics and shaping their patient panels as they advance through training?”

Look for answers that show thoughtful progression from supervision to graded independence.

Academic Performance, Board Prep, and Fellowship Outcomes

Your questions should help you understand how well the program sets you up for board certification and career success.

• “How do you support residents in preparing for the PM&R boards? Are there structured review sessions, dedicated didactic time, or funding for board review resources?”
• “What have your board pass rates been over the last 3–5 years?”
• “Where have recent graduates matched for fellowship or gone into practice, particularly in:
  • Interventional pain
  • Sports medicine
  • Brain injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Pediatric rehab?”
• “For residents interested in academic physiatry, what opportunities are there for teaching, curriculum development, or research?”

If they avoid or cannot answer board pass rates or placement, that’s a useful red flag.

Resident Support, Feedback, and Well‑Being

These questions help you see whether it’s a psychologically safe learning environment.

• “Can you give an example of a recent change you made in the program based on resident feedback?”
  (Follow-up: “How was that feedback collected?”)
• “How do you monitor for resident burnout, and what specific strategies or structural changes have you implemented to address it?”
• “Can you describe how you handle a resident who is struggling clinically or academically? What supports are available?”
• “What are your expectations for resident productivity in terms of notes, patient volume, and after-hours work?”

Clear structures and examples show they’ve thought about wellness beyond platitudes.

Program Structure, Call, and Workload

For PM&R, call structures vary widely across programs.

• “How is call structured—home vs. in‑house, frequency, and which services residents cover?”
• “What does a typical day look like on:
  • Inpatient rehab
  • Outpatient MSK clinic
  • Consult services?”
• “How often do residents stay late for documentation or clinical work? Are there systems in place to protect education time and limit after‑hours fatigue?”

Pay attention to whether their description of workload matches what residents later tell you.

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Questions for Residents: Culture, Reality, and “Fit”

Residents are your best source of unfiltered insight. This is where your interview questions for them can uncover the day‑to‑day reality that websites can’t show.

Culture, Mentorship, and How DOs Fit In

• “How would you describe the culture among residents—collaborative, competitive, laid‑back, intense?”
• “How supported do you feel by your co‑residents when work gets heavy or when personal issues arise?”
• “As a DO graduate, I’m curious how DOs are integrated here. Are there many DOs in the program or on faculty? Have you noticed any differences in how DO vs. MD grads are treated?”
• “Do you feel comfortable bringing up concerns to leadership, and do you see those concerns being addressed?”

You’re not just listening to the words—they’ll often signal tone, body language, and how safe they feel being honest.

Workload, Autonomy, and Education

• “On inpatient rehab rotations, what does your daily census typically look like, and how manageable does it feel?”
• “Do you feel you have the right level of autonomy? Are you ever put in situations where you feel unsafe or unsupported?”
• “How protected is your didactic time? Are you actually excused from clinical duties to attend, or do you get called away frequently?”
• “What types of procedures do you feel most comfortable with by graduation? Are there any you wish you had more exposure to?”

Compare your sense of their procedural comfort to your own career goals.

Resident Life, Location, and Support

• “Where do most residents live, and what is the commute like?”
• “Is the salary and benefits package adequate for the local cost of living?”
• “What do you and your co‑residents do for fun outside of work? Is there time to maintain hobbies, family responsibilities, or outside interests?”
• “Have there been any recent examples where the program supported a resident through illness, parental leave, or personal hardship?”

These questions help you understand how your life as a DO graduate in PM&R will look outside the hospital.

Red‑Flag Finder Questions

These are subtle questions that often uncover problems indirectly:

• “If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be?”
• “Have there been any residents who left the program in recent years? Do you know why?”
• “What’s something about this program that surprised you after you started?”

You’re listening not only to the content but also how forthcoming they are.

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Targeted Questions for Faculty & Subspecialists

Faculty can show you the depth of training in specific physiatry niches and how they view residents as learners and colleagues.

Subspecialty Exposure and Depth

• “In your subspecialty (e.g., SCI, TBI, sports, pain), how are residents integrated into your clinical practice?”
• “By graduation, what level of independence do you expect residents to have in managing patients with:
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Complex spasticity
  • High‑level athletes or chronic pain?”
• “Are there particular clinics or rotations that residents consistently find most valuable for learning PM&R fundamentals?”

If you have a strong interest (e.g., interventional pain or sports), ask directly:

• “For a resident interested in interventional pain/sports/spasticity management, what extra opportunities are realistically available—extra clinics, electives, or informal mentorship?”

Teaching Style, Feedback, and OMT

As a DO, you may want to integrate OMT into your PM&R practice.

• “How do you typically teach on rounds or in clinic—case‑based teaching, mini‑lectures, feedback on notes, or bedside teaching?”
• “How frequently do residents receive formal feedback, and what does that process look like?”
• “Have you worked with DO residents who utilize OMT in PM&R settings here? Are there particular clinics or patient populations where you see OMT adding value?”

You’ll get a sense of whether your osteopathic skills will be embraced, tolerated, or sidelined.

Research, Quality Improvement, and Scholarly Activity

• “What kinds of research or QI projects are residents typically involved in?”
• “How accessible is mentorship for a DO graduate interested in scholarly work who may not have a strong research background yet?”
• “Are there institutional supports—statistical help, research coordinators, funding for conference travel?”

For the physiatry match, strong scholarly activity can help you later stand out for competitive fellowships.

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Practical Strategy: Planning, Prioritizing, and Following Up

You’ll have far more questions than time to ask. A simple strategy for your PM&R interview days:

1. Pre‑interview Preparation

• Make a one‑page sheet per program with:
  • Program features you already know (rotations, sites, class size).
  • 2–3 unique aspects you want to ask about (e.g., VA coverage, sports affiliations, OMT use).
  • A short list of your top 6–8 priority questions, tagged for:
    • Program Director (PD/APD)
    • Residents
    • Faculty

This prevents you from asking something that was already in the brochure and ensures you hit high‑yield areas.

2. During the Interview Day

• Ask different people about the same themes
  For example, wellness:

  • PD: “What structural changes have you made to support wellness?”
  • Resident: “How does the schedule feel on a weekly basis? Do you have time to sleep, exercise, and see family?”

• Adapt to the flow
  If a PD already covered board pass rates, shift to fellowship outcomes rather than repeating.

• Write brief notes between sessions
  Jot down key phrases or impressions. These are invaluable during rank list creation.

3. After the Interview: Clarification and Thank‑You Emails

If you leave with important uncertainties, it’s reasonable to ask for clarification—especially about rotations, mentorship, or how DO grads fare.

Thoughtful follow‑up might look like:

“During the interview, we briefly discussed procedural exposure and autonomy on the pain rotation. As someone particularly interested in interventional training, I wanted to clarify how often PGY‑3 and PGY‑4 residents are first‑assist vs. primary operator under supervision on common procedures.”

Keep follow‑ups concise and targeted; avoid asking questions that suggest you weren’t paying attention.

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Sample Question Sets by Scenario

To make this concrete, here are assembled, ready‑to‑use question sets you can adapt for your own interviews as a DO graduate targeting PM&R.

Set A: For the Program Director (limited time, high impact)

If you only have 10 minutes:

1. “What do you see as this program’s biggest strengths and its biggest opportunities for improvement over the next few years?”
2. “How have DO graduates done in this program, and what strengths have you seen them bring to your PM&R training environment?”
3. “How do you ensure residents are prepared for both the PM&R boards and the range of career paths—fellowship, academic practice, or community practice?”
4. “Can you share an example of a resident‑driven change that improved either education or well‑being?”
5. “What types of graduates thrive here, and what characteristics do you look for in applicants who ultimately match well?”

Set B: For Current Residents (virtual social, dinner, or breakout)

1. “If you had to decide again, would you still choose this program for PM&R residency? Why or why not?”
2. “What does a tough day look like here? How often do those days happen?”
3. “How comfortable do you feel with common PM&R procedures so far—EMG, injections, ultrasound? How did you get that experience?”
4. “Do you feel like the program leadership knows you as an individual and supports your career goals—whether that’s fellowship, academic, or community practice?”
5. “How have DO residents been received and supported here? Do you feel your osteopathic training is valued?”

Set C: For Faculty/Subspecialists

1. “From your perspective, what distinguishes this PM&R residency from others you’ve worked with or know about?”
2. “How do you involve residents in multidisciplinary care with therapists, psychologists, and other team members?”
3. “What research or scholarly projects have residents completed under your mentorship in the last few years?”
4. “Where do you see opportunities for a motivated DO graduate to carve out a niche—whether in education, quality improvement, or a clinical subspecialty?”

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Putting It All Together: Using Answers to Shape Your Rank List

Strong questions are only half of the equation; you also need a framework for interpreting answers across the PM&R programs where you interview.

Consider rating each program after the interview on:

1. Clinical Breadth and Depth (1–5)

   • Did they convincingly demonstrate diverse exposure (neuro, MSK, pediatrics, pain, consults)?
   • Do you feel you’d graduate comfortable with core physiatry and your areas of interest?

2. Support for DO Graduates and Osteopathic Identity (1–5)

   • Presence of DO faculty, leadership, and alumni success.
   • Comfort using OMT where appropriate, or at least having it respected.
   • Tone when speaking about DO vs. MD backgrounds.

3. Culture, Mentorship, and Wellness (1–5)

   • Do residents seem genuinely supported and collegial?
   • Examples of leadership responsiveness to feedback.
   • Realistic, humane workload.

4. Career Preparation and Outcomes (1–5)

   • Transparent board pass rates.
   • Strong fellowship placements and job support.
   • Exposure to different practice models (academic vs. community, hospital vs. private practice).

5. Personal Fit and Life Outside of Work (1–5)

   • Geographic and lifestyle compatibility.
   • Family or partner considerations.
   • Gut feeling: could you see yourself thriving here?

Your questions to ask programs aren’t just about impressing interviewers; they’re the tools you’ll use to make confident, informed decisions in the physiatry match.

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FAQs: Questions to Ask Programs as a DO Graduate in PM&R

1. As a DO graduate, should I directly ask about how DOs are treated in the program?
Yes, but frame it professionally and constructively. For example:

• “How have DO graduates historically done in your program?”
• “Are there DO faculty in leadership roles here?”
  This shows self‑awareness, not insecurity, and helps you gauge how supportive the environment is for DO graduates in residency.

2. Is it okay to ask about work hours, call, and moonlighting, or will that look bad?
It’s appropriate—and important—to ask. Focus on structure and expectations rather than sounding like you want to avoid work:

• “How is call structured, and what does a typical call shift entail?”
• “At what point in training do residents usually feel comfortable moonlighting, and what guidelines does the program have?”
  Programs expect these questions and serious applicants ask them.

3. What are good questions to ask if I’m particularly interested in interventional pain or sports medicine?
Target questions to your interest:

• “What proportion of graduates pursue interventional pain or sports fellowships, and how successful have they been?”
• “How much hands‑on exposure do residents get to fluoroscopic and ultrasound‑guided procedures?”
• “Are there opportunities for extra elective time or longitudinal clinics focused on interventional spine or sports?”
  These questions show focus and help you differentiate programs with strong vs. limited exposure.

4. How many questions should I ask in each interview?
Aim for 2–4 focused questions per interviewer, adjusted for time. Prioritize depth over quantity; a few thoughtful, well‑tailored questions are better than a rapid‑fire list. Always have a backup list in case others pre‑empt your planned questions, and be ready to pivot based on what the interviewer has already covered.

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By preparing intentional, well‑crafted questions tailored to PM&R and your identity as a DO graduate, you’ll not only stand out as a mature, engaged applicant—you’ll also gather the nuanced information you need to build a rank list that fits your goals, values, and vision for your future as a physiatrist.