1604 - Educational Impact of a Targeted Program Director Panel for International Medical Graduates Applying to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency: A Pilot Study on Self-Perceived Knowledge and Confidence

Thursday, February 19, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Co-Author(s)

HC

Hsuan Chou, MD

Physician
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, United States

Presenting Author(s)

SM

Sojeong Mun, MD

Doctor
Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital
Santa Clara, California, United States

Co-Author(s)

PA

Paul Abboud, MD

Research Scientist
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
IC

I-Ling Chou, MD

Medical Student
China Medical University (Taiwan)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
JZ

Jennifer Y. Zhao, BS

Medical Student
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Corresponding Author(s)

HA

Hana Azizi, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation, Fellowship Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, New York, United States

Submitter(s)

SM

Sojeong Mun, MD

Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital
Santa Clara, California, United States

Objectives: To evaluate the educational impact of a Program Director (PD)-led panel on self-perceived knowledge and confidence among International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency application process.

Design: A one-hour virtual panel was hosted featuring three U.S. PM&R PDs, addressing seven IMG-relevant domains in the residency application process: (1) Baseline knowledge of PM&R, (2) Writing personal statements, (3) Structuring curriculum vitae (CV) and geographic preferences, (4) Letters of recommendation, (5) Signaling, (6) Interviews and post-interview communication, and (7) IMG-specific considerations. A 27-item pre- and post-event survey was developed to assess self-perceived knowledge and confidence in each domain, using a 5-point Likert scale. Survey reliability and normality were evaluated. Among 105 registrants, 42 attended live, and 31 (29.5%) submitted paired responses. Paired t-tests were used for normally distributed domains and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for non-normal domains. Holm correction was applied for multiple comparisons. Participant satisfaction was assessed separately with six 5-Likert-scaled questions and analyzed against a neutral median value of 3.

Results: Among 31 respondents, gender distribution was balanced, with diverse racial and national backgrounds. Participants trained in over 10 countries, with 80.6% already graduated and 58.1% reporting U.S. clinical experience. Survey reliability was high (Cronbach’s α=0.96). All domains showed significant improvement in self-perceived knowledge and confidence (p<0.05). Largest improvements were in CV/geographic preferences (+1.50), signaling (+1.46), and interview/post-interview communication (+1.46). More modest but significant increases were noted in baseline knowledge (+0.81) and IMG-specific considerations (+0.93). First and last domains did not meet normality criteria while others did. Appropriate statistical tests were applied with Holm correction. Satisfaction was high across all six items (mean 4.68-4.84), with all significantly exceeding the neutral value of 3 (p<0.001). Participants agreed the panel was well-structured, relevant, and worthy of recommendation.

Conclusions: PD-led panels may effectively improve IMGs’ preparedness for the PM&R residency application process.