ROYAL COLLEGE SPECIALTY COMMITTEE IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
Annual Report 2001

The Specialty Committee in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation met via teleconference on November 8, 1998 and at the Royal College offices in Ottawa on April 20, 2001.

The Committee completed the revision of our Specific Standards of Accreditation for training programs in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and those have recently been approved by the College. The new document reflects the Royal College CanMEDS 2000 initiative.

Items discussed over the past year included processes and objectives for research training for residents in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Education in research is required by the College but to date each Program has addressed that in its own way. There was agreement that was still appropriate but it would be useful to share ideas. A symposium on Resident Research at a future CAPM&R meeting has been proposed. Dr. Lee Kirby has also offered the CAPM&R listserv as a forum to discuss resident research.

There is a concern that it has become more difficult for Program Directors to attend the Specialty Committee meetings due to budget constraints and the increased cost of air travel. Program Directors need a forum to share ideas and problems formally and informally. It may be the CAPM&R meeting is the most appropriate venue, but we need to review the function of the Specialty Committee to ensure it meets the needs of Program Directors.

I would like to thank the members of the Specialty Committee and the Examining Committee for their hard work over the past year. Dr. Stephen Bagg will be leaving his position as Chair of the Examination Committee and I would like to extend my special thanks for his contributions.

Respectfully submitted,
Hugh Anton
Chair, Royal College Specialty Committee
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation