Applying to residency in OB-GYN

Cathy Callahan, MD FACOG

GoalsGoals

I. Scheduling fourth yearII. Understanding ERASIII. Understanding the matchIV. Selecting residency programs Past and future

I. Scheduling fourth yearI. Scheduling fourth yearObjectives of fourth year rotations• Decide if OB is for you• Work with a resident team• Learn about OB-subspecialties• Learn material not covered in OB-residency• Audition (and try-out) residency programs

Class 2014Class 2014Submit Fourth Year ScheduleSubmit Fourth Year ScheduleDUE April 19, 2013 through DecDUE April 19, 2013 through Dec

DUE Nov 15 full academic yearDUE Nov 15 full academic year

• Medical Selectives (2 months)• Surgical Selectives (2 months)• Emergency medicine (1 month)• Electives (4 months)

– Audition months• Research/Scholarly Activity

Submit Fourth Year ScheduleSubmit Fourth Year Schedule

• Recommended Medicine Selectives (2 months)– Radiology-imaging of the abdomen and pelvis– Infectious disease with special emphasis on

sexually transmitted infections– Neonatal intensive care (2 weeks)– Pathology (cytopathology)

Submit Fourth Year ScheduleSubmit Fourth Year Schedule

• Recommended Surgical Selectives (2 months)– Obstetric anesthesia– Surgical critical care– Urogynecology– Gynecological oncology– Plastic surgery

Submit Fourth Year ScheduleSubmit Fourth Year Schedule• Electives

– Research– Audition month– International underserved care

Make sure you are in the states for Match Day!– OB-GYN subspecialties

• Maternal fetal medicine• Reproductive endocrinology• Urogynecology (surgical selective)• GYN oncology (surgical selective)

Submit Fourth Year ScheduleSubmit Fourth Year Schedule• Electives: Audition rotations

– Minimum of two audition rotations– August rotation should not be your first choice program– Osteopathic programs want to see you rotate– Allopathic programs know that most students who match

with them will NOT have rotated at their program.. Thus do not have to rotate at first choice program

WHENWHEN to schedule your rotations to schedule your rotations(note: official dates not yet published)(note: official dates not yet published)

• Osteopathic timeline– July 15: Programs may review ERAS

And grant interviews!– Sept – Dec: Interviews– January~ 27: Rank list due– February ~13: Match Day! Results announced

Leave time Sept - December to interview!!!!!

WHENWHEN to schedule your to schedule your rotationsrotations

• Allopathic timeline– Sept 15: Programs may review ERAS

And grant interviews!– Late Oct - early Jan: Interviews – February ~23: rank list due– March 12: Match/Unmatch day – March 15: MATCH DAY: Results announced

Leave time November- early Jan. to interview!

ResourcesResources• FREIDA: AMA residency program directory

– http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/medical-students/medical-students.shtml

• APGO (Association of Professors of OB/GYN)– Residency guide (Not all programs are listed!!)– www.apgo.org (logon: vcom password: directory)

• Graduated students!– Alumni list sent

• Directory of Residency and Fellowship Programs in Interdisciplinary Women’s Health– http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/jwh.2009.DIR3

II. ERAS ApplicationII. ERAS Application

Your ERAS profile1. Curriculum Vitae2. Personal statement3. Letters of recommendation4. Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE)5. Transcripts 6. Board Scores

http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/start.htm

II. ERAS ApplicationII. ERAS Application

Your ERAS profile1. Curriculum Vitae2. Personal statement3. Letters of recommendation4. Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE)5. Transcripts 6. Board Scores

1.1. Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae

Prepare my “C” What???Prepare my “C” What???

http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/usemyeras/application.htm

Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae

• Keys to a successful CV– Emphasize responsibility, initiative, creativity– Power words

• Suggestions– In on-line handouts

2. Personal statement2. Personal statement

• Keys to a successful personal statement– Not too personal! – Short enough to read– Based on one or more stories– Interesting– No grammatical exxors!

• Suggested outline– In on-line handouts

3. Letters of Recommendation3. Letters of Recommendation

• Request by June (up to 4 letters may be submitted to each residency program)

• Confidential, waive right to view• Must provide ERAS cover letter with request

• Can choose which letters go to each program

Who should you ask for LOR?Who should you ask for LOR?

• OB-GYN• Surgery rotation• Family medicine, Internal medicine• Any rotation where you performed well• Chair’s letter (requested for allopathic)

III. The MatchIII. The Match• National Match (osteopathic)

– June – Oct : Register for Match– Deadline for rank list: ~January 27– http://www.natmatch.com/aoairp/index.htm

• NRMP (allopathic) (National Residency Matching Program)

– ~Aug 15 – Nov 30: Register for Match(may register until February ~22 with late fee)

– Deadline for rank list: February ~22– http://www.nrmp.org

PEARLS

The only one to watch out for you is YOU!!!! • Play the game• Include back-ups• Practice before you go (mock interviews)

• Never believe you are in unless you have a contract mailed to you

Would you like to get this letter??Would you like to get this letter??

Dear Doctor:

You have been highly ranked amongst ALL of our interviewed candidates. Should you choose to rank us first there is a strong likelihood you will match. Ifyou choose to share your feelings towards our program you may do so but it is certainly not required nor will it change our current ranking. We are certainyou will be able to contribute your skills and talents for the benefit of our program.

Or how about this one???Or how about this one???

January 10, 2011

Student Doctor XXXX:

We have carefully reviewed the candidates for the 2011-2012 OGME -1 year. I am pleased to inform you that the Committee was most impressed with your credentials and interview. As a result of this, we intend to rank you as one of our top Obstetrics – Gynecology candidates!

(bold area was program’s emphasis!!)

DO NOT COUNT ON THE DO NOT COUNT ON THE SCRAMBLE(SOAP)SCRAMBLE(SOAP)

This should NEVER be part of This should NEVER be part of your strategy. your strategy.

Back-up plans need to be Back-up plans need to be considered/built-in early.considered/built-in early.

1060 open positions. Half were preliminary positions |(not categorical ie not tied to further years of training)

To How many programs should I apply???

How many interviews should I expect??

2011 Match results

Selecting residency programsSelecting residency programsInterviewsInterviews

• Practice! – sign-up for mock interview with Danielle Hale

• What to expect • Questions for you to ask them….• What to not do……

Residents are part of the interview team!! • Follow-up letters: Thank them!!

So how did our applicants fare in 2012??So how did our applicants fare in 2012??

• 12 applicants– 1 entered osteopathic match (matched)– 9 entered allopathic match (all matched)– 2 army (both matched

YEAH!!!! All applicants matched

So how did our applicants fare in 2011??So how did our applicants fare in 2011??• 20 applicants

– 3 entered osteopathic match • 3 matched (1 from class of 2010)

– 3 military• 1 civilian deferral (allopathic OB match)• 1 navy OB match• 1 transitional year and then GMO (military)

– 14 entered allopathic match (1 from Class 2009)• 12 matched (+1 from military)• 2 scrambled

– 1 chose rotating internships (family medicine)– I chose IM

IV. Program prioritiesIV. Program priorities

What are programs looking for in prospective applicants?

What are programs looking for?What are programs looking for?

Anecdotally• KEY: Board passing first try• USMLE: cut off 210 for many programs• Good clerkship grades

Objective Factors:Results of the NRMP Program Directory Survey http://www.nrmp.org/data/index.html

Should I take USMLE?Should I take USMLE?

• Some programs require it (see match review)

• Report ONLY if score will help you – (cut off 210 for many programs)

• You can take Step II even if you did not take step one

• Conversion score: Step 1: 67.97 + 0.24 x COMLEX (3 digit Score)

• What the program directors are saying.

• http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

• Or just go to nrmp.org

What factors are important when deciding where to rank applicant??

•Send THANK YOU NOTES!!!•Second interviews are really to help you.

In sum, what to do nowIn sum, what to do now1. Personal statement2. CV Update3. Request Letters of Recommendation4. Develop Preliminary Program List

BE READY TO SUBMIT BY OPENING DATES~July 15 osteopathic~Sept 15 allopathic

!