Securing Your Top ResidencySecuring Your Top Residency

Michael A Herion, M.D.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

St. Louis University Eye Institute St. Louis, MO

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Internship

• Residency

• Fellowship

• Categorical

• Preliminary

• Transitional

• The Match/Early Match

DefinitionsDefinitions

C ategorica l P re lim inary Transitiona l

R esidency

Fact vs. FictionFact vs. Fiction

• “ There’s no way to get a categorical surgical residency as a FMG.”-SGU student

• “The only residencies that you can get as a foreign grad are internal medicine or primary care positions.”-SGU student

• “FMG’s can’t get university affiliated residencies.”-SGU student

Fact vs. FictionFact vs. Fiction

• “Those guys that got the good residency spots knew somebody at the program.”-SGU student

Fact vs. FictionFact vs. Fiction

• “Your colleagues are some of the most intelligent, well rounded students I have been around.” – IM Residency Director

• “Your school’s board scores are better than ours.”- Residency Director

• “I have been consistently impressed with the quality of your students.”- Residency Director

Fact vs. FictionFact vs. Fiction

• “Hell, I wouldn’t be able to tell the slightest difference.”- JHSOM Attending

• “…some of the finest medical students I have been around.”-Residency Director

Personal Factors That Should Personal Factors That Should Influence Your Residency Influence Your Residency

ChoiceChoice

• YOUR own interest

• YOUR desired quality of life

• What YOU love

Do Not Choose A Residency Do Not Choose A Residency Based Upon…Based Upon…

• What your family wants

• What friends tell you

• Income

• TV

• “The cool residency”

• Prestige

How Do I Know If I Chose The How Do I Know If I Chose The Right Residency?Right Residency?

““I can’t believe their paying me I can’t believe their paying me to do this.”to do this.”

““I don’t mind paying my I don’t mind paying my $100.00 a day for this $100.00 a day for this

rotation.”rotation.”

There is not a residency out There is not a residency out there that you can not match there that you can not match

in!in!

General Factors That Affect General Factors That Affect Your Residency DirectionYour Residency Direction

• Basic Science Grades

• Clinical Grades

• LOR

• Board Scores

• Applications…CV, Personal Statement

Individual Factors That Affect Individual Factors That Affect Your Residency DirectionYour Residency Direction

• Personality

• Work Ethic

• Integrity

• Honesty

• Punctuality

• Attendance

Basic Science PearlsBasic Science Pearls

• 1. You are learning the exact same material and having the exact same difficulties as the U.S. medical students.

• 2. You can’t master it all.

• 3. Know when to take a break.

• 4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Clinical GradesClinical Grades

Rotation Breakdown

• Medicine 16 weeks• Pediatrics 6 weeks• Psychiatry 6 weeks• OB/GYN 6 weeks

• Surgery 12 weeks• Med Sub-I 8 weeks• Peds Sub-I 6 weeks• Electives 20 weeks

Clinical GradesClinical Grades

J A S O N D J F M A M J

J A SS O NN DD J F M A MM J

33rdrd Year Year

44thth Year Year

52-56 weeks for EMP!!!!

60-64 weeks for RMP!!!

Clinical GradesClinical Grades

• Schedule your core rotations based on your anticipated residency interests. This will enable you to….

1. See if you like the rotation

2. Secure early LOR

3. Early start on application material

Template For Clinical Template For Clinical SchedulingScheduling

Scheduling Your C linical Rotations

C .T. S u rg eryd a tes :

S u rg eryd a tes :

I.C .U .d a tes :

M ed ic in ed a tes :

Tran sp lan td a tes :

O B /G Y Nd ates :

S u rg eryR es id en cy

Scheduling Clinical RotationsScheduling Clinical Rotations

• Make a two year calendar

• Try to schedule as far in advance as possible

• Refer to your residency template

• Be sure to document “total weeks”

Clinical GradesClinical Grades

• Explore your electives

• Remember Early Match electives

• Electives are a great source for LOR because of one on one

Clinical Rotation PearlsClinical Rotation Pearls

• Assume responsibility for your patients

• Do patient based reading every night

• Participate with the teams

• Arrive early and stay late

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

• Great LOR discuss personal attributes more than grades

• Get a LOR from every rotation

• Waiver

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

• “Don’t read it, see it.”

• Correspond your LOR with your desired residency

• A great letter takes precedence over residency relevance

Board ScoresBoard Scores

• Level the playing field

• Exact test, exact grading

• Course vs. No course

• EMP only uses Step I scores

• YOU SHOULD BEGIN YOUR STUDIES AT LEAST 3 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR TEST DATE

ApplicationsApplications

• YOU need to call for match registration, applications, and program information

• Always be congenial to the residency coordinator

• Keep a copy of EVERYTHING you send and review it before your interview

ApplicationsApplications

• Send via FedEx on the FIRST day Send via FedEx on the FIRST day applications are accepted!!!!!applications are accepted!!!!!

• Have your applications professionally proofread.

• No Typos

Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae

• Tailor your CV to the individual residency program

• Join professional organizations

• Should not exceed 2 pages

• Use good linen paper

• Professional proofing

Personal StatementPersonal Statement

• Be unique…not weird

• Have a professional editor help with your statement

• Do not exceed one page

• Personal Statements are scrutinized for those candidates on the bubble

PhotographsPhotographs

• Do not take them yourself

• Do not clip out a photo of yourself

• Do not send a drawing yourself

• Have professional head-shoulder shots taken

• Wear a dark coat, light shirt, and a dark tie

Applying to ProgramsApplying to Programs

• Play the numbers game

• More competitive = apply to more programs

• Be ready to spend some money

• Remember the EMP

The InterviewThe Interview

• Prepare, prepare, prepare• Anticipate questions and practice your

replies• Have at least 5 questions to ask at the

interview• Two or three should be program

targeted

The InterviewThe Interview

• Do not ask inflammatory questions

• Look up faculty interests and areas of research

• Have a joke

• Look over the local paper

• Know which sports team won or lost

The InterviewThe Interview

• Don’t arrive late• Practice the route and know where to

go• Buy a new suit, socks, and shoes• Don’t check your suit on the airline• Don’t order anything messy at lunch or

dinner

The InterviewThe Interview

• Count on traffic

• SEND THANK YOU NOTES TO EVERY INTERVIEWER AND RESIDENCY COORDINATOR!!!!

The InterviewThe Interview

• Make notes of specific interests of each interviewer so that you can include a hand written note at the bottom of your thank you letter

• Write your thank you notes on the plane, type them at home and send within one day

Generating Your Rank ListGenerating Your Rank List

• Rank the programs that you like in order

• Don’t play the numbers game

• Don’t rank a program that you do not want to be at