Welcome to the ACAPresident meeting

May 18, 2008New York, New York

5.12 Earthquake, Wenchuan

We'll make you jump!

Lanjing Zhang, MD, MSChair, ACAP resident committee

Department of PathologyMount Sinai School of Medicine

Resources

BOOK• Iserson's Getting Into A Residency: A Guide for

Medical Students. Kenneth V. Iserson, M.D. ISBN: 1-883620-09-0 Softcover, 627 pp.,

WEB• www.nrmp.org/• www.mitbbs.com/pc/index.php?id=USMedEdu• www.mitbbs.com/bbsdoc/medicalcareer.html• www.usmleforum.com• www.valuemd.com ...

Outline

• Resources and timeline• Application preparation

– PS and CV– Program selection (type, subspecialty)

• Interview day• Post-interview• Ranking list

– Program types, specialties

• pre-match& postmatch scramble

Timeline

• Now-09/2008 application preparation• 9/2008-1/2009 application• 10/2009-1/2009 interviews• 1/2009-3/2009 ranking and the match• 3/2009-6/2009 study for step 3& enjoy!

Application prep: EARLY

• Personal statement– Why do you like the specialty– Why to take me– What are my qualifications– What would I bring to the program– One PS for each specialty

• CV– Not much format trick– Enhance it by US clinical Experience (USCE) or

observership

Application prep: LOR

• Who: the one who really knows you• Who: Chinese? No more than one LOR• Who: subspecialty, same better• Who: MD preferred, but one PhD is fine• MUST read it, though you waived the right • Dean’s letter: yes, if possible• How many: 4, if possible

Apply: Program selection

• The more, the better• Geography: NYS, East coast• Types:

– University 1/3, More if you’ve research bkgd– University affiliated 1/3, – community 1/3

Apply: Program selection

• Specialty:– IM,FM less competitive– Peds less competitive– Pathology hard, still doable– Anesthesiology – Surgery more competitive– Derm, Radio, Ophthalmology most competitive

Apply: Program selection

• Who may consider Pathology– Hard working– Go into detail– Photographic memorization– Research background– Surgery background-Surgical pathology– Internal medicine background-Clinical

pathology

• Other specialties: ask your group leader

Interview

• Means you’re qualified on paper• Everyone is almost equal• Goal of the program

– Examine your personality& language skills– Examine if you fits the program– Examine the integrity of your application

• Goal of the applicant– Examine your PD, PC, and working environment– Examine if you fit the program

Interview prep

• Scheduling, prefer Nov and Dec– First inv, least interesting program– Last inv, most interesting program

• ASK your alumni& friends about programs• BE NICE to program coordinator• Attire and accessory:

– Black/navy suit, skirts preferred for ladies– Ask salesperson for advice, conservative style– Gum, CV, portfolio, money, itinerary, water

Interview day

• BE YOURSELF, SHINE YOURSELF• Your answers

– Tell me about yourself? clear and informative– Why our program? strengths, alumni, location– Plan/career goal? be honest to yourself– Every experience/paper may be asked

• Your questions– What are strength and weakness of the program– How are fellowship placement& board pass rate– Ask residents on-call schedule, hours, vacation

Post-interview day

• Relax, you’re done with a big assignment!• Evaluate the program right after interview• Tour around the hospital• Send thank-you letters• Follow up with program director• Express your interest before the match

Ranking list

Ranking list

University AffiliatedHospital

Community Hospital

University Hospital

University Hospital

• PROS– More fellowship chance and better networking– More education oriented– More famous LOR writer– Some have better infrastructure/environment

• CONS– More competitive to get in, survive& stand out– More arrogant/discrimitive attendings& staff– Probably more research oriented

Community Hospital

• PROS– Less competitive to get in, survive& stand out– More hand-on experiences– More international, while still has few

arrogant/discrimitive attendings& staff– More practice oriented

• CONS– Fewer fellowship chances– Fewer research opportunities

The best subspecialty:

• Personality and interest: A choice of lifetime• Salaries: IM to neurosurgery

– Private practice: $200k-800k – Academics: $100k -300k

• Working hours& calls– Pathology, radiol, and derm with fewer calls– Surg with most

• Malpractice/law suits– ObGyn high, derm high, breast surg high

What program should I rank No. 1

• The one you like most, not the one that most likely takes you

• The best fit for you• Chemistry with PD and other residents• Geographic consideration

– Family, climate, shopping& food

Pre-match? &^*@%^W#(*$#^&$*

• Take it if it is your dream program• Take it if it is in a hot specialty, like

Pathology, Derm& Radiol• More advantage for program than candidate

• Peace of mind versus dream program• MUST have a contract or letter of intention

Postmatch scramble

• Very few chances• Most likely from your interviewed program• Most likely from program of connection• How to

– Find out programs of openings– Phone in to confirm and express your interest– Submit CV and PS by email (recently preferred),

fax or personal delivery

Review

• “GETTING INTO A RESIDENCY” Iserson• Application preparation: BE EARLY BIRD

– PS and CV– Program selection (type, subspecialty)

• Interview day: BE YOURSELF• Post-interview• Ranking list: RANK THE BEST FIT

– Program types, specialties

• pre-match& postmatch scramble

The Student, Resident& Fellow Committee (SRF)

• Outreach more medical students, CMGs, residents and fellows

• Observership program at NYHQ& Downtown• Residency candidate recommendation• CMG application workshop• CMG pre-residency workshop• How can we help you more?

Thank you!

• Drs. Lisa Eng, David Zhang, and Henry Chen• Jianjun Zhang, Vice Chair, ACAP SRF• Volunteers: Peter Pan, Xiaoyan Song, Xin

Wang, Hao Zhang, Bo Zhao (alphabetical list)

• Discussion leaders: Ruomei Cai, Biao Lei, Zitao Liu, Runsheng Wang, Yusong Yang, Nan Zhang (alphabetical list)

• MITBBS BMs (Benpu)