A PERFECT MATCH: Helpful Tips to Increase the Power of Your Residency Application NESTFM ~ Philadelphia November 2, 2013 Sara Beth Karp MD Deborah Taylor, PhD

Speaker Introductions  Sara Beth Karp, MD Faculty Beth Israel FMR New York, NY  Deborah Taylor, PhD Associate Director and Faculty Central Maine Medical Center FMR Lewiston, ME

Speaker & Audience Introduction Goal: To help the presenters know the audience and gear the presentation to your needs

Our Time Today 4-5:30  3:50-4:05 Overview of Match Process – Dr. Taylor  4:05-4:20 Diversity of FM Programs - Dr. Karp  4:20-4:40 The Interview Process – Dr. Karp  4:40-5:10 Group Q and A (Drs. Karp/Taylor)  5:10-5:15 Wrap up, Eval, Contact info

Let’s start with some basics….. Overview of the residency application and Match process

What is the Match?  Application to Residencies  Electronic Residency Application Service –ERAS –Uniform electronic application materials –Designate programs to apply to  Interviews  Ranking of Programs by Applicant + Ranking of Applicants by Residencies = Big computer = Match –Advantage to Applicant –Couple’s Match

What goes into ERAS?  Curriculum Vitae (CV) –Personal Info –Education –Honors/Awards –Professional Society Memberships –Employment –Extracurricular Activities –Research/Publications/Presentations –References

What goes into ERAS?  CV  Personal Statement  Letters of Reference (3-4)  Dean’s Letter (MSPE, goes out by 11/1/13)  Transcript (I-II/III-IV)  Step/Comlex Scores  Your list of programs you want to apply to –For FM, 10 is sufficient

MS I-IIs - What can I do now?  Join AAFP  Attend FMEC next year; submit a poster  National Conference in KC, MO (summer)  Community Service opportunities (CV)  Make sure Dean and Advisor know of your interest in FM  Complete the RASI

MS IIIs - What can I do now?  Join AAFP and your state academy of Family Medicine if not done earlier  Research or QI project on FM clerkship (submit a poster)  Start thinking about LOR writers  Plan a FM sub-I or elective in MSIV  Complete the RASI  Use residency fair to help you decide where to showcase yourself in MS IV

How do I pick programs to apply to?  Stay tuned for the next part of this presentation

Timeline for Match, ERAS  NRMP (Allopathic Match) –Applicants can apply ( ) –Deadline for rank list ( ) –Match results available ( )  AOA (Osteopathic Match) –DOs can apply to programs ( ) –Deadline for rank list ( ) –Match results available ( )

Resources to learn more about the match:  ERAS:  NRMP:  AOA:  Strolling Through the Match – under medical studentswww.AAFP.org  Family Medicine Residency Programs –

Everything you ever wanted to know about the breadth of Family Medicine Training Programs

Program Overview  ~461 ACGME accredited FM programs  ~174 AOA Accredited FM (with OMT) programs  Many of the AOA FM programs are dually accredited  In 2013, 2938 first year spots in Family Medicine

Diversity in Family Medicine Education  Location  Level of care  Single or Multiple Residencies

Diversity in Family Medicine Education  Urban…Suburban…Rural  Tertiary Care Center…Community Hospital…Combination  Single (FM) or Multiple Residencies in the Hospital (used to be referred to as unopposed and opposed)

Special Program Focus Areas  Family Centered Maternity Care (OB) –Advanced Obstetrical Skills (C-sections)  Sports Medicine  Integrative Medicine  Inpatient Medicine  Procedures including Surgery  EBM  Behavioral Science/Family Systems  Community/Public Health  International/Wilderness Medicine  Reproductive Health  Geriatrics/Elder Care  Patient Education

Patient Populations Served  Socioeconomic  Ethnic  Cultural  Religious  Demographics of patients (age, gender, etc)

Other Important Areas  Elective time  Longitudinal versus block Curricula  Research  Opportunities to prepare for academia  Formal teaching/learning time –Blocks –Noontimes –AM Reports

1095 days It can fly by….. It can seem like an eternity….

What will make it feel like an eternity?  If you don’t take your family (defined as “people who matter”) into account as you evaluate your options  The community and family issues that can affect your satisfaction with residency include: –Ex. Housing, Partner Employment, Recreation, Schools, Hospital Benefit Package, etc.

Maximizing Yourself Through The Interview

What are interviews like?  Full day  Learn about program, tour, meet faculty and residents  Interviews (3-4) with program director, faculty, residents  Meals  Sometimes accommodations provided  Not like interviews for med school –Small group –Interview is a two-way street

Interview Basics  Begin scheduling your interviews early  Number of interviews will depend on specialty –FM and IM: typically 5 – 10 –Other specialties: Often 10 or more  Interview season runs from October to January for AOA and February for NRMP  Debunking the myth… –There is NO BEST TIME TO INTERVIEW!

Scheduling and Travel  Try to arrange interviews geographically  Plan travel carefully  Take advantage of special rates, or free lodging offered by some programs

Preparation for Interview  Review residency web site and information  Research the community and what might draw you there  Prepare some questions specific to the residency as well as general questions  Review your ERAS application with a critical eye

Making the Most of Your Interview  Be prepared  Arrive early  Take advantage of dinners, special meetings, etc.  Dress appropriately  Take control of the interview  Talk to residents  Ask questions  Treat everyone with respect  Make sure to follow up

Most Importantly… BE YOURSELF!

What do programs look for?  Sense of humor  Openness to feedback  Ability to articulate FM philosophy  Flexibility (are you a willow or an oak?)  Communication skills  Ability to self reflect  Empathy/compassion  Life outside of medicine

Some Common Questions I  Tell me a little about yourself  Why did you choose ?  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  What are your strengths/weaknesses?  What do you do in your spare time?  How do you handle conflict?  How did you learn about/why did you apply to this program?

Some Common Questions II  How do you handle stress?  Tell me about a time when…..  Are you applying to any other specialties?  Do you have any questions?

“ILLEGAL” QUESTIONS…  Are you married?  Do you plan on having children? When?  What are your religious preferences?  What are your sexual preferences?  What are your beliefs about abortion?  Where will you rank this program/is this program your first choice?  Would you need special accommodations to perform in a residency?

Questions you might ask  Any major changes coming?  What would you change about this program if you could?  For residents: Why did you come here?  Where do your graduates go?  What are you looking for in a resident?

After the Interview  Make notes ASAP (could fill out residency evaluation form)  Send follow-up notes or s  Consider setting up second look visits at your top choices if possible

Final Hints  Remember… you are interviewing the program as much as they are interviewing you.  Make notes immediately following the interview to differentiate programs  Enjoy the process… IT CAN BE FUN!

What happens after you leave?  Different process at different programs  Usually some type of committee that reviews ERAS file, interview evaluations  Match meeting(s) with everyone invited

Recruiting Pressures  You can express interest in a program and they can express interest in you—but no one should be making any promises about where they will be ranked  You may receive s, letters, even phone calls from programs that are wooing you

Q & A (remember, there is no such thing as a silly question)

Feedback & Evaluation

In Summary  1095 – fly by or eternity  Less mystery about the process  Focus on your strengths  Identifying things you can do to further improve your application –Be sure to get a RASI handout

The End