Preparing for Pediatrics Residency Training Department of Pediatrics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contacts Harvey Hamrick, MD – Residency Director Julie Byerley, MD – Student Director Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD – Student Director Kelly Lear – Student and Residency Coordinator

Med/Peds Contacts Anne Stephens, MD – Residency Director Denise Craig – Residency Coordinator

Choosing Pediatrics as a Specialty Caring for children and working with their families Breadth of opportunities Primary care Subspecialty Cognitive Procedural Outpatient and inpatient opportunities Variable schedules, work load, income, etc. Further discussion is welcomed by advisors

Overall Perspective on Pediatrics Training You will be able to match somewhere if you list enough programs Significant variability in “competitiveness” of individual programs Prediction of who could match where is difficult programs rank using different priorities

Pediatric Career Advisors Dr. Byerley, Dr. McNeal-Trice, or Dr. Hamrick will be your advisor S/he will meet with you regularly, give individualized advice, and write your departmental letter

The Fourth Year Schedule at UNC Rotations completed in September should be in the Dean’s letter Do at least one “hard core” rotation (AI or critical care) before interview season It doesn’t have to be in Pediatrics If you want a letter from a fourth year rotation plan that to be completed by the end of September

The Fourth Year Schedule at UNC Contrasting opinions Get started on Pediatrics This is your last chance to take non-pediatric courses that interest you: take advantage of that Do a critical care unit Consider radiology and other electives Consider traveling Signing the forms – Byerley, McNeal-Trice, and Hamrick

A New Elective Transition to Pediatric Internship Offered only one block Combination of didactics and clinical work Not required

Away Rotations Performance here will outweigh the application, positively or negatively Not necessary to match at any given place Helpful if your heart is set on one program or one geographic area If you do one, complete it by the end of January

Deciding Between Two Fields Ok to apply to two fields but decide on one preference by the interview if possible Be careful with your ERAS letters Programs do not want to match applicants who are not committed to a given field Be honest

Considering Where to Apply Use FREIDA to choose programs for applications Start with geography

Where to Apply Geography Size Reputation Academic or community setting? Children’s hospital or not? Presence of fellows Board pass rates

How Many to Apply To Individual question – your advisor can help Generally not more than 20 Couples match candidates should apply to more places than individuals

The Application Process Use ERAS to apply

Application Components General ERAS Application Personal Statement CV Transcript Dean’s Letter (MSPE) Letters of Recommendation USMLE Transcript Photograph

Personal Statement Statement of one page or less that clarifies why the student is choosing pediatrics Sincere, individualized Why pediatrics suits your talents Gives the interviewer something to talk about Everyone entering pediatrics loves children – be sure it says more than that Choose safe over bold

Essentials about the Personal Statement Assure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors Don’t try to be too unique Be sure your career goal advisor reads it before its finalized to ERAS Don’t hurt your application with your personal statement

CV Outlined by ERAS Include elements from college and medical school, and other previous work Be sure your CV looks sincere and not filled with meaningless one time activities Longer doesn’t necessarily mean better Have it reviewed by your career advisor before submission

Letters of Recommendation Dean’s Letter Pediatric Departmental Letter Written by your assigned career advisor Is “the chair’s letter”, which may or may not be required Two to three others Choose someone you worked with clinically Inpatient is generally more valuable than outpatient Don’t have to all be in pediatrics Research mentor letters are okay as long as there are adequate clinical letters Be sure to thank those who write for you

USMLE Transcript: When to Take Step II Early if your Step I is low Whenever if Step I is high As required by the Dean’s Office When it fits your schedule

Interviews Schedule as early as you are invited Season is November - February Try to group geographically talk directly with programs so they can help you do that Be very, very nice to coordinators Go to all the socials Remember -they are part of the interview

The Interview Day Remember the whole visit is a job interview Meet as many people as possible Be yourself, but on your best behavior This is not the time to complain Be professional at all times Have questions prepared to ask, and ask multiple people

The Faculty Interview Show your enthusiasm for learning and patient care Show respect for research, opportunities in primary care, subspecialties, etc. regardless of your own interests They should have read your application remember what you wrote Be prepared to ask good questions (not the details about call schedules, maternity leave, etc.)

Follow Up After Interview Day Send thank you notes routinely, but don’t go overboard It’s ok to tell your top choice you love them It is NOT required Always be honest “Near the top of my list” doesn’t many anything to programs Complete whatever communication you intend before mid-February Don’t expect follow up communications from the programs to you No news is NOT bad news

Second Visits Scheduled visits after the interview day arranged by the coordinator at the student’s request Much less formal An opportunity for shadowing Done only if the student needs to see the program again, but can be very helpful Definitely NOT required

How Programs Rank Highly variable and hard to predict Interview Clinical performance – academic ( based on grades, dean’s letter ) USMLE scores, step 2 > step 1 Dean’s letter, class rank Letters of Recommendation Preclinical performance ( based on grades, dean’s letter ) School reputation Extracurricular experience ( leadership, service ) Research experience

How to Rank Programs Geography Feel Resident satisfaction, friendliness, support Breadth of experiences offered, patient population Affiliated sites Strength of faculty Resident responsibility Fellowship opportunities Board pass rate Stability

How Many to Rank Your advisor can help Generally people entering peds rank 8-12 programs Rank anywhere you interviewed that you would rather be an intern than jobless

Subsequent Meetings May: meeting with this year’s MS4s who matched in peds July: you should have met with your advisor at least once September/October: social

Last Bits Please let us know when your career decision is finalized Stay organized along the way