Tag Archive: Spotlights: All

Interview: The in’s and out’s of radiation oncology

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Radiation Oncology

July 6, 2015

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radiation oncology

 

A Radiation Oncology Attending's Perspective: From an interview with a radiation oncology attending.

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • What attracted you to radiation oncology?

I realized that a radiation oncologist has a unique opportunity to serve as a physician for patients at a very difficult time, and I appreciated the emphasis on shared decision making and communication skill by my mentors in the field. I also enjoyed the emphasis on anatomy and imaging.

 

  • Describe a radiation oncologist's typical work day?

I typically arrive at around 7am when treatment begins for the day. Most of a radiation oncologist’s work is in an outpatient clinic. The day is spent seeing new consultations, follow-up visits, and evaluating patients who are currently under treatment. When you aren’t seeing patients, your time is usually spent creating individualized radiation treatment plans for new patients, which includes doing a CT simulation, contouring, and planning with a dosimetrist and physicist.

 

  • What type of lifestyle can a radiation oncologist expect?  

Nearly all of a radiation oncologist’s work is in an outpatient setting, which means that nights, weekends, and holidays are usually free. This is one of the more attractive features of the specialty.

 

  • What is the potential salary of a radiation oncologist?

The average salary varies significantly between academic settings and private practice. There is a wide variety of compensation agreements depending on each unique situation.

 

  • What is the job market like for radiation oncology?

Radiation Oncology is a very small field. For example, in some less populous regions, an entire state might have around 16 radiation oncologists. Because of that, it can be challenging to find a job in a specific geographic region. If it is essential for you to live in a certain region, be aware that it might be difficult to make that happen, and that you might have to accept significant compromises to get a job in a given area. This is one of the drawbacks of radiation oncology. If geography and flexible location are important to you, other larger specialties might make for an easier job search (e.g. internal medicine, anesthesiology, etc).

 

  • What can you tell us about radiation oncology subspecialties?

Most radiation oncologists complete their training after the 5 year residency without doing a fellowship. A fellowship can sometimes help to bolster academic credentials if needed or be used as a segue into a job at a desirable institution. Common fellowships include pediatric radiation oncology and proton therapy.

 

  • What are the potential downsides of radiation oncology that students should be aware of?

If you have academic aspirations, it can be difficult to find protected time as a radiation oncologist. Geographic limitations are an important consideration (see above).

 

  • How competitive is the radiation oncology match?

Very. Radiation Oncology attracts students with great boards scores, strong letters of recommendation from mentors, and ample research experience.

 

  • What must a student do to match well in radiation oncology?

Students must obtain great board scores, demonstrate research productivity, and produce strong letters of support from mentors who know you well.

 

  • What are residencies looking for in a radiation oncology resident?

Strong credentials will open the door for an interview. Beyond that, programs are looking for someone who can carry on a normal conversation and has a pleasant personality.

 

  • What should students be looking for in a radiation oncology residency?

It can be interesting to look at where graduates end up after residency. There is a wide variety in the quality of didactics, with most radiation biology and physics courses being something that you just have to endure no matter where you match.

 

  • What else would you tell medical students who are considering radiation oncology?

While radiation oncology offers a desirable schedule and good compensation, it is important to go into the field for the right reasons. Keep in mind that as a radiation oncologist, you will be taking care of patients who are very ill, and are often approaching the end of life. To be successful, you will need to develop the skill of navigating these sensitive discussions with agility, and sometimes it can be emotionally exhausting. At the same time, helping patients and their families work through these scenarios is very meaningful and fulfilling work.

 

Editor's Note: For more help choosing a specialty in medicine, I highly recommend one or both of these two great books. I found both very useful.

 

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Spotlight Interview: How to Match in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

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Choosing a Specialty, How to match in....?, PM&R, The Match

May 30, 2015

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PM&R Vintage

 

A Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Resident’s Perspective:  From an interview with a PM&R resident from Ohio.

 

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • How competitive is the PM&R match?

Matching in PM&R is not as competitive as some fields, such as radiology, neurosurgery, dermatology, etc. However, it also used to be a relatively unknown specialty. Medical student exposure to PM&R has improved and the number of applicants seems to be steadily increasing, so it is becoming more competitive.

 

  •  What must a student do to match well in PM&R?

A student looking to match well in PM&R should focus on the same things students would pursuing other specialties. Like any specialty, doing well on boards is important. Most programs have now instituted board score cut-offs for applicants, which are around 200-220 for USMLE Step 1. In general, students should perform well on their clinical clerkships throughout medical school, and a rotation is PM&R is preferred. Strong supportive letters of recommendation, including one from someone in PM&R, is preferred. At least some exposure to or participation in research is also a plus.

 

  • What are residencies looking for in a PM&R applicant?
PM&R residencies look for all the usual strengths in an applicant like good board scores and academic performance, good clinical performance on your clerkships, research exposure, etc. In my experience, PM&R residencies also tend to appreciate individuals with additional interests like sports and music. There are many in PM&R who followed non-traditional paths to medicine and may have had other careers first. Personality is also very important, as it takes pretty caring and compassionate people to be providers for individuals with disabilities as well as an ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team. In addition to a student's application, their interview day with a residency program will be very important

 

  • What should students look for in a PM&R residency?

If you are pursuing PM&R but not yet sure whether you want to do a fellowship, look for a well-rounded PM&R program with opportunities for exposure to the subspecialties. I looked for a program with a good balance of inpatient and outpatient clinical duties and wanted exposure to all the major areas: Sports/MSK, stroke, TBI (traumatic brain injury), SCI (spinal cord injury), amputation and pediatric rehab. I also looked for programs that had an ultrasound curriculum, as well as plenty of exposure to procedures including electrodiagnosis (EMG), botox, interventional spine and baclofen pumps. Beyond curriculum, the deciding factor in residency programs for me was finding a good “fit.” I paid close attention to interactions with residents, students, fellows and faculty on interview days to try and get a feel for whether this was a place I would like to train or not. 

 

  • Do you have any advice on the application, letters of recommendation, personal statements, or how to rank programs?

Like any other specialty, having a well-rounded application is important. Although board scores are important and used as a screening tool, residencies want to see much more than that. Do at least one rotation in PM&R, even if you have to arrange an away rotation. Also try and have at least one Letter of Recommendation from someone in PM&R. I looked for well-rounded programs to rank, but ultimately my rank list came down to finding a good fit on my interview day. Pick a program where you can see yourself being both well trained and happy for 4 years

 

  • What do you wish you knew before application/interview season?  

Although I did a lot of practice interview questions before my interviews, one question I didn’t have a great answer for was “So what is a Physiatrist?” I struggled with this question because the scope of our field is pretty broad, but having a decent answer will help guide your personal statement and save you the embarrassment if asked on the interview trail

 
  • What other advice do you have for students applying for PM&R residency?  

People like to say “plenty of money and relaxation,” and although the lifestyle is good there are long days and hard days. We take care of very sick patients, many of which have experienced something catastrophic, and as their physiatrist we can be their greatest advocate or on some days just their cheerleader. In PM&R, you have to be willing to wear many different hats. Also, make sure you write “PM&R” NOT “PMNR,” and know how to pronounce “Physiatrist.”  

 

Editor's Note: Applying for residency or preparing for your interviews? I highly recommend First Aid for the Match, The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match, and The Residency Interview: How To Make the Best Possible Impression .


 

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Spotlight Interview: Why Did You Choose Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)?

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Fourth Year, Choosing a Specialty, PM&R, Why did you choose....?

May 30, 2015

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EMG2

 

 

A Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PM&R) Resident’s Perspective: From an interview with a PM&R resident from Ohio.. 

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • What attracted you to physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R)?

I initially explored PM&R because I always had an interest in neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, and I knew that physiatrists took care of patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other disorders of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. During my first rotation in PM&R was when I learned that physiatrists primary focus in helping their patients is by improving function. This focus on function is ultimately what attracted me to PM&R, because enabling patients with different abilities to function can substantially affect quality of life. Another aspect of PM&R that attracted me to the specialty was working with a multidisciplinary team to provide care. 

 

  • Describe a physiatrist's typical work day?

The workday of a typical physiatrist is quite regular, usually from about 8am to 5pm, but this can vary somewhat depending on your type of practice. There are many physiatrists who only do outpatient clinic, while others do both inpatient and outpatient. 

 

  • What type of lifestyle can a physiatrist expect?  

Lifestyle of a physiatrist can be somewhat variable depending on practice setup and location, but overall is considered to be well balanced relative to other specialties in medicine. We also have a high job satisfaction. PM&R is a very family friendly field, with plenty of free time and family time. Most physiatrists do not work nights, but there is some call coverage for those with inpatient duties. On average, call is usually about one week and one weekend per month, but can be less frequent depending on size of the department. Primary (first) call at large hospitals is most often covered by residents and fellows, and the attending is only called when needed. Call does usually include rounding on the weekend, which is usually brief.

 

  • What is the potential salary of a physiatrist?

The average salary of a physiatrist is around $180,000-190,000. 

 

  • What is the job market like for PM&R?

The job market for physiatrists is excellent both immediately following completion of residency as well as after advanced fellowship training

 

  • What can you tell us about PM&R subspecialties?

Another advantage to training in PM&R is that there are many options for subspecialty training. PM&R residents can pursue fellowship in many areas including the following: Interventional Pain/Spine, Sports Medicine, Cancer Rehabilitation, Stroke Rehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine/EMG, Informatics and Research. Most of the clinical fellowships are 1 year of additional training, and Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine can be 1 year for those who completed a combined residency and 2 years for those who completed a general PM&R residency 

 

  • What are the potential downsides of PM&R that students should be aware of?

Although I did not consider salary when making my career decisions, it is an important consideration for students to think about as many of us have student loan debt and families to provide for. One potential downside of PM&R that students should be aware of is reimbursement changes for procedures, particularly electrodiagnostic testing. The salary I mentioned earlier is at or just below the average for all physicians.

 

  • What else would you tell medical students who are considering PM&R?

I highly recommend considering a career in PM&R. It is a fairly small field of medicine but it is growing and evolving, with so many exciting possibilities particularly with advances in technology. Being a physiatrist is incredibly rewarding. It is difficult to describe what it feels like when you see someone who had a stroke, spinal cord injury, or amputation walk again, but it’s pretty awesome to be a part of the team making that happen 

 

Editor's Note: For more help choosing a specialty in medicine, I highly recommend one or both of these two great books. I found both very useful.

 

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Spotlight Interview: How to match in neurosurgery

Categories:

Choosing a Specialty, How to match in....?, Neurosurgery, The Match

May 30, 2015

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Recklinghausen neurosurgery

 

A Neurosurgery Resident’s Perspective:  From an interview with a neurosurgery resident from a top program in the Midwest.

 

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • How competitive is the neurosurgery match?

Neurosurgery is among the very competitive specialties. Still though, I think that 80% of U.S. grads match somewhere.

 

 

  •  What must a student do to match well in neurosurgery?

All students should rotate at their home institution as well as at least one away rotation (almost everyone in my medical school class did at least two away rotations).  Boards are important.  Research and publications are very well looked on, as is performance on the sub-internship.  Being a good sub-intern is not about how much you know, but rather how hard you work, how willing you are to be at the hospital constantly, and how easy to get along with you are.

 

  • What are residencies looking for in a neurosurgery applicant?
The answers are the same as what I mentioned earlier. As a resident, I want someone who’s going to work their tail off on service and not let down the rest of the team.  

 

  • What should students look for in a neurosurgery residency?

Make sure the fit of your personality matches the department.  Seven years is a long time to be miserable if you don’t like the people, no matter how prestigious the place. 

 

  • Do you have any advice on the application, letters of recommendation, personal statements, or how to rank programs?

Letters of recommendation should be from neurosurgeons (it’s a very small world), or research mentors. Perhaps other types of surgeons can write your letter of recommendation if you’ve worked with them a lot.   Other letters really won’t count for anything.  You should get one from the chair at the places where you rotate.  It doesn’t matter if you didn’t really work with them at all; they will solicit feedback from the residents and staff you did work with and their letter serves as a summary of your time there.  

 

  • What do you wish you knew before application/interview season?  

It’s well worth it to interview at a lot of places and get a “tour” of neurosurgery.  It really is a small world and you’ll run into people over and over.  

 
  • What other advice do you have for students applying for neurosurgery residency?  

It’s an awesome privilege to be able to do this stuff. Good luck!  

 

Editor's Note: Applying for residency or preparing for your interviews? I highly recommend First Aid for the Match, The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match, and The Residency Interview: How To Make the Best Possible Impression .


 

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Spotlight Interview: Why did you choose neurosurgery?

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Choosing a Specialty, Neurosurgery, The Match, Why did you choose....?

May 30, 2015

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vintage neurosurgery
 

A Neurosurgery Resident’s Perspective: From an interview with a neurosurgical resident from a top program in the Midwest. 

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • What attracted you to neurosurgery?

I knew pretty early on that I enjoyed surgery.  I liked surgery rotations, liked the satisfaction of work that was both mental and physical, liked that there is a lot of instant gratification in surgery, being able to (sometimes) fix something in a very immediate way.  Within surgery I think I could have liked a lot of rotations, but I ultimately gravitated to neurosurgery because I liked seeing people who came in pretty dramatically ill, and sometimes we were able to help, or at least mitigate the badness.  I liked the intensity of it, as well as the variety; there’s everything from tedious microsurgery for brain aneurysms to giant spine cases where you’re using big power tools.  The common denominator is that most of it is pretty high stakes.  

 

  • Describe a neurosurgeon's typical work day?

In general, days start early and end late.  As a resident I usually get in around 5:30, and the day ends when the cases are over and evening rounds are done.  Sometimes I’m out by 6, but more often substantially later.

 

  • What type of lifestyle can a neurosurgeon expect?  

Many neurosurgical problems (trauma, ruptured aneurysms, cranial or spine infections) need to be dealt with right away, whether it’s the middle of the night or the weekend.  There are some neurosurgeons that have more regular schedules than others, but most have a substantial amount of call.

 

  • What is the potential salary of a neurosurgeon?

I honestly don’t know exact numbers, but I do know it is generally high, even for surgical specialties.  I think that shouldn’t factor too much into your decision to go into it though- It’s nice to know you’re going to be well compensated, but I’ve got to think a lot of the long, off-hour, painful cases would be utter misery if your only motivation is that it pays a lot.   

 

  • What is the job market like for neurosurgery?

I don’t know- I’ll tell you when I’m closer to completing residency!  One thing to be aware of is that in general, private practice docs do more spine surgery, and more of the cranial work is done at Academic Institutions. 

 

  • What can you tell us about neurosurgery subspecialties?

Subspecialty training after residency can be in pediatrics (1 year fellowship), endovascular or open vascular (1-2 year fellowship), spine (1 year), tumor (1 year), functional (1 year), peripheral nerve (1 year).  

 

  • What are the potential downsides of neurosurgery that students should be aware of?

A large part of neurosurgery can be trying to help people with chronic pain, and they can be a challenging population.  Neurosurgeons suffer from some of the highest malpractice rates in the country.  There is much discussion in neurosurgical circles about the decreasing reimbursement for our procedures.  Much of patient volume in private practice is spine.  

 

  • What else would you tell medical students who are considering neurosurgery?

A lot of people say “only do neurosurgery if you couldn’t do anything else.”  I’m not that dogmatic, but you need to realize it’s a pretty heavy lifestyle commitment  

 

Editor's Note: For more help choosing a specialty in medicine, I highly recommend one or both of these two great books. I found both very useful.

 

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Spotlight Interview: Why Did You Choose ENT?

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Otolaryngology, Why did you choose....?

May 11, 2015

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Neck Dissection
 

An Otolaryngology (ENT) Resident’s Perspective: From an interview with an ENT resident at from the Midwest.

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • What attracted you to ENT?

I was attracted to surgery initially.  After shadowing in ENT I realize that I really enjoyed the anatomy, I enjoyed the personalities that I encountered in the specialty and I thought that the idea of treating deafness with cochlear implants and the idea of helping kids with cleft lip really exciting.

 

  • Describe a otolaryngologist’s typical work day?

Work is usually in the office or in the operating room.  Some ENTs split their day between both, but most have "clinic days" and "OR days".  A resident will round in the morning (early like surgery) and either go to the assigned OR or go to the assigned clinic.  Rarely do residents have days to just do floor work after internship.  After the day's work is done residents will finish any consults from the day, round on the patients in the evening and sign out to the covering resident.  

Attendings will typically come in to start their OR or clinic in the morning, check on their patients during the day, and head home when the work is done.

 

  • What type of lifestyle can a otolaryngologist expect?  

ENT lifestyle is good.  Most ENTs have predictable hours and flexibility to arrange their schedule to avoid working late into the night.  In private practice, ENTs finish by 5 o'clock and their family can count on them to be home.  In academic practice, there can be more evening meetings or emergent consults; and family flexibility is important.  Many ENTs are in academic medicine or practice in private groups and divide call across the group. 

 

  • What is the potential salary of a otolaryngologist?

$200-300k for someone starting academic job, 400-600k+ for private (Midwest estimates)

 

  • What is the job market like for otolaryngology?

There seems to be a shortage of ENTs currently and private groups are recruiting heavily across the country.  Academic jobs are available, but may require flexibility on location to get exactly what you are looking for.  Fellowships are generally available, although trends seem to ebb and flow & are unpredictable.  (i.e. recently facial plastics fellowships were very popular: twice as many applicants as positions, but not the case this year (2015))

  • What can you tell us about otolaryngology subspecialties?

Options for otolaryngologists include General ENT, Head and Neck Oncology, Facial Plastics and Reconstructive surgery, Advanced Pediatric Otolaryngology, Laryngology, Rhinology/Allergy, Otology/Neurotology, Skull Base, Surgery, Sleep Medicine.  All differences in salary are mainly determined by private vs. academic setting.

+General ENT- no extra training, most are in private practice with great salary and wide open job market

+Head and Neck oncology- 1-2 year fellowship required, almost all are associated with academic department, most likely type of ENT to have long hours- because surgeries are complex and urgent due to cancer treatment.  Airway and bleeding emergencies happen in the patient population, so call can include overnight emergencies requiring surgery.

+Facial plastics and reconstructive surgery: 1-year fellowship, there is variability within this subspecialty from purely cosmetic facial plastic practice to free flap reconstruction after major cancer surgery.  The lifestyle of the cosmetic surgeon in private practice can be as glamorous as it sounds.  The free flap surgeon lifestyle resembles the head and neck-oncologist.

+Advanced pediatric otolaryngology- 1-2 year fellowship, generally associated with tertiary referral hospital and/or academic center.  Lifestyle is a bit busier because they are more likely to have ICU patients than General ENT counterparts.  Kids are frequently getting things stuck in their trachea at night so call often involves surgery.  

+Laryngology- 1 year fellowship: voice surgery, again typically associated with academic center/tertiary hospital.  Some of these ENTs treat professional vocalists and their practice may resemble the cosmetic (posh) clinic.  Most laryngologists have consistent hours but airway emergencies can be quite stressful.  

+Rhinology/Allergy- 1 year fellowship. Generally specialize in sinus surgery and there is a trend to managing allergy.  May be in private or academic setting.  Lifestyle is good because emergencies are rare- consults can generally wait until office hours.  Somehow billing has been very favorable for rhinology and they are in demand because their practice is lucrative.  

+Otology/Neurotology- 2 year fellowship. Focus on treating ear disease and ear surgery including operations on the internal auditory canal (between the brainstem and the inner ear.)  They are associated with tertiary referral centers/academic centers and have a good lifestyle- consults can generally wait for business hours.  

 

  • What are the potential downsides of otolaryngology that students should be aware of?

The residency is a surgical residency and that comes with the long hours, pimping, and no service cap.  ENT does not have strong history of research and there are many aspects of treatment which are based on expert opinion as the best evidence.  If you want evidence like cardiology has- it just isn't there yet.  You will encounter snot, ear wax, tracheostomy secretions, pus from neck infections.  If this is unacceptable- stay away.  

 

  • What else would you tell medical students who are considering otolaryngology?

Many ENT's enjoy all of the gizmos.  Our academic meetings feature many companies coming up with gadgets, scopes and tools for work in the ear/nose/throat.  Robotic surgeries are becoming common in ENT practice.  Minimally invasive surgery is progressing rapidly.  Some of the first applications of 3D printing in medicine have occurred in ENT.  If  you love innovation, look into this specialty.  We have been curing deafness with cochlear implants for decades.  There are many more examples.

There is a big variety within the field and you can perform simple procedures like ear tubes or tonsillectomies- all the way to reconstructing a baby's trachea or removing the voicebox for cancer treatment.  We frequently work alongside other specialities; neurosurgery has overlaps, endocrine surgery with the thyroid and parathyroid glands, oral surgery, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery etc.   

Another strength of the specialty, in my opinion, is that there is no direct medical counterpart (for example neurosurgery and neurology).  Which means that we treat head and neck diseases and we decide when to treat medically and when to treat surgically.  

 

Editor's Note: For more help choosing a specialty in medicine, I highly recommend one or both of these two great books. I found both very useful.

 

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Spotlight Interview: Matching in Family Medicine (Ohio Resident)

Categories:

Family Medicine, How to match in....?, The Match

April 5, 2012

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A Family Medicine Resident’s Perspective:

From an interview with a family medicine resident from Columbus, OH

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • How competitive is the family medicine match?

Not so much.  If you want to go out West you'll need a higher score on USMLE Step 1, but matching in Family Medicine is much less stressful than some fields.  It's more focused on determing where you fit well in terms of residency.

 

  • What are residencies looking for in a family medicine applicant?
Good work ethic, intelligence, compassion, and passion for the field they've chosen.

 

  • What do you wish you knew before application/interview season?  

Family Medicine interviews are more like wining and dining.  Residency programs have one real goal, and that is to figure out if you would be a good fit for their program.  With this in mind, the best thing you can do is be yourself.  Wherever you interview, ask yourself, "Would I be happy living here and working with these people for the next three years?"

 

  • What should students look for in a family medicine residency?

It depends on if you know what type of Family Physician you want to be.  If you want to practice OB when you're finished with residency you should find a program that emphasizes OB/GYN training.  If you want to work in a rural area than a rural FM residency would likely be a good fit because that's where you'd be most likely to be "the only doc in town."  Location is a very important consideration and should not be discounted either.  You need to find a place where you will be happy living.

 

  • What other advice do you have for students applying to family medicine residency?

Be excited.  Family Medicine is a great field that will provide you with incredibly rewarding experiences on an almost daily basis.  You will also be able to make a very respectable living and have a great lifestyle.  What more could you ask for?

 

 

 

Editor's Note: Applying for residency or preparing for your interviews? I highly recommend First Aid for the Match, The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match, and The Residency Interview: How To Make the Best Possible Impression .


 

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Spotlight Interview: Why Did You Choose Family Medicine? (Ohio Resident)

Categories:

Family Medicine, Why did you choose....?

April 5, 2012

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A Family Medicine Resident’s Perspective: From an interview with a family medicine resident from Columbus, Ohio.

Part of an interview series entitled, "Specialty Spotlights", which asks medical students' most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

    • What attracted you to Family Medicine?

I grew up wanting to be a doctor because of the influence of my own family doctor in my life.  I love the emphasis that Family Medicine places on developing long term relationships with patients.  This provides a daily reminder that behind every disease is a person with hopes, dreams, and fears.  I also have a passion for nutrition and fitness and I have found that developing great rapport with my patients is an essential step before they will trust me enough to make dramatic and important lifestyle changes.  I really enjoy the breadth of knowledge that my field requires.  It excites me to realize that, of necessity, I will be learning for the rest of my life.

 

  • Describe a Family Physician's typical work day?

This depends on what type of work you choose to do.  Family Physicians can choose to work in an outpatient setting only, as a hospitalist, in an ER, or in an urgent care center just to name a few possibilities.  A typical Family Physician who works in an outpatient setting will work from 8:00 or 8:30 am until 5:00 or 5:30 pm, M-F.

 

  • What type of lifestyle can a Family Physician expect?  

Again, this largely depends on how you choose to practice.  Call responsibilities range from no call at all to one weekend in 8 to call every other day.  If you're interested in providing OB care or in working in a very rural area your call responsibilities are likely going to increase.

 

  • What is the potential salary of a Family Physician?

There's a lot of regional variation, but across the country most FPs make somewhere between $130k and $350k with the average being somewhere around $200k for most FPs in their peak years.  That being said, I know one FP that makes $50k per year and one that makes $500k per year.  Again, there's a wide amount of variation.  Also, many locations will offer loan repayment to family physicians that practice in their communities.

 

  • What is the job market like for Family Medicine Doctors?

In a word, excellent.  Family physicians are needed everywhere and residents are recruited heavily starting in their first year of residency.

 

  • What are the potential downsides of Family Medicine that students should be aware of?

There are some negative misconceptions about Family Medicine that come out strongly in most academic institutions (e.g., you can't go into FM if you rock the USMLE because it would be a waste of your talent, FM offers very little opportunity for research, etc.).  Also, your compensation can depend in large part on how business-savvy you are and how efficiently you organize your office.  This is becoming less of an issue as more FPs are employed by hospitals or HMOs, but is still a consideration for most small groups.

 

  • What else would you tell medical students who are considering Family Medicine?

Family Medicine is a wonderful field.  As a Family Physician you will have the opportunity to impact the lives of your patients in ways that almost no other physician can.  You will see your patients at some of the best and worst moments of their lives, and they will come to greatly trust and value your advice.  Daily patient encounters as a Family Physician can be incredibly rewarding.  Family Physicians have almost limitless career opportunities both in terms of where they want to practice and in terms of how they set up their practice.  This amount of freedom is amazing.

 

 

Editor's Note: For more help choosing a specialty in medicine, I highly recommend one or both of these two great books. I found both very useful.

 

 

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Spotlight Interview: Matching in Radiology

Categories:

How to match in....?, Radiology, The Match

April 5, 2012

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From Hartford Hospital

 
 
A Radiology Resident’s Perspective:

From an interview with an radiology resident from New York City, NY

Part of an interview series entitled, “Specialty Spotlights“, which asks medical students’ most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • How competitive is the radiology match?

Last year (2011) it wasn’t even specified as “competitive” by the NRMP. However, in general, radiology is a popular choice. I considered myself a consistent but average medical student, and had no trouble getting plenty of interviews. Be realistic with your choices, and don’t think about of the cost of your application. If you are feeling insecure, cast a wide net and spend some time asking yourself what really matters in a program.

 

  • What are residencies looking for in a radiology applicant?
Well first of all, board scores. It is the first screen they put all candidates through. But you were already going to do your best, weren’t you? Once you have the interview, just try to be amiable and show good communication skills. Don’t be too forward, arrogant, or serious. This is all opinion but I don’t think your potential as a radiologist can be divined by an interview. They are just looking for someone they wouldn’t mind sharing space with for 4 years! Try to relax and enjoy it.

 

  • What do you wish you knew before application/interview season?  

If you know you are going to rank a place at the bottom of 10 or more programs, consider cancelling your interview.

 

  • What should students look for in a radiology residency?

I will only mention what is most important: Find the residents, talk to all of them, and ask yourself if you would enjoy seeing them every day. Sure, the upper levels will be gone by the time you get there, but the environment you see will not be much different.

 

  • What other advice do you have for students applying to radiology residency?

You have made the right choice. You will match. Anyone who says anything different (e.g. co-interviewees) knows nothing about it and is probably just trying to get inside your head for petty reasons. Don’t let them succeed… spend your time talking with positive, supportive friends and family. Use advisors. If yours is unhelpful or cannot answer your questions, find an ‘unofficial advisor’ who can cheer you on. They need not be radiologists. They should not be hard to find, the good ones are usually very involved with students.

 

Editor's Note: Applying for residency or preparing for your interviews? I highly recommend First Aid for the Match, The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match, and The Residency Interview: How To Make the Best Possible Impression .


 

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Spotlight Interview: Matching in Ophthalmology (Hopkins Resident)

Categories:

General, How to match in....?, Ophthalmology, The Match

April 5, 2012

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An Ophthalmology Resident’s Perspective:

From an interview with an ophthalmology resident at Johns Hopkins University

Part of an interview series entitled, “Specialty Spotlights“, which asks medical students’ most burning questions to physicians of every specialty.  See what doctors from every specialty had to say about why they chose their specialty and how to match in their residency.

 

  • How competitive is the ophthalmology match?

Ophthalmology is pretty competitive. It is not as bad as plastic surgery, but it is one of the most difficult matches right now.

 

  • What are residencies looking for in a ophthalmology applicant?
The top programs are all academic institutions, so a good research foundation definitely helps. The field is small and well informed, they like to see early and/or definite commitment to the field.

 

  • What do you wish you knew before application/interview season?  

I did not know about the postings on studentdoctor network. If you go online to the studentdoctor network website during interview season you will see that there is a place where people post interview dates and times as soon as they get them.  There is usually also a calendar with all the interview dates listed.  If you can not find a calendar, make your own.  Often you will get interview invites and if you respond in more than a couple hours there are no more interview spots left. Check email every 3 minutes, you just have to do it. Respond to interview invitations within minutes of receiving email.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  I cannot agree more with this advice.  Click here to go to the main SDN ophthalmology page. Click here to see the link to the ophthalmology interview thread from 2011.

 

  • What should students look for in a ophthalmology residency?

You will have to decide for yourself what options you prefer, but here are some of the most important questions when evaluating a program because they represent major differences and distinctions: location, small vs. large program (i.e. 3 residents per year vs. 8 per year), front loaded work and call vs. evenly distributed, home vs. in-house call, research faculty/area/time devotion/expectations, strength and notoriety of the faculty, training style (autonomy vs. faculty guidance), facility and equipment (new slit lamps? teaching scopes? etc), is there a VA, is the VA hours away or in another state, is the VA clinic resident run.  In my opinion, a strong resident run VA clinic is a must.

 

  • What other advice do you have for students applying to ophthalmology residency?

It’s early match so somehow you need to try out the rotation and decide early.  Once make a decision, you need to starting getting your application packet together early. Remember, they want to know that you are committed, this is hard to do because your application is due near the beginning of your 4th year.

 

Editor's Note: Applying for residency or preparing for your interviews? I highly recommend First Aid for the Match, The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match, and The Residency Interview: How To Make the Best Possible Impression .


 

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