Hello there! This is my first of many posts about The Match!
Today is the first day you can register for your ERAS token via ECFMG (for IMGs) for the 2017 match! This token basically allows you to use the ERAS system for applying to residency. You cannot apply to residencies without it. It is not necessary to get the token the first day it opens, but it just finally allows you to log into the application service and start uploading or getting familiar with it.
To get the token follow these steps:
1. Login to ECFMG's Oasis
2. Click on "ERAS Support Services" on the left hand side
3. Register for the token! ** There is a $105 fee associated, once paid you'll get the token
Once you have the token #, you can log in to myERAS (you'll have to create an AAMC if you haven't already)
Important to note for 2017 matchees:
Submitting applications:
You can begin submitting your application on September 6th! Programs are not able to look at applications until September 15th. All applicants that submit between the 6th and 15th will be dated the 15th (so don't think that programs will see if you submitted the 7th rather than the 6th etc).
I highly highly HIGHLY recommend submitting your application before September 15th. This cannot be stressed enough! As you are researching programs, you will notice many have application deadlines well into December. Even if they accept applications later, you don't want to be placed in the 3rd or 4th group because they may have filled all their interview spots before you've even submitted. Point blank: Submit by September 15th (earlier too just in case there is a glitch on the ERAS system or something)
The Match:
The NRMP is separate from the ERAS system. The NRMP is "The Match" and you can register for that beginning September 15, 2016.
Cant wait to share this journey with my fellow matchees! (don't even know if that's a word) :)
Monday, June 20, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Annual OBGYN meeting
About a month ago, I attended the national ACOG meeting in Washington D.C along with a few other UMHSers. I would encourage everyone to attend a national annual meeting for whichever specialty you are wanting to pursue either in your 3rd or 4th year. ACOG is the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Here is a list of the organizations by specialty:
Here is a list of the organizations by specialty:
Family Medicine – American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) http://www.aafp.org/
Internal Medicine –American College of Physicians (ACP) http://www.acponline.org/
Pediatrics – American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) http://www.aap.org/
Psychiatry – American Psychiatry Association (APA) http://www.psych.org/
Surgery – American College of Surgeons (ACS) http://www.facs.org/
Obstetrics & Gynecology – American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) http://www.abog.org/ -- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) http://www.acog.org/ -- American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society (AGOS) http://www.agosonline.org/
The ACOG meeting had specific events just for medical students! The first session was "OBGYN as a Career." There was a forum filled with generalists, specialists and residents each providing their view of OBGYN. They spoke to the challenges and highlights of the career and where they see the field going. The second session was all about residency. It was again a panel but this time of program directors from around the country, a recent graduate who just matched into the specialty and a resident. They all provided great advice on what to expect during the residency match, interviewing etc.
The second day was filled with round tables. This was probably my favorite part because it was much more personal 8-9 students per "speaker". The first round table was regarding residency again and each table had a program director that we could ask questions galore to. They talked about what's important to consider when choosing which programs to apply to and what programs are looking for. The second roundtable was about your CV and personal statement. We had a resident at our table that he is the first to look at all the personal statements that come through his program. He told us what stands out to him, what should be avoided etc.
A fun event they had was a Skills lab. They had suturing stations, models for delivering a baby, doing pap smears, inserting IUDs, fetal heart tracing etc. This was provided by practicing OBGYNS that volunteered. I enjoyed participating in the activities but since I had experienced a majority in my core rotation already, I used this chance to pick the brains of the physicians running the activities. They were all more than willing to discuss anything regarding the field!
The most important part of the weekend was the residency fair. 25-30 programs had tables set up manned by residents and program directors that we could meet, ask questions and learn more about their programs. This was incredibly valuable. You can learn a lot about a program by looking at their website but it's different to actually talk and meet with the residents to get the overall feel of the program. I was also able to network and meet people.
Overall, I would high recommend all students to attend at least one annual meeting. Even if it's not the field you are interested in but it is happening close to where you are living, Go! A lot of the information presented in the residency sessions were geared towards OBGYN but were also valuable for all specialties and approaching the match in general.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Psychiatry Core Rotation
To be completely honest, I was not looking forward to completing this rotation. Mostly due to the uncomfortableness of the subject but I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed. A lot of the patients just want to be listened to and you just have to have compassion.
I completed the rotation at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and it was a great experience. The hospital is like a hotel and the people are just friendly all around. It was a breath of fresh air after my surgery rotation that wasn't exactly filled with the kindest of people. It just goes to show that the environment in which you surround yourself with really matters! Another great aspect of this program is they allow you to experience many different forms of psychiatry; child psychiatry, inpatient, outpatient, crisis intervention in the ER, consult psychiatry and visiting a drug rehab program.
My first week I spent doing consult psychiatry. These was a good experience and eased me into interviewing patients. These patients were admitted for a medical problem but since being in the hospital have developed a psychiatric condition or always had an underlying psychiatric condition. The doctor you work with is a pleasure to work with. He makes the week fun but also a learning experience.
My second week I spent doing crisis intervention. Danbury hospital has a great behavioral health portion of the ER. It was hit or miss with the business of the day depending on how many people came it. I worked hand in hand with social workers and nurse practitioners and developed my interviewing skills.
My third and fourth weeks I spent inpatient. I really enjoyed being inpatient. This is where you got the exposure to acute conditions. I worked with a fabulous, very knowledgable psychiatrist and really learned what good interviewing technique looked like.
My fifth and sixth weeks, I spent outpatient. Mainly working with patients that were in an Intensive Outpatient Program, attending therapy everyday. I got to sit in on many therapy sessions and truly understand all the different types.
Every monday afternoon all the psychiatry students would met, one would interview a patient while others observed and then we would discuss the case with a physician. The was probably the highlight of the rotation. The physician created a comfortable environment where we could state our opinions even if it meant disagreeing with what he thought was the diagnosis and encouraged us to defend our answers (which usually resulted in him being right but we learned but was wrong with our thinking ;))
We also have to complete three full H&Ps which was an great learning experience. They were critiqued and given back to us. I had written lots of medical H&Ps but the psychiatric H&P includes many different aspects including the mental status exam which we had never learned before. We always learned how to do a mini mental status exam but a full mental status exam involves much more.
We also had many lectures given by physicians.
I highly recommend this rotation even if you don't want to go into psychiatry because this is the last time you'll get trained if you don't go into psychiatry and take advantage of a great program!
Preparing for the Shelf:
I felt super prepared for this shelf, I studied a lot and the material just seemed to make sense to me. I had a hard time determining what the best resources for the shelf would be at first. A lot of the books I had only had DSM IV and I wanted to make sure I was studying DSM V. I used First Aid for Psychiatry and it is GREAT! I also watched DIT videos for a general overview as well as completed all uWorld questions. I had extra time in the end so I chose to look over Pretest questions but it was a DSM IV book so I had to pick and choose which questions to do.
I officially finished my last core and last shelf. The only thing standing between me and graduation is 4 more months of electives and Step 2 CK!
I completed the rotation at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and it was a great experience. The hospital is like a hotel and the people are just friendly all around. It was a breath of fresh air after my surgery rotation that wasn't exactly filled with the kindest of people. It just goes to show that the environment in which you surround yourself with really matters! Another great aspect of this program is they allow you to experience many different forms of psychiatry; child psychiatry, inpatient, outpatient, crisis intervention in the ER, consult psychiatry and visiting a drug rehab program.
Danbury Hospital
My first week I spent doing consult psychiatry. These was a good experience and eased me into interviewing patients. These patients were admitted for a medical problem but since being in the hospital have developed a psychiatric condition or always had an underlying psychiatric condition. The doctor you work with is a pleasure to work with. He makes the week fun but also a learning experience.
My second week I spent doing crisis intervention. Danbury hospital has a great behavioral health portion of the ER. It was hit or miss with the business of the day depending on how many people came it. I worked hand in hand with social workers and nurse practitioners and developed my interviewing skills.
My third and fourth weeks I spent inpatient. I really enjoyed being inpatient. This is where you got the exposure to acute conditions. I worked with a fabulous, very knowledgable psychiatrist and really learned what good interviewing technique looked like.
My fifth and sixth weeks, I spent outpatient. Mainly working with patients that were in an Intensive Outpatient Program, attending therapy everyday. I got to sit in on many therapy sessions and truly understand all the different types.
Every monday afternoon all the psychiatry students would met, one would interview a patient while others observed and then we would discuss the case with a physician. The was probably the highlight of the rotation. The physician created a comfortable environment where we could state our opinions even if it meant disagreeing with what he thought was the diagnosis and encouraged us to defend our answers (which usually resulted in him being right but we learned but was wrong with our thinking ;))
We also have to complete three full H&Ps which was an great learning experience. They were critiqued and given back to us. I had written lots of medical H&Ps but the psychiatric H&P includes many different aspects including the mental status exam which we had never learned before. We always learned how to do a mini mental status exam but a full mental status exam involves much more.
We also had many lectures given by physicians.
I highly recommend this rotation even if you don't want to go into psychiatry because this is the last time you'll get trained if you don't go into psychiatry and take advantage of a great program!
CT sunset with students on the lake
Preparing for the Shelf:
I felt super prepared for this shelf, I studied a lot and the material just seemed to make sense to me. I had a hard time determining what the best resources for the shelf would be at first. A lot of the books I had only had DSM IV and I wanted to make sure I was studying DSM V. I used First Aid for Psychiatry and it is GREAT! I also watched DIT videos for a general overview as well as completed all uWorld questions. I had extra time in the end so I chose to look over Pretest questions but it was a DSM IV book so I had to pick and choose which questions to do.
I officially finished my last core and last shelf. The only thing standing between me and graduation is 4 more months of electives and Step 2 CK!
Took my shelf in Philadelphia right next to Independence Hall
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