Preparation Your Residency Application

Preparing Your Residency Application Tamara Gay, M.D. Assistant Dean Office of Student Services The Career Development Program 4/12/2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pages CV (Curriculum Vitae)…………………………………………………………... 04 – 15 Personal Statements……………………………………………………………..… 17 – 21 Senior Year Calendar, Class of 2014…………………………………………...…. 23 – 24 NRMP (2014 Information forthcoming) Main Match Schedule (Sample Schedule for 2013)……………………………………………………...... 25 – 26 San Francisco Residency Match Schedule (Sample Schedule for 2013)………….. 27 Letter of Recommendation/Cover Sheet (Frequently Asked Questions)………….. 28 – 29 Residency Training Resources…………………………………………………….. 30

C. V. (Curriculum Vitae)

CV EXAMPLES I have selected the following CVs from the UMMS 2013 graduating class to illustrate solid examples of different types of CVs. One thing that they have in common is that they are nicely organized in chronological fashion within specific sections that highlight their activities and accomplishments. Most also include very brief active descriptions of specific experiences and activities. There are several ways to generate a good CV – there is no one way that works for everyone. None of the CVs included here are ‘perfect’ but I feel that they are good examples from which you can draft or modify your own. Perhaps you will let us use yours for next year! Finally, spend some time and effort on making your CV sparkle! Have others read it and edit it. Avoid mistakes and be consistent. Keep it honest and easy to read. Remember, the CVs here are meant only to serve an illustrations and I am grateful to the graduating seniors for letting me use their CVs in this way. - T. Gay

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NAME

Sample 1

Email: [email protected] Cell: (---) --- ---Address - City, State Zip

Education: August 2000-present

University of Michigan Medical School; Ann Arbor, MI MD Candidate, May 2013

August 2000-May 2000

Hope College; Holland, MI BA, Chemistry major, History minor

August 2000-June 2000

Berrien Springs High School; Berrien Springs, MI

Work Experience: May-August, 2000-2000 Full-time medical assistant at Great Lakes Eye Care in St. Joseph, Michigan Earned Certified Ophthalmic Assistant title from Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology

Honors and Awards: December 2000 May 200 April 2000 Aug. 2000-May 2000 Aug. 2000-May 2000 June 2000 June 2000

Making a Difference Award, Univ. of Michigan Health System Summa Cum Laude at Hope College; 0.0 GPA Phi Beta Kappa honor society induction National Merit Scholarship Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Detroit Free Press Academic All-State (top 50 seniors in Mich.) Co-valedictorian, Berrien Springs High School

Research: July 2000-present Research with Dr. Thomas Gardner, an ophthalmologist at University of Michigan, studying use of a light filter during epiretinal membrane repair June 2000-August 2000 Worked with Dr. Monte Del Monte, an ophthalmologist at University of Michigan, studying retinal proliferation pathway September 2000-April 2000 Worked with Dr. Virginia McDonough at Hope College studying fatty acid metabolism October 200-present Worked with Dr. David Cooke, an ophthalmologist, studying effect of intraocular lens style on retinal detachment rate

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NAME

Sample 2

Email: [email protected] Cell: (---) --- ---Address - City, State Zip -Page 2-

Peer-Reviewed Publication: Rice C, Last, First, Treloar N, Vollbrecht P, Stukey J, McDonough V. “A role for MGA2, but not SPT23, in activation of transcription of ERG1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2000 Dec 17; 403 (3-4): 293-7.

Abstracts Presented: Last, First, Kothary P, Del Monte MA. “The Effect of Acute Insulin Exposure on P38 Kinase Production in Human Retinal Epithelial Cells.” Presented 2000 May 2 at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting. Rice C, Last, First, Vollbrecht P, Stukey J, McDonough, V. “Genetic Regulation of Lipid Metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mga2 and pdr16 Mutants.” Presented 2000 April 30 at American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting.

Extra-curricular Experiences: August 2000-April 2000 Glaucoma Screening Committee Co-Chair with American Medical Student Association September 2000-November 2000 Project Healthy Schools: Taught 6th-grade students to improve their health August 2000-December 2000 Intramural sports at University of Michigan (3-on-3 and 5-on-5 basketball, tennis) April 2000 Ophthalmology service trip with father in Honduras, assisted in operating room 2000-present World Bible Quiz Association (WBQA) board member; director of annual WBQA tournament; coach, official, and participant at multiple events annually August 2000-April 2000 Membership Chair of Mortar Board, honors and service society at Hope College August 2000-April 2000 Historian of Alpha Epsilon Delta, pre-medical honors society at Hope College

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FIRST MIDDLE LAST

Sample 3

Address Ann Arbor, Michigan 48100 [email protected] Education 2000 – 2013 University of Michigan Medical School- MD candidate 2013 2000 – 2000 Michigan Technological University- BS Biomedical Engineering, GPA 0.00 Honors and Awards 2000 – 2000 Donald D. Finlayson Scholarship 2000 MTU summa cum laude 2000 GLIAC All-Academic Team: Women’s Track and Field 2000 – 2000 MTU Athletic Grant-Women’s Cross Country, Athletic Grant- Women’s Track and Field 2000 – 2000 MTU Board of Control Scholarship 2000 – 2000 Robert C. Byrd Scholarship Research Experience and Employment 2000 University of Michigan, Department of Family Medicine Chief Investigator: Caroline Richardson, M.D.  Received funding from the NIDDK Medical Student Summer Research Program in Diabetes to work with Dr. Richardson investigating the feasibility of using an online walking program in an outpatient clinical setting. Assisted with recruitment, coding of qualitative interviews, and manuscript preparation. 2000-2000

Michigan Technological University, Department of Biological Engineering Chief Investigator: Jeremy Goldman, Ph.D.  Investigated the development and resolution of lymphedema, specifically the role of interstitial flow and VEGF/VEGF-receptor signaling, using immunohistochemical staining and light and fluorescent microscopy.

2000

Admitting Department, Lakeshore Community Hospital, Shelby, MI  Greeted and registered patients

2000

Reception and Medical Records Assistant, West Michigan Regional Cancer and Blood Center, Fountain, MI  Assisted patients with filling out paperwork  Filing of medical records and billing

Publications Uzarski J, Last First, Gibbs SE, Ongstad EL, Goral JC, McKeown KK, Raehl AM, Roberts MA, Pytowski B, Smith MR, Goldman J. The resolution of lymphedema by interstitial flow in the mouse tail skin. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2000 Mar;294(3):H1326-34. Epub 2000 Jan 18. Goodrich DE, Buis LR, Janney AW, Last First, Krause CW, Zheng K, Sen A, Strecher VJ, HessML, Piette JD, Richardson CR. Integrating and Internet-mediated walking program into Family Medicine clinical practice. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2000 Jun 24;11:47.

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Poster Presentations 2000 NIDDK Medical Student Summer Research Program in Diabetes Research Symposium, Vanderbilt University  Bringing an internet-based walking program to family practice: a formative and feasibility study 2000

World Congress for Microcirculation Conference, Milwaukee, WI  The Role of VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 Signaling in the Resolution of Secondary Lymphedema.

2000

Gordon Research Conference, Les Diablerets, Switzerland  A Novel Model of Lymphangiogenesis and Secondary Lymphedema

Leadership Experience and Activities 2000-2000 Huron Hills Church Choir: member 2000-2000 Medrunners: co-president  Applied for funding  Organized weekly group runs 2000-2000 Medrunners: member 2000-2000 Project H: Executive Board Member, Publicity  Planned monthly activities promoting healthy eating and physical activity for children at Wayne County Family Center  Notified group members about activities and organized transportation 2000-2000 Project H: member  Helped run monthly child activities at Wayne County Family Center 2000-2000 Home Visits project  Worked with group of students to bring nurse shadowing program to medical school curriculum 2000-2000 OncOutreach  Visited with hematology inpatients 2000-2000 Service Learning and Trans-Disciplinary Education Program (SLATE)  Mentored and tutored middle school girl 2000-2000 Varsity Women’s Track and Field (Team captain 2000) 2000-2000 Varsity Women’s Cross Country (Team captain 2000)

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Sample 4

NAME Address, City, State, Zip Phone: (---) --- ----• Email [email protected]

EDUCATION 2000 - Present

University of Michigan Medical School MD candidate, anticipated May 201

Ann Arbor, MI

2000 - 2000

Brown University BA Economics, 2000  Graduated magna cum laude

Providence, RI

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 2000 - Present

2000

2000 - 2000

2000

Ann Arbor, MI Department of Transplant Surgery, University of Michigan Research Assistant  Conduct a literature search for a meta-analysis on the incidence of hepatitis C recurrence in liver transplant patients, and perform the literature appraisal and data analysis  Work on a mathematical model estimating the risk of cirrhosis in patients with posttransplant recurrent hepatitis C Ann Arbor, MI Summer Biomedical Research Program, University of Michigan Fellowship Recipient  Investigated the effect of the "CDC High Risk" label on kidney transplant allocation practices and the correspondence between the label and outcome differences  Performed all data analysis and statistical analysis, resulting in a first author publication Providence, RI Liver Research Center, Brown University Research Assistant  Studied liver regeneration and its underlying biology in alcoholic liver disease, resulting in three publications and one conference presentation  Performed lab experiments such as Western blots and small surgical procedures on a small animal model Toronto, ON Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children Clinical Research Assistant  Completed data collection and analysis on two separate clinical research projects, regarding periorbital cellulitis and ED patient flow  Participated in regular patient recruitment for multiple research projects

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS 2000

de la Monte SM, Pang M, Chaudhry R, Last First, Longato L, Carter J, Ouh J, Wands JR. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist treatment of alcohol-induced hepatic insulin resistance. Hepatology Research 2000; 41(4): 386-98.

2000

Last First, Englesbe MJ, Volk ML. Centers for Disease Control 'high-risk' donors and kidney utilization. American Journal of Transplantation 2000; 10(2): 416-20.

2000

Pang MY, de la Monte SM, Longato L, Tong M, He J, Chaudhry R, Last First, Ouh J, Wands JR. PPARδ agonist attenuates alcohol-induced hepatic insulin resistance and improves liver injury and repair. Journal of Hepatology 2000; 50(6): 1192-201.

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2000

de la Monte SM, Yeon JE, Tong M, Longato L, Chaudhry R, Pang MY, Last Fist, Wands JR. Insulin resistance in experimental alcohol-induced liver disease. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2000; 23(8 Pt 2): e477-86.

2000

Last First. Ethanol Impaired Liver Regeneration is Associated with Decreased AspartylAsparagyl β Hydroxylase (AAH) Expression. Experimental Biology Conference 2000, ASIP. (Washington D.C., 2000).

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND WORK EXPERIENCE 2000 - Present

Ann Arbor, MI Admissions Committee, University of Michigan Medical School Admissions Committee Member  Conduct admissions interviews and evaluate candidates for the University of Michigan Medical School

2000 - 2000

Ann Arbor, MI Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Anesthesia Technician Extern  Performed anesthesiology procedures such as intubation and peripheral line placement  Ran intra-operative lab tests and assisted anesthesiologists with complex surgical cases  Became familiar with airway devices and anesthesia equipment

2000 - 2000

Providence, RI 00.0 WBRU FM Radio DJ and Programming Director  Hosted a weekly radio show on a commercial radio station in Southern New England  Managed a staff of twelve DJs during a one-year term as Programming Director  Interacted and negotiated with record label representatives, artists and other industry decision-makers on a regular basis New York, NY Health Care Investment Banking, Deutsche Bank Investment Banking Intern  Conducted financial modeling for corporate clients  Researched companies in the health care sector, gaining familiarity with the overall health care industry  Participated in client meetings and produced client presentations

2000

HONORS AND AWARDS 2000-2000

Class of 1900 Scholarship

2000-2000

Vida Scholarship

2000-2000

Woodburne & Burkel Outstanding Anatomy Student

PERSONAL INTERESTS Fluent in spoken Mandarin Chinese Photography, basketball, snowboarding, running, travel

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Sample 5

NAME Address Ann Arbor, MI 48100 EDUCATION

(---) --- ---Email: [email protected] University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor MD Candidate, Expected Graduation: May 2013 University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Guaranteed Professional Program Admission: Medicine Bachelor of Science, May 2000, Magna Cum Laude Phi Beta Kappa honors society member (UIC) UIC Honors College full, merit-based scholarship Dean’s List, all academic semesters (UIC) Chancellor’s Student Award for leadership in public service, two consecutive years (UIC)

AWARDS AND HONORS

   

FELLOWSHIPS

J. William Fulbright Fellowship to Israel, 2000-00  Researched the extent and success of the absorption of Russian physicians into Israeli society during three waves of immigration  Wrote a historical portrait of the policy dialogue between the health ministry, Israeli Medical Association, hospitals and the physicians themselves  Conducted archival research, learned qualitative interview skills and interviewed policymakers, advisory committee members and physicians

RESEARCH AND EMPLOYMENT IN HEALTH AND BASIC SCIENCES U. of Michigan Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ghana, Research Assistant Summer ‘00  Collected data via interviews and surveys to validate the use of a new method for identifying and reporting maternal deaths in a rural district US Dept of Health and Human Services, Region V, Chicago, Illinois, Intern Summer ‘00  Worked directly for Assistant Surgeon General Galloway on his “Building a Healthier Chicago” campaign to achieve President Bush’s Healthy People 2000 goals  Wrote a curriculum and program plan for residential advisors at Chicago colleges to present to undergraduate freshmen on healthy eating and living on campus – implemented fall 2000 Respiratory Health Association, Chicago, Illinois, Environmental Policy intern Summer ‘00  Researched the positions of Illinois legislators on environmental policy, transportation policy and technology policy; prepared briefs for and attended lobby days in Springfield  Surveyed engineers at 35 public bus companies to evaluate their use of clean emission technology compared with Chicago’s public transit system; correlated data to asthma rates in these cities for report to city council Partners in Health, Boston, Massachusetts, Institute for Health and Social Justice intern Summer ‘00  Wrote grants for PIH’s project site in Russia working to reduce MDR-TB rates in Tomsk, Russia  Consulted on culturally-appropriate methods of improving Directly Observed Therapy adherence in Tomsk  Researched theories and implementation models of advocacy and service in global health Magen David Adom in Israel (International Red Cross) Tel Aviv, Israel, Volunteer Medic Summer ‘00  Underwent intensive 80-hour training course for “first responder” certification  Completed over 200 hours of hands-on emergency service on mobile ICU ambulances in wartime 11

Anatomic Pathology Laboratory, UIC, Research Assistant Fall ‘00-Fall ‘00  Led project on the correlation between NF-kB, UPA, COX-2 protein staining and colon cancer recurrence  Assisted in building tissue micro array and created computer algorithm of the random distribution of tissue samples for the building of the tissue micro array  Contributed to project on the correlation between the intensity of tissue factor (TF) staining and breast cancer recurrence College of Medicine Humanities Department, UIC, Research Assistant Summer/Fall ‘00  Assisted in researching and editing a book on the eradication of malaria in mandate Palestine as it relates to the greater social and political goals of the Zionist movement  Researched, read and wrote grants with the founder and director of the Global Network of Researchers in the Middle East and North Africa, an HIV/AIDS research initiative LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Service Learning and Teaching Experience (SLATE), Ann Arbor, MI, Exec board member Nov. ’00 - present  Served as a personal mentor to an 8-year-old boy in Ann Arbor’s public housing system. Met weekly for outings and tutoring  Organized and participated in interdisciplinary, faculty-moderated discussion sessions on the academic theories on causes of poverty and living with socioeconomic disparities  Trained other graduate students on mentoring skills UMMS Poverty in Healthcare Curriculum, Ann Arbor, MI, Coordinator Jan. ‘00 - present  Planned and coordinated the lectures, discussion sessions and mandatory community outreach site visits for first year medical students during a Clinical Foundations week devoted to health disparities medicine  Implemented a “food stamp challenge” for medical students and faculty to address issues of malnutrition, food deserts, lack of healthy food choices and the obesity/diabetes epidemic  Worked with faculty and deans on augmenting the emphasis on health disparities in classroom modules Jewish-Arab-Muslim Students Society, UIC, Co-founder and President ‘00-‘00  Formed student group working to recondition campus interfaith culture, promote respect, civil engagement  Organized discussion panels, arts and cultural nights, political speeches in collaboration with academic department chairs, deans, non-profit advocacy groups, foreign consulates and journalists PUBLICATIONS

1. “The Natural History and Suggested Management of Psychosomatcism.” First Last. Online publication at www.medhumanities.org. 9/8/2000. 2. “Reporting maternal mortality at the community level with a modified 4-question reproductive age

mortality survey (RAMOS)” First Last, Fist Last, Anthony Ofosu, Frank Anderson, Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2000 Jul;114(1):29-32. 3. “Adwoa” First Last. The Pharos Journal of the Alpha Omega Alpha Society. (Poetry) Autumn 2000 4. “Practical Aspects of Planning, Building and Interpreting Tissue Microarrays: The Cooperative Prostate Cancer Tissue Resource Experience,” A. Kajdacsy-Balla, First Last, V. Macias, J. J. Berman, K. Dobbin, J. Melamed, X. Kong, M. Bosland, J. Orestein, J. Bayerl, M. Becich, R. Dhir, M. W. Datta. J Mol Histol. 2000 May;38(2):113-21 EXTRACURRICULARS, HOBBIES AND SKILLS Involved in Medical Students for Choice, Students for Jamaica health outreach trip, Biorhythms dance troupe, and president of Jewish Medical Students Association; Enjoy cycling, writing, cooking and gardening. Speak Russian fluently, novice speaker of Spanish and Hebrew

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Sample 6

First Last

Address, Ann Arbor, MI, 48100 000-000-0000, [email protected]

Education 2000-2000

University of Michigan Medical School  MD program  Anticipated date of graduation: May, 2013  USMLE Step 1 score: 000

2000-2000

Kenyon College  Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Biology  Magna cum laude, GPA 0.00/0.00

Ann Arbor, MI

Gambier, OH

Work Experience 2000-2000

Research Technician Associate Ann Arbor, MI  University of Michigan: Eva Feldman MD and James Dowling MD, PhD  Investigated the role of Kindlin-2 in myogenesis and the role of myotubularin in the pathogenesis of myotubular myopathy

2000-2000

Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Bethesda, MD  National Institutes of Health, NIMH: Benjamin H White PhD  Characterized a novel acute neuronal excitability enhancer, and utilized this tool to examine the neural network underlying a fixed group of behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster.

2000

Summer Science Scholars Program Gambier, OH  Kenyon College: Christopher Gillen Ph.D. and Haruhiko Itagaki Ph.D  Observed the inter-individual variation in the scaling of metabolic rate and body size of Manduca sexta. Subsequently examined possible influencing factors and implications of this variation.

2000, 2000

Research Assistant Ann Arbor, MI  University of Michigan: Blake Roessler MD  Measured the expression of an injected transgene in a series of gene-knockout mice to determine how injected naked plasmid DNA is internalized.

2000

Teaching Assistant Gambier, OH  Kenyon College: Teaching assistant for Introduction to Experimental Biology course.

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Research Publications & Presentations  

   

 

Dowling JJ, Last First, Low SE, Gibbs EM, Kuwada JY, Bonnemann CG and EL Feldman. 2000. Loss of myotubularin function results in T-Tubule disorganization in zebrafish and human myotubular myopathy. PLOS Genetics, 5: e1000372 Peabody, NC, Pohl JB, Diao F, Last First, Sandstrom DJ, Wang H, Zelensky PK and BH White. 2000 Characterization of the decision network for wing expansion in Drosophila using targeted expression of the TRPM8 channel. The Journal of Neuroscience, 29: 3343-3353 Krashes, MJ, DasGupta S, Last First, White BH, Armstrong JD and S Waddell. 2000. A neural circuit mechanism integrating motivational state with memory expression in Drosophila. Cell, 139: 416-427 Last First, Dowling JJ and EL Feldman. 2000. Identification and analysis of proteins that bind the phosphatidylinositols modified by myotubularin. SBRP Conference. Ann Arbor, MI Dowling JJ, Last First Kim S, Golden J and EL Feldman. 2000. Kindlin-2 is required for myocyte elongation and is essential for myogenesis. BMC Cell Biology, 9: 36 Last First, Peabody NC, Zelensky PK and BH White. 2000. Acute enhancement of excitability in the CCAP neuronal network prior to eclosion using the TRPM8 channel blocks post-eclosion wing expansion. European Drosophila Neurobiology Conference. Leuven, Belgium. Kolka J, Last First and BJ Roessler. 2000. Lipopolysaccharide recognition protein, MD-2, facilitates cellular uptake of E. coli-derived plasmid DNA in synovium. Journal of Gene Medicine, 7: 956-964. Last First, Stulberg MJ, Gillen CM and H Itagaki. 2000. The relationship of metabolic and molecular variables to increased body size in larval Manduca sexta. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. San Diego, CA

Activities 2000-Present Neighborhood Senior Services Ann Arbor, MI  Provided companionship services as part of a local organization that provides support to seniors living independently in the area 2000-Present Life Sciences Orchestra Ann Arbor, MI  Member of the trombone section of an orchestra comprised of musicians in the life sciences at the University of Michigan 2000-2000

American Geriatrics Society Ann Arbor, MI  Co-President of the University of Michigan chapter of the American Geriatrics Society  Organized events for medical students, including a flu shot clinic, information sessions with Geriatrics physicians and a lecture series on the history of Medicare

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2000-2000

Domestic REACH Ann Arbor, MI  Assisted in the creation of a student organization that provides opportunities for medical students to work in disadvantaged areas within the United States  Organized an informational session with local leaders of the Ojibwe community regarding the medicine, culture and history of the Ojibwe reservations  Organized and attended a one-week experience working with IHS physicians at the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota

2000

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now Washington DC  Assisted in program to provide children with physical and developmental disabilities free recreational and sports activities

2000-2000

NIH Orchestra and Brass Ensemble Bethesda, MD  Member of the trombone section of an orchestra comprised of musicians in the NIH, with proceeds of concerts donated to NIH charities

2000-2000

Habitat for Humanity Knox County, OH  Participated in building houses with people in need of affordable housing

2000, 2000

Ann Arbor Public Schools Interlochen, MI  Camp counselor for band musicians from Huron High School at the Interlochen Center for the Arts

Honors & Awards 2000

2000

Student Biomedical Research Program Grant Ann Arbor, MI  Awarded by the University of Michigan Medical School for a funded 10-week mentored research project with Dr. Dowling, where I examined proteins that interact with myotubularin to determine the pathogenesis of myotubular myopathy Phi



Beta Kappa Gambier, OH Kenyon College chapter of national undergraduate honors society

2000

Robert Bowen Brown Jr Prize Gambier, OH  Best original independent biological research at Kenyon College

2000

High Honors in Biology Major Gambier, OH  Received high honors for research thesis, “The inter-individual variation in the allometric metabolic rate - body size scaling relationship in a population of larval Manduca sexta caterpillars”

2000-2000

Dean’s List Gambier, OH  Placed on Dean’s List during each semester of enrollment at Kenyon College

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Personal Statements

PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLES I have chosen what I think are good examples of personal statements from members of the 2013 UMMS graduating class. I have chosen to include ones that I think illustrate the kinds of elements that can be used to make a strong and unique statement. I specifically like those that draw me in right away and tell me something unique about the student. I also like those that make it clear that they have a passion for the profession that they are about to enter very early on. Importantly, I like those that make me want to meet the student and interest me in working with the student. Finally, I like those that end on a strong and enthusiastic positive note. Remember, it is important to let others read your personal statement and get feedback. If you have different people read your personal statement, you are likely to get multiple ideas about how to improve it. Listen to all of the advice you get. Some of the ideas you may dismiss and others you may take to heart – but think about the reader and why they made the suggestions that they did before you dismiss any suggestions. Listen carefully to the advice that you hear more than once as well as advice that you get from FCAs and those of us in OMSE. Avoid simply rehashing an essay that got you into medical school. Good luck! We look forward to reading your personal statements and helping you in any way we can. - T. Gay

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Sample 1

I recall starting my fourth year uncertain about my final career choice - though not for lack of options. I had enjoyed every rotation of third year, whether it was discussing the finer points of psychiatry one month or assisting on a liver transplant the next. In retrospect, that I liked almost every rotation during my third year should have been a strong hint that Internal Medicine was the right field for me all along. I valued the clinical breadth of managing multiple organ systems. I relished the challenges of treating both the healthiest of patients in clinic, as well as the sickest of patients in the ICU. And I appreciated the ability of some providers to both think like a diagnostician but also perform critical interventions as a proceduralist. Looking forward, Internal Medicine is the obvious choice. My first foray into clinical medicine came as an anesthesia technician when I was a first year student. On my first day in the operating room, I remember being impressed with the in-depth knowledge of physiology and pharmacology that the anesthesiologists possessed. They demonstrated tremendous skill and ability that had me excited about what I would learn in the clinical years ahead. However, during my time as an anesthesia tech, I found that the brief patient encounters in the pre-operative area left me yearning for more lasting relationships. When I arrived at medical school, I knew instinctively that long-term patient relationships would be very important to me as I chose a specialty. My experiences during clinical clerkships have confirmed that continuity of care remains one of my core values as a physician and Internal Medicine is an excellent field in which to build such relationships. While I hope that longitudinal care will always be a part of my career, I am equally interested in the ways that academic research can enrich my abilities as a clinician. With my undergraduate background in economics, I utilized my analytical skills to conduct health services research during medical school. After my work on kidney transplant allocation and utilization, I realized that clinical research was the perfect complement and continuation of my undergraduate education. The analytical nature of the field allowed me to apply my existing skills, expand my knowledge base, and challenge my intellect. The scope and breadth of Internal Medicine, coupled with my background in economics, positions me particularly well to pursue research in the areas of health economics and health outcomes during residency and in my career beyond. Spending my medical school years at the University of Michigan has also emphasized the value of teaching and being a part of an academic institution. As a member of the Admissions Committee, I had the privilege of spending many Friday mornings interviewing my potential future colleagues. It was an illuminating experience to hear the ambitions of students at the outset of their own medical educations, and a serious responsibility to have a part in molding future classes. Through this experience, I have become especially interested in medical education, and I know that this is something I will continue to find both humbling and rewarding as a part of my career. As the foundation for medical education, Internal Medicine is the perfect avenue to become involved in teaching. As I look ahead to a residency in Internal Medicine, I am excited at the prospect of fulfilling the career goals that are most important to me: developing lasting relationships with my patients, engaging in challenging research, and guiding the medical students that will become my future colleagues.

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Sample 2

On a scorching hot day in the rural village of Kyemekrom, Ghana, a woman was squatting in an open field, struggling and laboring as a primigravida while a group of women stood passively watching, waiting for her to uphold the tradition of delivering upright and alone. When blood started to pass instead of a fetal head, the women continued to wait. When the woman was no longer upright, they placed her on the luggage rack of a motorcycle and drove her across a gravel road to the nearest hospital, 3 hours away. She exsanguinated and died on the way. By the end of the 4 months I spent in Ghana researching maternal mortality, nothing saddened me more than the numerous stories I heard about communities failing to protect the bodies of women. Though I had already developed an interest in Obstetrics and Gynecology during my first year in medical school, my reaction to these insensible stories confirmed that there was nothing more urgent for me than to work to empower women, wherever they may live, so that they may take better care of their own bodies and so that their bodies don’t become their limitation to a productive and happy life. Over the next 2 years as a clinical student, I discovered that there were many more ways to empower women beyond advocating for reproductive choice or expanding access to health services. While I have always been passionate about social justice and underserved healthcare, I have found it equally rewarding to take part in a hysterectomy for menorrhagia and painful leiomyomas and watch as a reserved, anxious woman turns into an adventurous, ambitious spouse. The emotional connection to OBGyn that I felt in Ghana has since been complemented and reinforced by an intellectual and scientific fascination with the physiology and surgical techniques of the specialty. I remember a patient with disseminated herpes simplex and a severe pubic hidradenitis infection whose skin was healed and grafted over a month-long hospitalization, all while upholding her wishes to keep her HIV status confidential. I admired the calm composure of a resident when a patient without a foreign language interpreter and with violent fears about surgery had to be consented for a crash C-section and ultimately delivered a healthy baby. I have been privileged to witness a number of da-Vinci assisted procedures that allowed women to undergo the highest level of tumor resection and staging and still return to family and work the next day. In all of these experiences I have felt that I share the personality and approach of my future colleagues: the urge to quickly and surgically intervene on a problem, while always aware of my role as a primary care doctor, committed to upholding my patient’s priorities and managing her health in the long-term. There is another trait that I bring to all of my endeavors: passionate curiosity. During my clinical years I routinely asked, “why this way? Why not that option? Could this be made better?” At a time when science doesn’t have all the right answers, asking the right questions can fuel research and innovative solutions. Ultimately, I look forward to a diverse career, motivated by curiosity and quality improvement. I want to operate and deliver, teach, and write medical journalism. I want to perform comprehensive reproductive procedures. I especially want to take part in caring for the underserved, at home or abroad. What surprised me the least during my stay in Ghana was how resilient and savvy women are despite great pain, great responsibilities and great loss. It is because I am so inspired by women that I am excited to become their partner in health, from preventative care to pelvic exenterations, from menarche, through menopause and for the rest of their lives.

19

Sample 3

Crunch… thump… thump… thump… crunch… thump… went the man’s ribs as I leaned over performing chest compressions on his frail body. Moments earlier he had been wheeled in by EMS, unconscious and intubated with just the slightest suggestion of a palpable pulse. While we began performing the primary survey he was hooked up to the cardiac monitor and we caught a hint of peaked T waves before his rhythm decompensated into ventricular fibrillation. All around orders came out: “Get the pads! ABG! Calcium gluconate! Charging! Shock… meds… shock… meds… shock… pulse!” He began to moan and move about the gurney, and we set to work figuring out who he was and what had brought him to us that evening. I had considered the specialty throughout my medical school career, but it was during that resuscitation as an M4, at two o’clock in the morning, that I solidified my decision to become an emergency physician. There is much to love about emergency medicine, but three main areas attract me to the discipline: ample opportunity for cognitive and intellectual decision making, a wide array of procedures and hands‐on work, and the opportunity to have a rewarding impact on the lives of patients from all walks of life. Emergency medicine requires a tremendous amount of thinking, as patients present to the emergency department with any and every chief complaint imaginable. As an M4 on my emergency medicine clerkship I enjoyed taking de novo histories and physicals on undifferentiated patients and formulating a differential diagnosis. In addition, the opportunity to interpret a vast array of laboratory studies, imaging modalities, and diagnostic procedures made me feel like a detective during each of my shifts. I reveled in the constant exposure to new and interesting medical problems and searched out and digested the medical literature in between patients’ rooms to bolster my knowledge. In no other medical setting have I felt as cognitively stimulated as I have in the emergency department. In addition to thinking, emergency physicians work with their hands. When I was young my father taught me how to work on cars, remodel a home, and play the guitar. During my undergraduate career I studied mechanical engineering and built solar powered race cars, cutting edge robots, and industrial pumps. As an M3 I discovered that I enjoyed suturing, cannulating, and resuscitating and sought out as many procedural opportunities as were available on my clerkships. As an M4 in the emergency department I learned how to set broken bones, clear cervical spines, and repair large lacerations; often all within the same shift and frequently on the same patient. I look forward to expanding and honing my procedural skills as a resident in order to better diagnose and treat my future patients. Above all, the opportunity to have a rewarding impact on the lives of patients of any age, gender, race, creed, or socioeconomic status draws me to emergency medicine. I changed careers from engineering to medicine to interact more closely with the general public while having a positive impact on my local community. As an M1 I lead a student group called Domestic Reach that focused on domestic health care inequalities and organized a trip to a reservation in northern Minnesota to learn about Native American health. As an M2 I volunteered at the Delonis Center (a local homeless shelter) by working in their urgent care clinic and distributing donated medications to people in transition. As an M4 on my emergency medicine clerkship I diagnosed and treated CEOs, prostitutes, college students, drug dealers, single mothers, and scared children. While I enjoyed all of my clinical clerkships I felt most at home in the emergency department treating patients in need from every corner of society. Medicine is a diverse field and the vast number of specialties speaks to the varied ways in which one may practice as a physician. For me, emergency medicine provides the intellectual challenge, hands on fulfillment, and diversity of rewarding patient interactions that I strive for as a clinician.

20

Sample 4

I can still feel the pressure as her friends’ eyes focused on me, as I listened to Erica’s lungs and heard extensive wheezing. In the slums of Quito, Ecuador, I encountered this first true test of my clinical judgment and leadership during the summer of 2009. For the past several weeks, I had been seeing patients in our urgent care clinic as part of The Quito Project, a University of Michigan student group that sought to apply a multidisciplinary and evidencebased approach to improve healthcare in a single neighborhood. As a member of the group’s senior leadership, I directed the work of thirty undergraduate, medical, dental, and public health students. Despite only finishing my first year of medical school just a few weeks earlier, I was forced to decide whether to take her to a local hospital, when I was admittedly unsure of the gravity of her illness and of the quality of care she would receive. I later felt vindicated after making the call to go to a downtown private hospital, where she was treated for an uncontrolled asthma exacerbation, as I had suspected. Although the urgency in this case will become regular for me in my career, this experience helped me to realize early in medical school that I am drawn to and thrive in daunting situations that require quick and decisive action. Over one year later, as a third year student on the wards, another experience reminded me of my passion for taking charge of the management of acutely ill and complicated patients. I became engrossed in the care of a middle-aged veteran with familial hypercholesterolemia who had suffered his second myocardial infarction. I participated in the management of his entire course late that night, from his initial emergent medical care to consulting the interventional cardiology fellow. The next morning, I coordinated with the cardiology service to arrange for cardiac catheterization and later with the cardiac surgery team to schedule his second coronary artery bypass grafting operation. Once in the operating room, I specifically noticed the surgeon’s central role, as he continuously integrated information from and coordinated the roles of each member of the team throughout the operation. I then fully realized that cardiothoracic (CT) surgery demands that a surgeon routinely develops complicated care plans for critically ill patients suffering from serious cardiac diseases. I also appreciated that, in this complex case, a surgeon was best able to provide definitive treatment for this acutely ill patient. Similar to the challenge I faced in Quito, this clinical experience re-emphasized that I flourish when my ability to provide unwavering care is tested. Undoubtedly, I will dedicate my career to performing major operations to heal patients whose lives hang in the balance. As an aspiring member of the specialty of CT surgery, I believe that it is vital to educate myself about the challenges that the field currently faces, including an anticipated shortage of CT surgeons over the next decade. After reading the 2009 article in Circulation projecting the declining number of CT surgeons, I felt compelled to confront and overcome this issue. Therefore, I developed a project to understand the reasons underlying the upcoming shortage by researching women’s and minority medical students’ attitudes toward CT surgery. With a serious imbalance between the supply of and demand for CT surgeons predicted by 2025, I believe it is essential to examine the reasons for both women’s and underrepresented minority students’ traditionally low interest in CT surgery. With the insights gained, I wish to develop novel methods to increase enthusiasm for CT surgery among female and minority medical students in order to enlarge the pool of candidates that will comprise a new generation of CT surgeons. Given my poise during tenuous clinical situations and my involvement thus far in the field of CT surgery, I am confident that I can one day thrive in the challenging role of a surgeon. As a resident, I will dedicate myself to developing into a skilled surgeon who will not shy away from providing innovative and effective surgical care to the patients in greatest need, while directly contributing to the advancement of the discipline of cardiothoracic surgery.

21

Senior Year Calendar Class of 2014

NRMP 2014 Main Match Schedule San Francisco Residency Match Schedule Letters of Recommendation for Residency Frequently Asked Questions Residency Training Resources

Senior Year Calendar Class of 2014 2013 April 12

Career Selection and Residency Application: Part III – Presentation followed by M4 panel; Questions & Answers regarding early/middle phases of residency application process

May 6

Appointments may be scheduled on-line for Dean’s letter (MSPE – Medical Student Performance Evaluation) (https://soleus.msis.med.umich.edu/signup/)

June Meetings are conducted with Deans for MSPE through August July 1

Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) opens on the web (https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras)

Mid August NRMP – Application process begins (http://www.nrmp.org) August 29

Deadline - for completion of interviews for MSPE

September 15 Students begin applying to residency programs via ERAS on the web (https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras) September 19 Interviewing for Residency Programs Seminar October 5

Military Match recommends registration by Friday 10/5 (date is tentative)

October 1

MSPE’s are released including those to military and early match programs

November 30 Deadline - NRMP Application registration (without assessment of $50 late fee) 2014

(dates are tentative)

SF Match Rank Order List Due Match Results Released Ophthalmology Thurs., Jan 2, 2014 Thurs, Jan 9, 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(dates are tentative)

Urology

Thurs. Jan 2, 2014

Mon. Jan 20, 2014

Mid-January Rank Order List (ROL) data entry online begins (http://www.nrmp.org) January 23

What you need to know about Ranking and Matching

23

Senior Year Calendar cont Class of 2014 2014 February

Rank Order List data entry ends AAMC Graduation Questionnaire available online

March 21

Match Day

May 16

Commencement Ceremony

June

Complete AAMC Graduation Questionnaire online (Graduation requirement)

THIS CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE MEDICAL SCHOOL

24

NRMP: Residency Match: 2013 Main Match Schedule

Page 1 of 2

SAMPLE (2012-2013 Timeline) HOME

| CONTACT

Search

2013 Main Match Schedule

PARTICIPANT GROUPS

• US SENIORS • INDEPENDENT APPLICANTS • INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS

September 1, 2012

Registration opens at 12:00 noon eastern time for applicants, institutional officials, program directors, and medical school officials.

November 30, 2012

Applicant early registration deadline Note: Applicants may register for $50 until 11:59 p.m. eastern time. Applicants who register after November 30 must pay an additional $50 late registration fee ($100 total fee) until February 20, 2013, when registration closes.

January 15, 2013

Rank order list entry begins Applicants and programs may start entering their rank order lists at 12:00 noon eastern time.

January 31, 2013

Quota change deadline Programs must submit final information on quotas and withdrawals by 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

February 20, 2013

Deadline for registration and ROL certification

USER GUIDES FAQs

• APPLICANTS • INSTITUTIONS AND PROGRAMS ABOUT RESIDENCY

• APPLICATION PROCESS • GME REFERENCES • ENSURING MATCH INTEGRITY • MATCH ALGORITHM • IMPACT OF ROL LENGTH DATA AND REPORTS SCHEDULE OF DATES POLICIES

• MATCH AGREEMENTS • VIOLATIONS POLICY • WAIVER POLICY • CASE SUMMARIES • STATEMENT ON PROFESSIONALISM HOW TO LOG IN

Rank order list certification deadline Applicants and programs must certify their rank order lists before 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Staff will be available to answer your questions during the final deadline hours. CERTIFIED applicant and program rank order lists and any other information pertinent to the Match must be entered in the R3 System by this date and time. Withdraw deadline Independent applicants who have accepted a position through another national matching plan or by agreement outside the Matching Program must withdraw before 9:00 p.m. eastern time. March 11, 2013

Applicant matched and unmatched information posted to the Web site at 12:00 noon eastern time. Filled and unfilled results for individual programs posted to the Web site at 12:00 noon eastern time. Locations of all unfilled positions are released at 12:00 noon eastern time only to participants eligible for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP).

March 12, 2013

Programs with unfilled positions may start entering their Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) preference lists at 11:30 a.m. eastern time.

25

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/yearly.html

2/20/2013

NRMP: Residency Match: 2013 Main Match Schedule

Page 2 of 2

SAMPLE (2012-2013 Timeline) March 13, 2013

Programs with unfilled positions must finalize their firstround Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) preference lists by 11:55 a.m. eastern time. Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) offer rounds begin at 12:00 noon eastern time.

March 15, 2013

Match Day! Match results for applicants are posted to Web site at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) concludes at 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

March 16, 2013

Hospitals begin sending letters of appointment to matched applicants after this date.

Note: SOAP-eligible unmatched applicants shall initiate contact with the directors of unfilled programs only through ERAS. Other individuals or entities shall not initiate contact on behalf of any SOAP-eligible unmatched applicant prior to contact from directors of unfilled programs. Such contact is a violation of the Match Participation Agreement. Contact between programs and matched applicants prior to the general announcement of 2013 Match results at 1:00 p.m. eastern time Friday, March 15, 2013 also is a violation of the Match Participation Agreement. Updated 06/05/2012

© 2012 NRMP | COPYRIGHT NOTICE | PRIVACY STATEMENT | SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

26

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/yearly.html

2/20/2013

SF Match - General Timetable

Page 1 of 1 SAMPLE (2012-2013 Timeline)

General Timetable For more detail information, please select your specialty on the left-hand side menu to be directed to the specialty home page. Thank you!

RESIDENCY MATCHES Specialty

CAS Target Date

Rank List Due

Match Results Released

Training Begins...

Neurotology

n/a

Thurs., Oct 3, 13

Thurs., Oct 10, 13

July 2014

Ophthalmology PGY-2

Wed., Sep 5, 12

Tues.,Jan 8, 13

Tues., Jan 15, 13

July 2014

Plastic Surgery

Wed., Oct 5, 12

Tues., May 7, 13

Tues., May 14, 13

July 2014

FELLOWSHIP MATCHES

New Programs Register

Here

Specialty

CAS Target Date

Rank List Due

Match Results Released

Training Begins...

Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

n/a

Mon., June 3, 13

Mon., June 17, 13

July 2014

Adult Hip & Knee/Tumor

Mon., Oct 3, 12

Fri., April 12, 13

Fri., April 26, 13

July/Aug 2014

Cranio Surgery

n/a

Tues., Nov 5, 13

Tues., Nov 12, 13

July 2014

Facial Plastic Surgery

n/a

Thurs., June 6, 13

Thurs., June 13, 13

July 2014

Movement Disorders New!

n/a

Fri., Sep 7, 12

Fri., Sep 14, 12

July 2013

Neurocritical Care

n/a

Tues., June 18, 13

Tues., June 25, 13

July 2014

Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle

n/a

Tues., Mar 26, 13

Tues., April 2, 13

Aug 2014

Ortho. Sports Medicine

Wed., Oct 10, 12

Tues., Mar 26, 13

Thurs., April 11, 13

Aug 2014

Orthopaedic Trauma

Mon., Oct 29, 12 Deadline

Tues., March 5, 13

Tues., March 12, 13

Aug 2014

Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Mon., Jan 14, 13

Thurs., Aprl 11, 13

Thurs., April 18, 13

July 2014

Ophthalmology Fellowship

Wed., July 17, 13

Tues., Dec 10, 13

Tues., Dec 17, 13

July 2014

Pediatric Dermatology

n/a

Thurs., Aug 15, 13

Thurs., Aug 29, 13

July 2014

Pediatric Neurosurgery

n/a

Tues., Dec 3, 13

Tues., Dec 10, 13

July 2014

Pediatric Orthopaedic

Mon., Oct. 8, 12

Thurs., April 11, 13

Thurs., April 18, 13

Aug 2014

Pediatric Otolaryngology

n/a

Thurs., May 9, 13

Thurs., May 16, 13

July 2014

Procedural Dermatology (Mohs Surgery)

n/a

Tues., Dec 3, 13

Tues., Dec 10, 13

July 2014

Rhinology

Ongoing

Thurs., May 30, 13

Thurs., June 6, 13

July 2014

Spine

Mon., Sep 17, 12

Tues., April 2, 13

Tues., April 9, 13

Aug 2014

© 2013. San Francisco Matching Programs. All Rights Reserved.

27

http://www.sfmatch.org/general/general_timetable.htm

2/20/2013

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR RESIDENCY Frequently Asked Questions 1.

Q – How many do I need? A – At least 3, maybe 4. Varies with the field. You can submit a maximum of 4 letters in ERAS. The MSPE (Dean’s Letter) is not included in this number.

2.

Q – Who should I ask? A – Clinical faculty who know you well and can comment on your clinical skills and qualifications for residency training. Some specialties require a “chairs” letter written by the chair of the department or the chair’s designee. For Internal Medicine and Surgery, you should have a chair’s letter. In general, it is best to have 2-3 letters from a faculty in the field you want to match into. While getting letters from senior faculty who are well-known in the field can be helpful, it is ideal to get letters from people who have worked closely with you and know your skills. No letters from residents and fellows.

3.

Q – Where should my letters be sent after they are written? A – For applicants who use ERAS, the letters should be sent to: Barbara Sharp ERAS Coordinator Office of Medical Student Education University of Michigan Medical School C5110 Med Sci I 1301 Catherine Ann Arbor, MI 48109 SPC 5611 Non-ERAS, Early Match applicants should go to www.sfmatch.org, find your specialty field and fill out a Request for Registration form. You will then be taken through the Central Application Services steps for letters of recommendation.

4.

Q – What is the deadline for Letters of Recommendation (LOR) to be submitted? A – There is no established deadline, but you should get letters in by 9/1 for Early Match (sent directly to San Francisco Match), and 9/15 for the Regular Match (sent to OMSE). Programs can access available LORs beginning 9/1. One or two late letters are okay, but, most, if not all should be in by 9/15 at the latest.

5.

Q – Should all the letters be from faculty in the field in which I am applying? A – Depends on the field – ask your FCA. For most applicants, 2 or 3 letters from faculty in your field, and 1 or 2 from other faculty is the norm.

28

6.

Q – Do I need separate letters for preliminary or transitional year programs? A – No. You can send the same letters as you send to your primary match field, but you can ask letter writers to modify a letter for the PGY 1 year.

7.

Q – What if I apply in more than one specialty? Do I need different letters? A – Yes, and you will have to work carefully with the ERAS Coordinator (Barbara Sharp) in OMSE to make sure the different letters are sent to the correct programs

29

Residency Training Resources Office of Student Programs C5124, Med Sci I 764-0219

Books How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School by Richard J. Stelzer Resumes and Personal Statements for Health Professionals by James Tysinger Resume Power by Tom Washington The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match by Samir Desai Web based Resources University of Michigan Medical School Career Development Program www.med.umich.edu/medschool/osp/careerdev/ FREIDA Online - a listing of all U. S. residency programs and contact information available at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html – Careers in Medicine - sponsored by the AAMC, is designed to assist you in understanding your specialty options as well as selecting a residency program to meet your career objectives. The Careers in Medicine website has been recently updated and improved. The website is: https://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/. Click on New to Careers in Medicine? Create an account. – CareerMD.com - a commercially developed, free interactive Residency Directory available at http://www.careermd.com. CareerMD.com has a complete searchable Residency Database, featuring residency addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail and home page links, and Program Statements and Staff Profiles.

30

Career Selection and Residency Application: Part III

Tamara Gay, M.D. Assistant Dean for Student Services Friday, April 12, 2013

MD May M3/M4 Career March M4 MATCH! Path Timeline February M4 Submit Rank List January M4 Finish Interviews January M4 Early Matches October M4 Start Interviews September M4 Submit Residency Application ERAS Register for NRMP May - Aug M4

Do “Decision” Electives, MSPE Solicit Letters of Support Write Personal Statement Polish CV Take Step 2 CK & CS Exam (December 1 deadline) Register for CS Exam Early

February-April M3 Nov – M3 May M3

Select and Meet with Faculty Career Advisors Residency Planning Seminars in Medicine

Attend OSS Career Seminar, Visit AAMC Website Start Clinical Clerkships - Career Exploration

Today…



Presentation (45 min)



M4 Career Advising Panel – Q & A (45 min)

Residency Application Preparation



Step 2 Planning



MSPE



C.V. and Personal Statement



Letters of Recommendation



ERAS

2013 UMMS Match    



Overall match = 96.5% (NRMP) ~ 41.6% primary care matches, close to national 29.2% of the class doing residencies at UMMS Outstanding overall match with great representation of top programs throughout the country SOAP had very few highly desirable spots open

Current Tasks       

Meet with Faculty Career Advisors (FCA’s) Focus on Career decision making Update CV, begin personal statement Schedule MSPE appointment (mid-May) Focus on possible letter writers Formalize Step 2 plans Begin data collection – specific programs

Still Undecided? 

Meet with FCA’s, Class Counselor, Dr. Tamara Gay - SOON!



No panic necessary, but prompt planning is needed



Remember, each year at least 20% of the class doesn’t finalize career planning until M4 mid-summer

If you think you might be at-risk 

Meet with FCA’s, Class Counselor, Dr. Tamara Gay - SOON!



Focus on Modifiable Factors



Think about possible back-up plan(s)

Early Matches 

Urology Match (uses ERAS) to transmit application materials



Ophthalmology = “San Francisco Match” (uses CAS) to transmit application materials 



Must request transcript via Wolverine Access

Both move the process up by 4-6 weeks – so have application ready to go by early-mid August

Step 2 Planning 





U of M Requirement: To take Step 2 (CK & CS) by December 1 “New Normal” for programs is having Step 2 scores as part of your application materials Frequent question: How will you do on Step 2 vs Step 1? 

Probably about the same, some students have significantly improved their score with dedicated preparation

Step 2 Planning cont 

For results to be available by application release date of 9/15, take Step 2 CK by midAugust



70% of Program Directors (P.D.’s) consider Step 2 scores to offer interviews (2012 P.D. Survey)

MSPE (Dean’s Letter) 

Summarizes the student’s medical school performance; serves as the official medical school review of the student



Released to programs October 1, 2013



Importance to residency programs varies

MSPE (Dean’s Letter) cont 

Revised (for 2013-2014) template will be sent to you electronically



Includes Evaluation of both academic/clinical performance as well as professionalism, communication



It is NOT a letter of recommendation

MSPE continued Letter Writers:    

Assistant Dean Steve Gay Assistant Dean Tamara Gay Associate Dean Mangrulkar Assistant Dean Santen The letter is a template, and is uniform from Dean to Dean

Sign up for Dean’s Letters begins on Monday, May 6th at 12:01 pm https://www.umms.med.umich.edu/signup/

MSPE Letter continued Components 







 

Summary of basic student information (e.g. dates of matriculation, leaves of absence, dual-degree study) Unique Characteristics-meaningful personal experiences of both curricular and extracurricular nature (very brief) Annotated transcript of M3 clinical clerkship performance – very brief representative comments from faculty evaluations Summary statements on professionalism, communication, and overall clinical performance Histograms of grade comparisons/distribution Each student is able to review their MSPE before it is released

Letters of Recommendation 



Choose letter writers who can authentically speak to your clinical skills and performance Ask if the faculty member can write you a “strong, supportive letter of recommendation”   



Meet with the letter writer Provide CV and Personal Statement (draft is ok) Describe your “highlights” and let them know if there are specific areas you are worried about

Having writers who are of national prominence or, are senior faculty may be helpful, especially in difficult match fields Discuss with your FCA – Make connections!

Letters of Recommendation continued 

How many: usually 3 or 4 - at least two in your chosen field. Some specialties ask for a “Chair” or departmental letter - check to see



Research mentors, basic science faculty, bosses from previous work, etc., are generally not used as letter writers

Letters of Recommendation continued 

Faculty are accustomed to a cycle of writing letters in mid to late summer 

 



You may ask now, but wait until mid-late July to send your formal request/reminder and paperwork

Waive your right to read the letter Information is in your handouts and/or see C-Tools https://ctools.umich.edu/ Class of 2014 and the Medical Student webpage under M4 Residency Application Resources Watch for emails from Barbara Sharp

ERAS 





Requires an on-line entry of information into a template that has categories for your demographic information, C.V., and personal statement Budget for the ERAS costs (only 2013 costs available currently)  Estimate costs You will need to register SEPARATELY for ERAS and the NRMP

C.V. - ERAS 

Your actual C.V. is not submitted to ERAS. It will look similar to the below categories within the actual ERAS Application ERAS Categories for C.V. Content

     

General Information Examinations Medical Licensure Medical Education Honors/Awards Undergraduate Education

     

Work Experience Volunteer Experience Publications Language Fluency Hobbies / Interests Other Accomplishments

C.V. – ERAS continued 



 

You may not be able to fill in all the ERAS categories - don’t worry In ERAS, you are limited to their categorieson CV you may combine categories or modify them to highlight your accomplishments The look should be clean and professional The content should be factual, true, and non-embellished

C.V. – ERAS continued 

Avoid long narratives – Outline form  ERAS has generous character limits  Be succinct, in ERAS explain activity in 3-5 carefully chosen sentences or outlined phrases  On CV best to have bulleted outline  Watch tenses, parallel structure, active voice

C.V. – ERAS continued 







Focus on medical school activities/accomplishments For prior medial school years – only include major highlights (awards, unique experiences, publications) Only include Accepted (not submitted) publications and upcoming presentations Concise is best, please don’t try to “Pad”

C.V. – ERAS continued 5/21/2010 – 10/30/2010 As part of the Summer Biomedical Research Program I worked in Dr. Smith’s lab on a project to study TBox genes in mice that can lead to cardiac defects when there are mutations to understand the kind of defects caused by the mutations. This resulted in my co-authorship on one manuscript. I also presented this research in a poster format at the symposium for Summer Biomedical Research here at the University of Michigan in November of 2009.

No

C.V. – ERAS continued 5/21/2010 – 10/30/2010 • Summer Biomedical Research Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. David J. Smith, Professor of Cardiology • Analyzed congenital cardiac defects resulting from TBOX5 mutations in transgenic mice • Correlated TBOX5 RNA and protein levels with observed cardiac defects • Employed MRI studies, performed autopsies, and assisted with pathological analysis of cardiac structure in affected mice • Conducted statistical analysis on cardiac outcomes of TBOX5 mutations • Co-wrote manuscript and presented results at local research meeting

Yes

C.V. – ERAS continued “Pitfalls”     

Poor contact #s Poor organization Missing information Chronological gaps Too long, narrative

 





Too fancy or unique Grammar or spelling mistakes Small or hard to read font Overstated, Exaggerated, unbelievable

Personal Statement



An honest, engaging, and succinct description of your medical journey –



Samples are found in the “Preparing Your Residency Application” (pages 17-21) in CTools and the Medical Student Webpage

Personal Statement Characteristics  





Concise, one page is best Conveys energy, enthusiasm, positive outlook Makes the reader interested in meeting and getting to know you Provides unique identifiers - personal characteristics that will be linked with you throughout the selection process

Personal Statement Read by Program Directors/Faculty Members 

Demographics: Age 40 to 50 + years



Have read 100’s to 1000’s of Personal Statements



Are looking for a low risk, low maintenance but enthusiastic resident

Personal Statement What Residency Directors Want to Know   

 

Why you chose their field? What do you know about it? What unique contributions are you bringing to this specialty (their program)? Why you are well-suited for this career? Your general career plans?

To How Many Programs? 





It costs money to apply, but it is unwise to limit yourself at the application stage You will not interview at all programs to which you apply CAUTION: Some well-meaning FCA’s may advise you to apply to fewer programs than is appropriate because they think you are a great applicant. Thank them, and then apply to more programs, seriously!

The Importance of Applying to a Broad Range of Programs 



A few students who have been unsuccessful in the match in recent years have been too “top heavy” in their application list and interviews Make sure you apply to some 2nd and 3rd tier programs so you will have a range of interview offers and will eventually be able to rank at least a couple safe and acceptable programs

Your Timeline and Progress 





See calendar and other residency related materials located in C-Tools / Class of 2014 Resources /Residency Application Resources www.ctools.umich.edu/ and the medical student website www.med.umich.edu/medstudents/ This summer focus on making a good final decision and preparing your application Don’t worry about interviewing yet - we will have a session September 19th on Interviewing and Evaluating Programs

Timeline July - mid August 

    

 

Register for Step 2 exams by July 5th, TAKE IN SUMMER/EARLY FALL Finish career exploration rotations Finalize career decision Continue working on CV and Personal Statement Ask faculty (3-4) for letters, some will need “Chair” letters Work on ERAS (online application – plan to submit application by 9/1 through initial date of release to programs is 9/15) Continue learning about specific residency programs Authorize release of your medical school transcript for ERAS: Email to Barbara Sharp in OMSE-OSS (ERAS Coordinator) [email protected]

Timeline Mid August - September  



 

Finalize CV/Personal Statement Follow up with letter writers re: submission of letters Choose programs to apply to with help of faculty advisor and MSPE writer Review MSPE letter (by late August) Plan to submit ERAS online application - not sooner than September 1

Timeline Fall - Winter September  Register for NRMP (The Match) October - January  Interview (withdraw from programs no longer being considered)  Write thank you notes November  Take Step II exam by December 1 deadline  Late fee for NRMP registration – after Nov 30th January - February  Develop and enter Rank Order List online via NRMP March  Match – Friday, March 21, 2014!

Who to Contact in OSME-OSS for Help 

Questions about ERAS, NRMP or Early Match: 

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Barbara Sharp, ERAS Coordinator [email protected] 763-2380 Pamela Beatty Cupitt, Administrative Manager [email protected] 936-3697

Questions about Career choice, At-risk, or Special situation: 

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Dr. Tamara Gay (through Charlotte Wojcik) [email protected] 763-3772 Amy Tschirhart, Class Counselor [email protected] 936-1513

Career Resources 

AAMC Publication: Roadmap to Residency –  Available as a PDF – we will send it to you electronically

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Books  The Successful Match - 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match Rajani Katta MD, and Samir P. Desai MD, 2009 AAMC Careers in Medicine website https://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/.  Please enter your AAMC user name and password. This is the same login information used to access the AMCAS Application, MCAT, ERAS, etc. Click on New to Careers in Medicine? (CiM) Create an account. NRMP website – http://www.nrmp.org/ Freida website – lists all U.S. residency programs http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html  Many specialty websites via Freida and CIM Journals - active issues in the field

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Need More Help? 

Talk to M4s who have just been through the process. Use your Med Family members to obtain advice

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Come see us in OMSE-OSS

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Check out AAMC, NRMP, Frieda websites

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Talk to faculty

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Read! Reflect!

The Keys to Your 2014 Match Success 

Remember, it’s a MATCH:   

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Do your homework:   

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Give yourself broad and realistic options LISTEN closely to others’ assessments of you Have a BACK-UP plan Learn about the field(s) Prepare a strong application Apply to enough programs

USE your resources (FCAs and OSS)