Transcript Strolling Through the Match - University of Tennessee

STROLLING THROUGH THE MATCH
Presented by
Owen P. Phillips, M.D. and Debbey Hester
The Beginning of the End
…or the end of the beginning
THE APPLICATION TEAM
Letter Writers
●
●
●
●
●
●
Owen Phillips, M.D.
Gerald Presbury, M.D.
Renate Rosenthal, Ph.D.
David Stockton, M.D. (Knoxville)
Robert C. Fore, M.D. (Chattanooga)
The Faculty (excluding the MSPE)
Application Coordinator
●
Debbey Hester
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION
910 Madison Avenue, Suite 1043
Memphis, TN 38163
Tel: 448-5684 | Fax: 448-7085
http://www.uthsc.edu/medicine/studentaffairs
STTM OVERVIEW
●
●
●
●
●
Medical Student Performance Evaluation
Letters of Recommendation
Preparing your Curriculum Vitae
Writing your Personal Statement
Applying for Residency
 Nat’l Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
 Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
PREPARING FOR YOUR FUTURE
Designed Programs
●
AAMC Careers in Medicine (CiM)





●
●
Appraising The Challenge
Self Assessment
Surveying Alternatives
Evaluating Alternatives
Achieving Commitment
Career Day (January)
Strolling Through the Match (STTM)
PREPARING FOR YOUR FUTURE
The Process
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
experiences prior to medical school
summer preceptorship
research experiences
clerkship experiences
specialty interest groups
senior electives
attending Alumni panel
seeking out private practice experiences
speaking to specialty counselors
remembering family & significant other
Curriculum Vitae & Personal Statement
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
Getting Ready for the Match
Preparation for Success
● Be certain about career choice
 Narrowed it down - or come see me
● Talk with Clerkship Director (and others) to answer
nagging worries about career choice
● Once certain about career choice, talk with department
chair
 competitiveness of specialty, where to apply,
outside rotations, etc.
● Get CV together
Getting Ready for the Match
Preparation for Success
● Write your personal statement
● Consider who should write you letters of
recommendation
 contacting his/her secretary to schedule an
appointment
● Debbey Hester schedules ALL MSPE appointments
 Scheduling begins July 11, 2011

Instructions for scheduling MSPE appointments will
be sent via email late June
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
CURRICULUM VITAE
A ‘CV’ is…
● Your life course
● The course of your life
● An organized document of how you have spent your
professional life
 not intended to be a philosophical statement, but
rather a fact sheet with order and content
● On paper, it’s who you are professionally
CURRICULUM VITAE
Format
● One page
● Good quality paper
● White or near white
● Ordered and structured
CURRICULUM VITAE
Do NOT need to put your…
Age
Marital status
Names of children
SS # or NRMP #
Place of Birth
Courses taken
Career plan
CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
The Header (top of page)
● Identifying Information
 Full name
 Address
 Telephone number
 E-mail Address
CURRICULUM VITAE
The Body
• Education



college, NOT high school
School, years of attendance, major, degree
Add GPA, class standing ONLY if it’s
impressive
CURRICULUM VITAE
Honors
Alpha Omega Alpha, 2011
Presidential Scholarship, UTK, 2005 – 2009
Summer Honors Research Scholar, 2007
Activities
Vice President of Academic
Affairs, 2010-present
President of Class Notes, 2009-2010
TIP:
Do NOT list all; limit your society
memberships unless an officer.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Employment
TIP:
List chronologically.
Electrocardiogram technician,
Methodist Hospital, Summer, 2002
Chemistry lab assistant, UT, Knoxville, 2006-2007
Research
UT, Knoxville 2006-2008
Investigated cardiac output of rats under the
influence of nitrous oxide. Under supervision of
Dr. Thomas Mitras
TIP:
Be prepared to
discuss your research. List
reverse chorological order.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Publications & Presentations
Presented National Association of Rat Biologists,
2009.
“Effects of Nitrous Oxide on Cardiac Output of
Rats”
Personal Interests
Painting, hiking, photography
Special Abilities
Capable in sign language, fluent in Spanish
CURRICULUM VITAE
Summary
• Try to keep to one page
 Exception: Research and publications
• Ask friends, family, faculty to proofread and
comment
• Be prepared to discuss any research documented
• Explain any awards
TIP: Don’t include GPA, Class Rank
●One page
●Good quality paper
●White or near white
●Ordered and structured
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
PERSONAL STATEMENT
A Personal Statement is…
● In contrast to CV, personal statement may be
philosophical
● A narrative
● About the past that is relevant and as importantly,
what the future dream is
● Who you are that is not revealed in your transcript
or your CV
● Doesn’t describe your life chronologically
● An introductory sentence to capture interest
PERSONAL STATEMENT
A Personal Statement tells…
● Why I chose medicine
● How I chose this specialty
● Where I see myself
● Insight into family and very special interests
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Format
● One page long
● Have others proofread: spelling, proper
English, flow & appropriateness of content
● Use good paper & a font that is easy to read
● Use humor
● Talk about fears, poignant events in life if
they are relevant
● Be positive about the traits you possess that
will help make you a good resident
PERSONAL STATEMENT
• Suggestions
 This is your own statement; individualize
 Make an attempt to reveal who you are on paper
• Pitfalls




Be careful talking about religion practices
Too long or too short
One long paragraph
Make it reader friendly
More issues with personal statements
• Don’t use it to explain bad grades
• Or explain step score failures?
• And what about future plans?

Optional
CV & PERSONAL STATEMENT
Summary
● CV & PS quality will not make or break you
● May induce a great deal of interest and augment ‘the
numbers and grades’
● Poor grammar or sloppiness may hurt
● Bring a good copy of CV and personal statement with
you when you meet with faculty about writing a
reference letter
Quote from
Hillel the Elder, Jewish Philosopher
“If I am not for myself, who will
be for me?”
“… And, if not now, when?”
What do you think…
Plus or Pitfall?
“At this point in time, I see
myself pursuing a fellowship in
sports medicine…
In the future, I see myself
practicing in a medium sized
community working with the
local high school and college
teams while at the same time
serving the various members
of the community…”
What do you think…
Plus or Pitfall?
“From summer camp to teenage
youth director, I have always
loved being around kids – shy,
screaming, laughing,
unreserved, honest kids…
The pediatric ward reinforced
my feelings in real time…
An equally rewarding aspect of
pediatrics is preventive
medicine…”
What do you think…
Plus or Pitfall?
“In his essay on the profession of
medicine, Sir William Osler writes that
the medical field strives for a time,
‘when there should be no more
unnecessary death, when sorrow and
crying should be no more, and there
should not be any more pain.’…”
“Though I intend to first and foremost become a clinical
physician, I also plan to participate in investigation and
education throughout my career…
The balance for which I search in my career will unite
direct and honest patient care with practical discovery
and education. A residency in internal medicine will
provide the ideal foundation for this pursuit…
I see myself not only as a future leader in providing
health care to my community, but also as a leader
outside of medicine as a respected citizen,
neighborhood advocate, author, and role model…”
What do you think…
Plus or Pitfall?
“In my journey through medical school, I have realized that
pursuing a career in family medicine will allow me to
address several of my special interests while also allowing
me to serve me community effectively…
My interest in adolescent populations is one of the main
reasons I am opting for a career in family medicine…
I also hope to address the needs of the special
populations…”
“I have learned that people with substance abuse issues
present a special set of challenges, and I plan to use what I
have learned in a prevention effort in my community…
I had some academic difficulties in the basic sciences as a
result of my difficulties with test taking. I was able to
address these difficulties in a decelerated curriculum that
allowed me to spread out the traditional preclinical courses
and focus on each course in more depth…
Returning to a full-time curriculum for my clinical
clerkships…
Though it was personally difficult for me to accept a
change in the course I had planned, I am grateful for the
additional enriching opportunities…”
Medical Student Performance
Evaluation (MSPE)
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
THE MSPE…
The MSPE is a comprehensive assessment regarding
comparative performance.
● It should describe, in sequential manner, the
student’s performance, as compared to peers,
through 4 full years of school.
● It should be an assessment of both academic
performance and professional attributes.
● It should be 2-3 pages in length and appropriately
formatted with appendices.
THE MSPE…
Is neither a letter of recommendation
nor a prediction of future performance
in residency
THE MSPE…
Format
●
●
Identifying Information
 Identifies you as a fourth year medical student
at the University of Tennessee Health Science
Center
Personal Comments / Noteworthy Achievements
 demonstrated leadership
 research abilities
 community service
 significant challenges/hardships
THE MSPE…
Format
●
Academic History
 graduation and matriculation dates
 breaks, gaps, LOA
 Transfer school and dual degreed program
information
 explanation of remediated coursework
 explanation of adverse actions
THE MSPE…
Format
●
Academic Progress
 basic sciences & introduction to
clinical medicine (PCC/DRS)
 required clinical core clerkships and electives
reported thru mid-October
THE MSPE…
Format
●
Summary
 summative assessment of comparative
performance relative to peers
 reference to unique characteristics /
accomplishments
 overall performance in basic medical sciences &
clinical clerkships with emphasis on
professional attributes
THE MSPE…
Format
●
Overall Medical Student Performance
Rating
 GPAs taken from GPA/Class Rank
report (available early September)
OVERALL
MEDICAL
SCHOOL
PERFORMANCE
Outstanding
(0.00-0.00)
Excellent
(0.00-0.00)
Very Good
(0.00-0.00)
Satisfactory
(0.00-0.00)
15%
25%
50%
10%
Indicates percentage of class in each category; not an indication of class rank.
THE MSPE…
Format
●
Appendices





A – bar graph of performance relative to peers in
each preclinical course
B – bar graph of performance relative to peers in
each core clinical clerkship
C – assessment of professional attributes relative
to peers **
D – bar graph showing overall performances
relative to peers
E – medical school information page
** Not currently included in the MSPE
Letters of Recommendations
Download ERAS LOR Coversheet
for US Graduates
from Student Affairs Website
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Generally 3 - 4 are required; 4 recommended
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
ERAS will allow a maximum of 4 letters per program
department chair of your chosen specialty
senior faculty member usually in specialty of choice (i.e.,
faculty with whom you did JI)
other faculty member(s), not necessarily in specialty, who
knows you well
make appointment EARLY to review your professional goals
and answer questions
provide a CV, personal statement, transcript, and list of
programs; attach ERAS LOR Cover Sheet
don’t be shy about discussing your strengths or extenuating
circumstances
Chair’s letter
• Call to set up an appointment- do not email
• The chair is expecting you- even if you have
never met
• The interview as well as your performance on
the rotation will be enough for him to write you
a letter
• Bring with you a list of programs you are
applying to
• Ask about your competitiveness for programs
and listen to the feedback
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
~ the electronic application delivery system
ERAS
What is ERAS ?
Electronic “application delivery service ” used to
transmit applications, letters of recommendation,
MSPEs, transcripts, and other supporting
credentials from applicants and medical schools
to residency program directors using the Internet.
• Tokens will be distributed via UT email to applicants in
late June
• MyERAS available (but not live) for applicants mid July
• ERAS Post Office opens September 1st; available for
transmission of documents to programs
• Required for NRMP and some early matching services
ERAS
 ERAS is comprised of four main components:
 MyERAS is the Web site where applicants complete their
ERAS Application
 select programs to apply to, and assign documents to be received by
programs.
 DWS is the software used by the designated dean's office.
 scan and attach supporting documents to the application, such as
photographs, medical school transcripts, MSPE, and LoRs.
 PDWS is the ERAS software used by program staff to
receive, sort, review, evaluate, and rank applications.
 ERAS Post Office is the central bank of computers that
transfer the application materials from applicants and their
designated dean's office to residency programs.
 Students should NOT wait on a complete file before submitting application
 No supporting documents can be transmitted through ERAS UNTIL THE
STUDENT SUBMITS HIS/HER APPLICATION!
ERAS
How Does ERAS work?
• Applicants receive electronic token in late June to register with
MyERAS; begin completing online ERAS application.
– Worksheet from ERAS applicant resource page
– Copy of AMCAS application from Registrar’s Office
• Applicants certify/submit ERAS application to programs
beginning in September.
– USMLE receives and process requests to upload USMLE scores
• Transcript includes scores posted at time applicant submits
• School begins uploading support documents in September
• Programs begin downloading applications in September; make
interview offers
• Applicants & School can track ERAS applications using ADTS!!!
ERAS
ERAS is NOT the same as NRMP…
• You must register for ERAS separately
from NRMP
• ERAS – July
• NRMP - August
• ERAS is required for applicants enrolled in the
NRMP and the Urology matches as well as for
some branches within the military match.
ERAS
How much does ERAS cost?
● ERAS processing fees are based on the number of programs
to which you apply per specialty
● Check ERAS website for pricing
Is there a deadline for submitting ERAS applications to
Student Affairs?
● No. However, SA recommends all ERAS applications
be completed no later than October 20th
 Programs set their own deadlines
 Some specialties/programs have early deadlines
and therefore, should take priority over our October
20th deadline recommendation
APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY
~ the mechanics of the application process
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY
PATHS of Residency Application
• Advanced specialties with own Match
• US Armed Forces
• National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY
Advanced specialties with own Match

Early Match | Results faxed to our office
o San Francisco Matching Program
 http://www.sfmatch.org
 Neurology, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery
 Must register for the NRMP for preliminary year
 Uses ERAS for prelim year only; does not
require a different set of letters or PS
o American Urological Association Residency
Matching Program
 http://www.auanet.org
 May or may not require NRMP for prelim year
 Uses ERAS
APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY
US Armed Forces (Military Match)
Should also enroll in the NRMP
 Automatically withdrawn by NRMP if matched
by military
 Results faxed to our office

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
~ a coordinated matching service
Strolling Through the Match
May 2011
APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY
National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
http://www.nrmp.org
 The Match - service for matching applicants to
programs

 Provides uniform date
o
of MSPE
Absolutely NO MSPE will be released prior to
1 November
 Registration for NRMP begins August 15th
THE NRMP
Categories/Tracks of Internships
● Preliminary (P)
 Serves as prerequisite for additional post graduate
medical education in other disciplines
o Ex. Prelim medicine, Prelim Surgery
● Transitional Year (P)
 May/ may not serve as preliminary year
 Undecided about specialty
● Advanced (A)
 Begins PGY 2 and requires 1-2 years of preliminary training
o Ex. Radiology (A), Anesthesiology (A), Dermatology (A)
● Categorical (C)
 Offer positions for PGY1 with no preliminary training required
o Ex. Family Medicine, Surgery, Internal Medicine, MedicinePediatrics, Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics , Psychiatry
THE NRMP - MATCHING AS A COUPLE
Participating as a Couple
When two individuals are registered for the same
specialties matching service (e.g., NRMP), they may
participate in that Match as a couple.
• Couple’s match is not a separate match from the NRMP!
• Each partner of a couple enrolls individually in the match.
• The NRMP allows couples to form pairs of choices on their
rank order lists, which then are considered in rank order in the
Match.
• Partners can be matched into positions in the same institution
or in different institutions.
• Couples are encouraged to talk to us for assistance with
preparing their rank order lists for the Match
MATCHING AS A COUPLE
IMPORTANT!
Partners listed as a couple are treated by the Match solely
as a couple. If one partner does not match, neither
partner will matched.
If one partner wishes to withdraw, both partners must
uncouple before either can withdraw.
EMAIL
How important is EMAIL?
●
●
●
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Check daily!
Programs accepting applications via Email communicate
using Email, including announcements, questions about
one’s application and interview offers
Student Affairs uses Email to notify you of important
developments and/or alerts as it relates to ERAS or other
issues involving the application process or Student Affairs


Student Affairs uses UT accounts only!
Avoid using HOTMAIL with ERAS due to
incompatibility issues with the ERAS software
SUMMARY
Stay on top of your
application and pay
attention to your
programs’ deadlines!
SUMMARY
Avoid waiting until the
last minute to ask for
letters of support.
Submit your application
and other required
materials on time!
SUMMARY
Rumors cause problems…
Contact our office when
you have questions or have
concerns about your
application!
CLICK, CALL OR COME BY!
Online chat
Available!
We have a lot more
information to help you!
Office of Student Affairs
910 Plaza, Suite 1043
Tel: 901.448.5684
http://www.utmem.edu/medicine/studentaffairs
The Bottom Line…
Dr. Phillips wraps it up with the latest Match Trends
MATCH TRENDS
~ Total positions vs. Total Applicants (includes IMGs, previous grads, osteopathic, etc.)
Over the past several years, the competition for residency
positions has heightened.
Unmatched Applicants, Unfilled Positions
~ 2001 – 2010; Includes IMGs, previous grads, osteopathic, etc.)
Unmatched US Seniors, Unfilled Positions
~ 2001 - 2010
Available Scramble Positions
~ 2009 - 2010
Specialty Preferences of 2010 Unmatched
Seniors & Available Scramble Positions
Unfilled Positions: First Two Days
NRMP IMPLEMENTS CHANGE IN 2012
S.O.A.P.
The NRMP Board of Directors will proceed with changes
to Match Week 2012 with a new Supplemental Offer and
Acceptance Program to be implemented for unmatched
applicants and unfilled programs.
S.O.A.P.
So they say!
S.O.A.P. - Applicant Eligibility
S.O.A.P. - Program Participation
Previous Match Week Schedule
Revised Match Week Schedule
REMINDER OF TIMELINE 2011-12
Begin working on CV/personal statement
NOW!
Review your student evaluations (910 Plaza #1043)
NOW!
Begin familiarizing yourself with NRMP and ERAS via their
websites:
NOW!
http://www.nrmp.org/
http://www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm
Register and begin entering ERAS application online
Begin scheduling appointment for MSPE
Appointments begin July 20th; end October 19th*
Registration online for the NRMP
July 1
July 11
August 15
Begin transmitting ERAS applications to programs
September 1
MSPE released to all programs
November 1
NRMP Online notification of “matched” or “unmatched”
March 12
Match Day Class of 2012
March 16
* tentative dates; subject to change
Wrapping it up…
The Heartburn: Will I match?
•
•
•
•
Everyone should match.
You should take our advice
If you hear a rumor, confirm with us
There are some realities to this process
AAMC reported trends
• Number of medical school graduates going up
• Number of graduates of osteopathy schools
entering match going up
• Number of residency spots NOT going up
• Where are graduates going?

PRIMARY CARE !
Match Applicants - 2006-2010
40000
35000
30000
25000
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
Total
Apps
PGY-1
U.S.
positions seniors
D.O.
U.S.
IMG's
Non-U.S.
IMG's
PGY-1 Matches– 2006-2010
16000
14000
12000
10000
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
U.S. Seniors
D.O.
U.S. IMG's
Non-U.S.
IMG's
Percent Matched– 2006-2010
100
90
80
70
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
U.S. Seniors
D.O.
U.S. IMG's
Non-U.S. IMG's
2010 Match vs. 2009
Family Medicine:
1169, up 98
Internal Medicine:
2722, up 90
Ob/Gyn:
915, up 36
Pediatrics:
1711, up 29
Total increase in these primary care matches
253
• Total U.S. senior increase 432 (59%)
•
•
•
•
•
2010 Match-Scramble Survey
• Sent to all 126 student affairs deans on 3/29/10
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
111 replied by 4/19/10
how many seniors in match?
how many unmatched on 3/15/10?
how many unmatched on 3/29/10?
of those, how many are ready/qualified to start 7/1/10?
reason for failing to find a position.
how many post-graduates in this year’s match?
number successful.
2010 Match-Scramble Survey
•
•
•
•
•
111 (of 126) schools responded
14,623 seniors represented (NRMP = 16,070)
871 unmatched on Monday 3/15/10 (6.0%)
194 without a PGY-1 position on 3/29/10 (1.3%)
179 “ready to start” according to their student
affairs deans (1.2%)
2010 Match-Scramble Survey
•
Of those 179
 81
- not competitive for chosen field
 49
- USMLE issues
 28
- Rank order issues
 18
- Difficulty with the process
 16
- Geography
 13
- Overly Aggressive
 11
- Poor interviewing skills
 6
- Professionalism issues
 2
- Poor Letters of Recommendation
 1
- Poor advice
2010 Match-Scramble Survey
• Post-graduates in the match


921 total
512 matched (56%)
2010 Match-Scramble Survey
Conclusions:
1. The percent of successful matches for U.S. seniors
remains 93-94%
2. The number of successful matches this year for
U.S. seniors was greatly helped by 253 more
seniors going into the four primary care fields.
3. There are approximately 200 “ready/qualified to
start” U.S. seniors without PGY-1 positions at this
time for July 2010.
THEN UT HEARTBURN EXPERIENCE
• From 2008-2010
• 27 students went unmatched
•
•
•
•
2008
2009
2010
2011
9/149
5/136
7/143
6/140
6%
3.7%
5.6%
5%
THE UT HEARTBURN
Otolaryngology
Ob-Gyn
Anesthesia
Urology
1
2
1
1
Internal Med
Radiology
General Surgery
Orthopedic surg.
3
2
4
6
Step1 failures: 4
EM
Plast surg
Peds
Derm
2
1
1
1
Let us help
•
•
•
•
We don’t want to scramble anyone
Come in early to see me
I believe in a ‘parallel’ plan
Or a decision about ‘what’s the worst thing that
could happen to you’
• We are here to help
Questions?
• More to follow
• Come see me or another advisor