Didn't do so hot in matching

[orthobone7]

Just matched to ortho, but didn't do so hot. I need advice. Ultimately, I would like to go into academic medicine, and I'm wondering how much the quality of residency training would affect my chances.

Would training in top tier fellowship program be enough to bring my chance up for an academic position?

On a separate note, is there a ranking for fellowship programs?
Also, what does one need to match to a good fellowship program? Is OITE a component of the application?
Thanks in advance

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[OrthoTraumaMD]

You matched in Ortho. Many who applied did not. Be happy and own it. Years ago, I had matched far below my first choice, and my program was the best thing that ever happened to me. Remember, the match works both ways...the program chooses you for your fit, too. You may not even know what kind of place you will thrive in. Any program can train you to be a reasonably competent surgeon. When you are there, don't be a douche, do well on your OITEs and do research, and you will get a good fellowship and will be fine. You may not want to go into academics after you're done w fellowship--many change their mind. But if you still do, then it's ok. There is no official ranking for fellowships but you do go through the same interview and match process. OITE scores are not required by fellowships but doing well on your OITEs will help you pass your boards, and will get your program director to write you a better letter.

 

[orthobone7]

You matched in Ortho. Many who applied did not. Be happy and own it. Years ago, I had matched far below my first choice, and my program was the best thing that ever happened to me. Remember, the match works both ways...the program chooses you for your fit, too. You may not even know what kind of place you will thrive in. Any program can train you to be a reasonably competent surgeon. When you are there, don't be a douche, do well on your OITEs and do research, and you will get a good fellowship and will be fine. You may not want to go into academics after you're done w fellowship--many change their mind. But if you still do, then it's ok. There is no official ranking for fellowships but you do go through the same interview and match process. OITE scores are not required by fellowships but doing well on your OITEs will help you pass your boards, and will get your program director to write you a better letter.

Thank you for your response. I won't be a complainer. Mind if I ask some more questions since you've been through everything? It's just really difficult to get good advice..

When do people start looking for jobs? after matching to fellowship during chief year? or during fellowship? What's the timeline like? Through what avenue do people usually get jobs?

What's the hour like in general for different ortho subspecialties for attendings?

Also, I've seen that some fellowship applications require MSPE and medschool transcripts, which I'm not too proud of.. What's the chance of this affecting my application? I had no idea they would come haunt me again.. How would you rank the importance of components that go into fellowship application?

I'm asking lots of questions.. Thanks in advance.

 

[Status Sciaticus]

She did a great AMA which answers a lot of your questions. It should be in her profile or within the first 3 pages of this thread.

 

[VincentAdultman]

As someone who matched after scrambling into a prelim spot the year prior, cmon man.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Thank you for your response. I won't be a complainer. Mind if I ask some more questions since you've been through everything? It's just really difficult to get good advice..

When do people start looking for jobs? after matching to fellowship during chief year? or during fellowship? What's the timeline like? Through what avenue do people usually get jobs?

What's the hour like in general for different ortho subspecialties for attendings?

Also, I've seen that some fellowship applications require MSPE and medschool transcripts, which I'm not too proud of.. What's the chance of this affecting my application? I had no idea they would come haunt me again.. How would you rank the importance of components that go into fellowship application?

I'm asking lots of questions.. Thanks in advance.

I am going to move this question (and answer) to my AMA.

 

[Follow the Cairns]

My husband did his Ortho training close to 15 years ago. I, myself, had a healthcare background and worked in various Admin positions until he started his practice. This was our experience (and I realize things may have changed since then):

1. He matched at a program in the middle of his rank list. We were very disappointed. Thankfully, the disappointment didn't last long. He got fantastic training at a clinically based small academic program and finished his residency with tons of cases and very confident in his skill set.

2. He did a fellowship at a well known institution. The lack of big name rep from his residency mattered not for obtaining the fellowship. The Fellowship Director asked him at the end of the interview if he wanted the job and he had a couple of days to decide, otherwise, it would just be offered to the next guy who interviewed (this was before matching for most fellowships). We took it.

3. Where he did his residency didn't matter at all to any practice he interviewed at. The Rep of his fellowship program did help him a bit, but again, we got the feeling even that was really not all that important.

4. After 5 years in private practice in a small city, he decided to interview for some academic programs. Again, no problems securing interviews and offers. Did academics for 3 years. Enjoyed working with residents, but hated the bureaucracy, rules and BS he had to follow. Had very decent working hours as a subspecialist- about 50 hours per week (he's always had very reasonable working hours). Had a terrible payor mix and realized there would be no opportunities for income advancement, so we left. Now, he is in a hospital based position with a large system. Seems to be a good compensation model. We shall see.

5. With regards to securing a position- don't commit to anything too soon. Plans sometimes change. He took a position at a private practice in our home state during his Chief year. They gave us a sign on bonus and waited patiently for my husband to finish his fellowship. Halfway through fellowship, that institution offered him a faculty position. We had already committed to that private practice, so he turned it down. Would have been a good opportunity, if even for only a few years.

Unless you plan on working for a big academic powerhouse, where you do your residency and/or even fellowship doesn't matter. It certainly doesn't matter for securing employment in private practice or hospital. Your best strategy in getting a job is to sub specialize in a field that will be very much in demand for many years to come, and be willing to go where the market isn't over saturated.

 

[Handinhand]

OITE scores are not required by fellowships but doing well on your OITEs will help you pass your boards, and will get your program director to write you a better letter.

I've heard rumblings that some fellowships may start asking for OITE scores in the coming years -- any truth to this that you're aware of?

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

I've heard rumblings that some fellowships may start asking for OITE scores in the coming years -- any truth to this that you're aware of?

Not to my knowledge. Would be silly as by the time you start fellowship you will have already taken Part 1 of the boards and your OITE scores won't matter.

 

[DoctaJay]

I've heard rumblings that some fellowships may start asking for OITE scores in the coming years -- any truth to this that you're aware of?

That would be silly. Its passing your boards that matter and the correlation from OITE to board passing rate is poor or fair at best.

To answer the OP's question, being academic is much more about who YOU ARE and not where you trained. I came into residency with no publications and left with 13 from a very academic residency. At my current fellowship which is one of the top for peds ortho in the country, I matched with folks who had no publications, but were otherwise awesome. What did we all have in common, since the publication disparity was real? We all had an attending who made a phone call. That is what fellowship is about. The academic part is based upon how much you like to and enjoy writing, and talking, and discovering. It has little to do with where you came from. If none of the attendings at your residency do any research, resources will be scarce, that doesn't mean you won't get into a research heavy fellowship.

 

[bat28]

T
When do people start looking for jobs? after matching to fellowship during chief year? or during fellowship? What's the timeline like? Through what avenue do people usually get jobs?

Also, I've seen that some fellowship applications require MSPE and medschool transcripts, which I'm not too proud of.. What's the chance of this affecting my application? I had no idea they would come haunt me again.. How would you rank the importance of components that go into fellowship application?

Fellowships:
It varies how much of this matters from fellowship program to fellowship program. I wouldn't let that change anything about what specialty you apply for or which fellowships. Ultimately, there is nothing you can do about it, and in many cases it may not even matter.


JOBS:
I got a job during chief year, but that fell through at the beginning of my fellowship. Turns out, I ended up with much better opportunities and a better job. Timing of finding a job is up to you. The recruiters start emailing you pretty early, but more so during pgy4/5 years. It all comes down to some luck and timing. If you are sure you want to do academics when you are job hunting (you have no idea right now, despite what you think) your connections will be helpful- that means the faculty at your residency and fellowship are very helpful in networking. Academic jobs are all about luck or timing. When I was looking, there was a job i really wanted, but they hired someone 1 year too early for me to start. My advice is if you are looking for an academic job or want to be in a specific location, starting to look during chief year is not a bad idea-- just don't jump in to anything or get to worked up about it. Once you get to fellowship, you fellowship mentors open a lot of doors for you with their friends/network.

You can go the recruiter route, but i did not find that particularly helpful. Most of the 'good' jobs that I found were not really advertised, they were through 'friends of friends'.