Emergency Medicine Class Matching in 2013

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bad virus said:
8. Wilderness medicine (Backpacking and mountain climbing all month)
9. Disaster/EMS (Flight/Mountain/SWAT)
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where are you doing these rotations? are they offered through your school?
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RandomHero117 said:
where are you doing these rotations? are they offered through your school?
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So I have never taken the classes my self, but every student (now residents) that I asked about them said they were the two best courses they took in fourth year.

Google the following (I can't cut in paste on this android tablet - sorry)

UNM Disaster Medicine Elective

also google UNM Wilderness Medicine elective.

The people who took the classes said they were amazing. They were not just for fun classes, and that you actually learned a ton of useful skills and information that you would use for the rest of your career/life. The wilderness medicine one is March, and the Disaster medicine one is in October. They fill up pretty quickly so let me ask if there is any space available.

Also, as an added bonus, the faculty who teach the courses are amazing and some of the best ED attendings I have seen. I am 100% certain that they go out of their way to make the courses awesome.

EDIT: I just saw that you are from Texas. New Mexico is right next door and I am positive you won't regret taking the courses. Plus you will get to see the UNM ED which is an awesome program and decide if NM is for you.
 
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cofcemt said:
I think it's great your school does this, but I tried that last year and most laughed at my face and said it would be "too much work" and that I was "just trying to be a lazy 4th year...".

Well, most of our coordinators were awful though. I mean it's worth a try, but doesn't work everywhere.

Good luck to all of you by the way. Enjoy interviewing and be yourself, it's a lot of fun!
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So here is a work around for this. All schools are different but there is a way around it. Our school has 14 one month blocks during fourth year. You only have to take 8 official blocks out of the 14 to graduate. Four of those are required blocks that every student has to take.

1. ICU month (NICU, PICU, MICU, TSICU, NSICU . . . any of the ones you like).
2. SUBI (EM is an elective at our school, so my SUBI will be anesthesia)
3. Preceptorship (You work one on one with a faculty for the month - I did PEDS/EM and the other half of the class is a public health project, I liked both aspects but many don't enjoy the public health component).
4. Ambulatory care/public health class (This is a mixture of ethics and clinical stuff, I am not totally sure what the whole class is but our school is big on public health/govt so it will probably have a bunch of that).

The other four blocks you have to take can by anything with up to 3 of those blocks being research if you want to do that. So in reality, you only have to take one extra clinical block if your into having a vacation year.

So the other six blocks you can actually do them unofficially and not for a grade, so you can just focus on learning the skill sets you want to acquire. For example, our school has only a traditional orthopedics block and no night consult block. If your school is like that, then talk to the residents and see if they are willing to take you on for the month and then tell the clerkship director that you want to work with his/her residents for that month to pick up some valuable skills. Also emphasize how you will more than pull your weight by doing whatever the team needs during those shifts in exchange for the education.

Anyway, I hope that explanation helps. I know all schools run their fourth year differently, but everyone is nice to fourth years and you should have a lot of opportunities to ask different specialists to teach you a thing or two from their specialty so you can use that info to further your skill set.
 
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Thanks BadVirus---that still sounds fun. I've scheduled an ICU month late in the year, something a lot of people told me I'll regret as a fourth year, but I don't want to miss out on the learning experience and I think my schedule prior to that has more than enough "4th year appropriate" activities.
 
Hey guys, how bad do you think a HP in my EM rotation at my home institution is going to hurt me? Otherwise, I'm a pretty solid student..240s step 1 and more honors then not in third year.

Im kinda ticked, cause this was the first rotation that I really busted my ass for.
 
winkleweizen said:
Hey guys, how bad do you think a HP in my EM rotation at my home institution is going to hurt me? Otherwise, I'm a pretty solid student..240s step 1 and more honors then not in third year.

Im kinda ticked, cause this was the first rotation that I really busted my ass for.
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I liken this to a premed question about if they'll ever find a spot with a 36S and a 3.9.

You're in just as good of shape as you were in before.
 
winkleweizen said:
Yeah youre right, sorry for being a douche.
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I wasn't saying you were being a douche at all. Sorry if it came across like that. It was intended to mean that at this time in your life, you're overanalyzing everything. Everybody does it at that point during 4th year. You've got a great scores, sounds like good grades, and you did well on your home EM rotation. I think the most worrying you should be doing right now is over which interviews you're going to turn down.
 
JacobMcCandles said:
I wasn't saying you were being a douche at all. Sorry if it came across like that. It was intended to mean that at this time in your life, you're overanalyzing everything. Everybody does it at that point during 4th year. You've got a great scores, sounds like good grades, and you did well on your home EM rotation. I think the most worrying you should be doing right now is over which interviews you're going to turn down.
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Thanks. I was calling myself a douche ;). It just sucks that for once I really really busted my ass and wasnt rewarded, but all is well....im getting pretty excited/nervous about sept 15th!
 
winkleweizen said:
Thanks. I was calling myself a douche ;). It just sucks that for once I really really busted my ass and wasnt rewarded, but all is well....im getting pretty excited/nervous about sept 15th!
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Don't worry, WW. I felt like a douche too for being in the same situation and wanting to over analyze it. Lol, I had the same thing before med school. I had a 37 mcat and kept thinking that my school wouldn't take me. I think we are just made this way (worrying too much).
 
Hey Guys,

New EM resident here.

Some advice that I got that came in handy. Do your away rotations strategically. If you have a regional preference do an away there. And try to do an away at a top notch program, that way the letter you get will help you all over the region because those big programs tend to be the places where every PD in the region trained.

E.g. If you wanted to match in NYC, do a rotation at a top-dog EM program there like King's County or Jacobi, if you wanted to go to midwest, go to Cook, mountains, denver, etc you get the idea.
 
For the residents offering up some advice in this thread (thanks, you guys are awesome): in the current match climate, am I at a serious disadvantage by potentially not doing an away due to scheduling and financing issues and ending up with one month of EM and another of EM electives/subspecialties?

Step 1 >240, good M3 clerkship scores with 3/6 being As (we don't use HP/H) and some very flattering evals, high B in M4 EM rotation w/ good commentary, Step 2CK taken and pending, several ECs, minimal non-EM / non-peer-reviewed research.

Have asked before but always interested in thoughts on this.
 
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You should change your status to Med Student.

Other than that those programs are all different. What are you looking for and what are your scores like?
 
Thanks for all the answers.

I get bored when I am studying and start to psych my self out.
 
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I wouldn't call those stats "normal". Unless you meant just your normal above average stats.
 
Sounds like you would be pretty competitive for most other "competitive" residences like ortho, ent, etc. I'm sure you'll have no problems matching into a EM program on the west coast program or the region of your choice as long as you've done an away in that region. Also, I don't think you're going to get the response/reassurance you are looking for on this forum regarding your stats. I think there are hundreds of EM applicants which would love to be in your shoes applying with those stats this year. Plus, from the time I've spent been lurking on this form, it seems like people don't readily give out their stats and how/where they matched....

Either way, good luck this year. I'm in that group applying with you and just as nervous as you are. The uncertainty kills, but I'm sure things will settle down once the interview season has rolled in and we start to see where the cards are landing.
 
EM residencies are about finding a good fit: That being said, I will indulge your question and offer a rudimentary thought on your choices.

In order of competitiveness: Denver, Arizona, UNM, Maricopa. All are great programs and have different feels, pro/cons, what have you. You will likely receive interview offers at all of them. Maricopa has less residencies in their hospital, so you will be doing a lot more of the things that other services may normally be doing at a university hospital, (ortho doing reductions, ophtho doing eye issues, etc.) Denver is busy and a known work-a-holics dream come true. Arizona and UNM are both Univ programs that I know people have absolutely loved for residency (AZ was near the top of my list last year).

Denver and westward is definitely more competitive but your stats are at the very top of the EM applicant pile. Other county programs that may fill your wish list include LA County and Harbor. Both big county programs that offer the chance to do most ED procedures.

Good luck. My numbers, grades, etc were far worse and I interviewed at a large chunk of the west programs (coming from the East). Don't stress over it.

Do your research ahead of time, and don't bother with more than 10-12 interviews.
 
exi said:
Where would you place SLC among those four?
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Where is SLC?

NVM, google is really useful lol.

I'll just leave that to highlight my stupidity.

From what I have been told is that it is a great program and out door wonderland (Super important).
 
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I readily admit to a fair amount of neurosis , but I would probably go with a few more interviews than that, even with good stats. 10-12 is probably enough, but each March we read about a few surprises, and I'm always amazed anyone cut it that close.
 
Anyone doing the couples match? Especially with both people matching (at least hoping to match) into EM?
 
Hey guys, I would greatly appreciate your insight into whether I would be a competitive candidate or any comments as to how I should approach applying to an EM residency considering my background.

IMG at a Caribbean School

219 Step 1 and 225 Step 2

U.S. Military Experience with Congressional medals from Combat. (5 years, USMC Uhhrah..)

2 Years as Trader on Wallstreet at a Major firm.

1.5 Years of Research at the Top 3 Trauma center in the U.S. with 6 publications (2-1st Author) in U.S. National Major journals, 2 presentations.

TV show appearance concerning Preventative medicine.

2 SLOR's, one from an EM Attending and another from the Chief of the EM at a top 50 Medical School teaching hospital).

I would like to know your honest opinion. I would greatly appreciate it. I have been reading this forums and would sincerely appreciate any of your input.
 
winkleweizen said:
so how many programs is everyone applying too? Im thinking 35
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I'm going for 30. Trying to focus on the southwest, but will pepper my app with places like Hennipen, Pitt, Cinci, Vandy, Christiana, Kings, Cook, Carolinas and Indy to see what all the fuss is about.

Anyone got names for or have rotated at some top notch county programs? They are sounding more and more interesting as I hate consulting and love trying to handle stuff myself.

Will being from a county program hurt your chances at an academic spot in the future? If not, what is the advantage to an academic joint? I am guessing you can put out some good research from any of them.

PS: The guy above me sounds like a top notch candidate other than the IMG status.
 
Well theres Harbor, highland, Cook county, Maricopa, emory, jacksonville. UCDavis has a bit of a county feel to it.
 
Step 1- 226
Step 2- 239
average grades (3 P's early on in Peds, Family, OB/GYN. all high pass and honors since)

Just got my home EM grade: high pass. Comments are all positive (no negative) with my highlighted strengths being work ethic and interpersonal skills.

I'm just wondering how a HP in EM looks for my application. Currently doing an away in a big name program in NY. Applying to NY, Philly, DC, maryland, and a few out west. NY was my top choice but I'm starting to see that the best programs in NY are 4 years. I'm interested in 3 year programs with a county feel. Thoughts?
 
bad virus said:
I'm going for 30. Trying to focus on the southwest, but will pepper my app with places like Hennipen, Pitt, Cinci, Vandy, Christiana, Kings, Cook, Carolinas and Indy to see what all the fuss is about.

Anyone got names for or have rotated at some top notch county programs? They are sounding more and more interesting as I hate consulting and love trying to handle stuff myself.

Will being from a county program hurt your chances at an academic spot in the future? If not, what is the advantage to an academic joint? I am guessing you can put out some good research from any of them.

PS: The guy above me sounds like a top notch candidate other than the IMG status.
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if you like county and are looking at Kings, consider Jacobi. great county program, residents are very autonomous. just finished up an away there and really liked it.
 
IMG but US citizen here, doing 2 home EM electives in from Sept to Nov. So SLORs will be late (great mmmmffff).

Step 1: 235
Step 2: Pending

Applying to 100 programs ..... VERY passionate on getting an EM residency.

Looking fwd to seeing you all on the interview trail ;)
 
We may as well update this thread with stats and such since that seems to be the recent trend lately. Got step 2 back recently, but likely will have a relatively lukewarm SLOR.

Osteopathic student

Step 1 250+
Step 2 250+

Plan on applying to 80+ programs, cuz quite frankly I am freaked out by an average to poor SLOR and would rather end up in north dakota then sit out a year.
 
sylvanthus said:
We may as well update this thread with stats and such since that seems to be the recent trend lately. Got step 2 back recently, but likely will have a relatively lukewarm SLOR.

Osteopathic student

Step 1 250+
Step 2 250+

Plan on applying to 80+ programs, cuz quite frankly I am freaked out by an average to poor SLOR and would rather end up in north dakota then sit out a year.
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So yea, disregarding the fact that I don't think there are programs in north Dakota (may be wrong), I don't think >250/>250 will put you somewhere awful. Even with a DO and average SLOR. Those are baller numbers.
 
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Bahh thats right, there aren't any in north dakota. But, anyhow, I am apparently a giant tool in real life so don't take my numbers too seriously.
 
sylvanthus said:
We may as well update this thread with stats and such since that seems to be the recent trend lately. Got step 2 back recently, but likely will have a relatively lukewarm SLOR.

Osteopathic student

Step 1 250+
Step 2 250+

Plan on applying to 80+ programs, cuz quite frankly I am freaked out by an average to poor SLOR and would rather end up in north dakota then sit out a year.
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ugh... there goes my confidence... I should apply for 200 programs now... to stack up!!!
 
sylvanthus said:
Dude, keep in mind I am coming from a new DO school and will likely have a crappy SLOR. That kind of nullifies my board scores.
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Dude, I won't even HAVE SLORs until October that kinda nullifies me! lol ;) 'tis ok, we'll make it
 
EMmotherhen said:
Guess again. We read them and we form our first impression about you from them. A lackluster PS makes us think you're a lackluster person. Couldn't be bothered to spell check, proof read or use proper grammer? Then you most likely can't be bothered to do other things as well. You don't have to write the next great American novel but you do have to sell yourself so you will stand out among the many hundreds of applications we're going to get. Your PS can make us say "eeew", "whatever", "oh wow", or "this one!"

And please - enough with the sports analogies! "Being in an ED is just like being on a (fill in the blank) team." Easily 90% of the PS from last year started with that sentence. We were beginning to think one person writes and sells PS to students!
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Sports analogies? Bet you it was all men who had that as opening line.....never would have occurred to me to use a sports analogy in a PS.
 
Belleza156 said:
Sports analogies? Bet you it was all men who had that as opening line.....never would have occurred to me to use a sports analogy in a PS.
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I don't know about you, but my PS is a story about coming of age in a small town that concludes with climbing a mountain to serve in a leper colony.



I hate PS's with the passion of a thousand burning suns. I hope that who ever invented them is now burning in his grave with the sword of Domecles swaying over him ever so gently, hanging by a hair, waiting to cleave him in twain. . .

I watch too much American Dad


with that, would any of you care to take a look at mine and give me some pointers. I wouldn't mind doing the same for you.
 
bad virus said:
I don't know about you, but my PS is a story about coming of age in a small town that concludes with climbing a mountain to serve in a leper colony.

with that, would any of you care to take a look at mine and give me some pointers. I wouldn't mind doing the same for you.
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climbing a mountain to serve in a leper colony, while saving kittens from a burning house and curing cancer. lulz.

i wouldn't mind taking a look at your PS, pm me for my email
 
Any other DO students debating AOA vs ACGME residencies?

Are there any limitations after an AOA residency / ABOEM boards vs ACGME residency / ABEM boards?

Maybe some of the residents / attendings out there have input on this?
 
The fact that we may be prevented from doing an MD fellowship if we do a DO residency is a pretty good reason to avoid the DO match IMO. Also, the ridiculous CME requirements and licensing requirements on the DO side of things is something that would get old pretty fast.
 
Belleza156 said:
Sports analogies? Bet you it was all men who had that as opening line.....never would have occurred to me to use a sports analogy in a PS.
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And you would lose that bet!! Several women mentioned it.
 
sylvanthus said:
Also, the ridiculous CME requirements and licensing requirements on the DO side of things is something that would get old pretty fast.
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how are the CME / liscensing req's different for DO's and the AOA?
 
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