US Residency-Interview and Travel Faraz Khan Luni USMLE Step 1 99 (266) USMLE Step 2 99 (263) USMLE Step 3 99 (234) University of Toledo, IM

CV Highlights Strengths Triple 99 in USMLE 4 Publications 1 Month US Observership

CV Highlights Weaknesses Triple 99 in USMLE No US elective -Observership is NOT the same as elective Limited budget

Application Overview Applied in 46 program - 18 Universities & Cleveland Clinic - 25 University Affiliated community program - 2 Community programs

Calls University of Toledo UAB, Montgomery Union Memorial, Baltimore St Francis, Chicago Sisters of Charity, Buffalo Florida Hospital, Orlando Queens Hospital Center, NYC

Interview Scheduling Area Wise Options Match vs Prematch Mode of travel

US MAP

Reminders Call Email Meet them personally Contacts - Elective and observership contacts

Pre Interview Dinner Formal-ish Backup Tie You are being watched!

Pre Interview Dinner Dining Manners Get feel of program - Program philosophy - Key words - Resident satisfaction

Interview Preparation Research Website Your CV Interviewers -Background -Pronunciation Current residents

Interview Preparation Know yourself Mock Interview Practice Visit the hospital

SUIT UP

Interview Day Suit Up Be on time Smile Team player Don’t let your guard down

Interview Day Breakfast Morning report Program overview -Program Director -Power point or Video

Interview Day Interviews -Multiple -Or a Panel Interview -Time Tour Meeting residents Noon Conference Lunch

Tips for Answering Smile Relax Manners Eye contact

Tips for Answering Passion Honesty Enthusiasm Confidence -Arrogance is NOT confidence

Tips for Answering Be yourself Choose your words wisely Enjoy

Tips for Answering Useful terms Team Work Life long learning Evidence based medicine

Interview Questions Most Common Tell me some thing about your self -Yourself does not mean family Why did you apply to this program How did you get to know about us

Interview Questions Most Common Where do you see yourself after 5 or 10 years Fellowships Strengths and weaknesses Anything you want to ask us

Questions Don’t ask what is on the program website Know who to ask Usual questions New questions

Interview Questions Scenarios Managing conflict Patient case scenario - Tri State Question (PA,NJ,NY)

After Interview Evaluate yourself Improve yourself Don’t be too tough on yourself

Thank you E mail Vs Mail -Drafts -Proper English Timings Cards

Thank you Personalized Know who you are mailing Basic Matter - Thank you for inviting - Love for program - Mutual Ranking

Normal Letter Dear Dr XYZ, Thank you for inviting me to UTMC. I loved your program. I will rank you the highest on my list of programs and hope you rank me highly too.

Alternate wordings Instead of I will rank you the highest on my list of programs USE I would love to be a part of the team

Hope you rank me highly too Alternate wordings Instead of Hope you rank me highly too USE I hope you consider me

Rank Order List www.nrmp.org Don’t leave till last moment Around 3rd week of Febuary

Rank Order List Your choice Current residents and their satisfaction Hospital atmosphere University vs Community

Rank Order List H1 vs J1 Family Fellowships Location Pay, facilities

My ROL University of Toledo Florida Hospital, Orlando Sisters of Charity, Buffalo Union Memorial, Baltimore UAB, Montgomery St Francis, Chicago Queens Hospital Center, NYC

Going to US Choosing Flight Budget -Online vs Agent Weight Validity Free change of date Comfort

Things to do Bank Account Why Which one Options -Checking -Over draft Debit card

Things to do Mobile Connection Unlimited Deals~ $50 T Mobile Cricket My Simple Mobile E Bay

US Travel Air Road Train

Things to do Grey Hound Discovery Pass 7 day $ 239.00 15day $ 339.00

Other Buses Megabus www.megabus.com Boltbus www.boltbus.com

Air Travel Can be cheaper than bus www.Expedia.com Advance booking Keep luggage to a minimum -Southwest airlines -Jet Blue

Rail Limited routes Amtrack - www.amtrak.com -Very expensive -Backup

Travel within cities More expensive then intercity travel Useful Sites - www.maps.google.com - www.hopstop.com

Weather www.weather.com Be prepared Shop Smartly

Accommodation APPNA home Seniors - Networking (DMC Alumni) - Don’t overstay www.craigslist.com www.couchsurfing.com -Never tried it

Useful Stuff NADRA english card www.zabihah.com - Halal Food - Mosques

Enjoy Your Trip

THANK YOU

PREMATCH Pediatrics Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan US RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS ISRA’A KHAN USMLE STEP 1 90 (217) USMLE STEP 2 CK 91 (221) PREMATCH Pediatrics Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan

CV Highlights Strengths 2 Externships 1 Observership Waived LORs

CV Highlights Weaknesses Scores No US elective Not appeared for step 3 No research/publications

Application Overview Applied to 78 programs 41 Pediatrics 37 Internal Medicine (different programs for pediatrics and IM) Break-Up 29 University Programs 43 Community affiliated University Programs 6 Community Programs

Personal Statement Write it yourself !!! Your life’s story Needs time Multiple drafts Multiple reviews Avoid cliché Different PS for different subspecialty

Pediatrics Love children Can deal with parents Compassionate and caring Treating children AND the family! Interpersonal skills Communication skills Listening skills

Pediatrics (contd.) Children’s Hospitals vs Non-children’s hospital General Pediatrics vs Fellowships

Interview Calls Pediatrics: Hurley Medical Center, MI Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital at St. Louis University, MO MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH Mount Sinai, Elmhurst, NY Internal Medicine: SUNY, Syracuse, NY Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, NJ

Interview Preparation Sources Website Seniors Current residents, fellows Other people who have interviewed there Know your application well

Interview preparation How Know yourself 5 traits you WANT a program to know about yourself Mock interviews Read frequently asked questions Frame answers; write them down Practice makes perfect

Before the Interview Be in the city at least 2 days earlier Read over application, publications, PS Go over program website Arrange for transport Good night’s sleep Relax

A typical interview day Breakfast with morning report Welcome by Program Director Interviews (vary in number) Tour of the hospital Lunch with residents University programs invite to a pre interview dinner (do not miss!)

Pre interview dinner: Punctuality Table manners! Appropriate questions Be on guard, this is an interview too Choose wisely what you order

The Interview Day Your chance to sell yourself ! Dress well Girls: Don’t leave your hair loose Weather forecast Punctuality

The Interview Day (contd.) Names and pronunciation Smile Confidence Posture Eye contact

The Interview Day (contd.) Enthusiasm (even if this is your last interview) Manners (even with administration and house staff!) Direct questions to the right people Relax  Most of the time you can’t gauge what they think about you!

Questions you will be asked 1. Tell us about yourself? 2. Strengths/Weaknesses? 3. Why a subspecialty? 4. Why this program? 5. Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? 6. Something from your PS and CAF

Questions you should ask VERY important Ask the right person! Ask what is not on the website or what has not been told Frame the question correctly Examples: *What is your idea of an ideal resident? *What are the challenges I may face as a resident here (rather than weakness of program)

Prematch Offered by smaller programs May lose out chance of fellowships Some University programs offer Time offered for response Attend all interviews (preferably) Earlier visa processing

Prematch (contd.) Know your priorities Know the program Withdrawal from NRMP Cannot submit an ROL IT IS YOUR CALL IN THE END!

Interview season Networking Lodging Travel Warm and wise clothing Debit card

Perks of my Interview season Relatives Very helpful seniors

Thank you !