B-1 Applying for an Emergency Medicine Residency American College of Emergency Physicians

B-2 Goals How to prepare before you apply Choosing a program The application process The interview

B-3 Emergency Medicine Residencies – – – allopathic; 25 osteopathic – allopathic; 36 osteopathic Resident Positions in NRMP – – –

B-4 Homework Browse the web Know who’s who in EM Know the major issues facing EM National EM organization membership Join your local EM interest group Choose your mentor well Carefully plan your final medical school years Read: Iserson’s Getting Into a Residency: A Guide for Medical Students Talk to graduates/seniors from your school

B-5 Browse the Web Most EM program information is on line Most residencies have home pages Can contact programs via Can participate in EM discussion groups Many lectures are now electronic

B-6 Who’s Who in EM Tintinalli and Rosen chapter authors Editorial boards of EM journals Keynote speakers National leaders Recurrent conference lecturers Chairs/Program Directors in emergency medicine

B-7 Read About Major Issues Facing EM Editorial subjects Clinical issues Educational issues Legislative/regulatory issues

B-8 Rally at the US Capitol September 27, Participants Including Residents More than 30 programs sent 300 residents to Washington specifically for the Rally Largest event of its kind in the history of emergency medicine Urged Congress to Pass “The Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2005”

B-9 Choosing a Program: The Big Picture ACGME/RRC role –Consistent educational elements –Ensures adequate & varied experience Your role –Find program that fits –Maximize experience –Best program for you Stability –Accreditation, re-accreditation, length of accreditation

B-10 The Big Picture-cont Location –Family, significant other, etc. –Specific part of country –Urban, suburban, rural Educational/Teaching philosophy –University, county, community, combination –Approach to teaching & resident responsibility

B-11 Maximize Experience Special interests –Fellowship opportunities –EMS/Flight/Disaster –Pediatrics –International –Ultrasound –Will the program meet your needs?

B-12 The Application: “Begin with the End in Mind” Dean’s letter Board scores Academic record Personal statement Letters of recommendation Outside interests/activities

B-13

B-14 Selection Criteria EM rotation grades Interview Clinical grades Recommendations Grades (overall) Elective at the institution Board scores (overall) USMLE (II) Interest expressed USMLE (I) Awards/achievements Honor society selection Medical school Extracurricular activities Basic science grades Publications Personal statement

B-15 Dean’s Letter Medical Students –November 1 st –Review for accuracy/content –Meet with writer about special attributes Program Directors –Class rank –Last paragraph –Rotation summary

B-16 Board Scores Medical Students –Do your best –Study hard –Rest before exam –Only one part of picture Program Directors –Filter based on score –Only one part of picture after the filter

B-17 Academic Record Medical Students –Do your best –Study hard –Be prepared to explain low grades Program Directors –Look for trends –Look for flags –Confusing scoring system

B-18 Personal Statement Medical Students –Chance to express yourself –Why you would fit into the specialty –Have others review/critique –One page only –Monitor spelling/grammar Program Directors –Review hundreds –Unique character/quality

B-19 Letters of Recommendation –Need at least 3 –At least 2 should be in your specialty –More valuable if from EM training programs –Solicit letters early while they remember you –Supply personal statement / CV / transcript

B-20 Letters of Recommendation Who should you ask? –How well do they know you? –How well are they known? Program director / chairman / research director National lecturer Politically involved –How well did you do in their eyes?

B-21

B-22 Standard Letter of Recommendation Title and position of author Context that you know the applicant EM rotation grade Commitment to EM Work ethic Treatment plan Personality Global assessment Match range Comments

B-23 Outside Interests/Activities Medical Students –Have fun –Become involved –Interest groups –Research Program Directors –Quality of involvement –Leadership potential

B-24 Read Before You Interview Koscove EM. An applicant’s evaluation of an Emergency Medicine Internship and Residency. Ann Emerg Med 19:774, 1990 Iserson’s Getting Into A Residency: A Guide for Medical Students by Kenneth Iserson EMRA. EM in Focus: A Guide for Medical Students Your CV!

B-25 The Interview When –November – January –Winter weather travel –Rank list preparation The Night Before –Prepare/review questions –Gather data: visit site, area, review webpage

B-26 The Interview That day: –Eat breakfast –Be on time –Don’t over/under dress –Don’t dominate the interview –Be yourself –Ask questions –Take notes/pictures Be nice to everyone! –Program director –Faculty –Residents –Support staff How did it feel…? –Did I fit in?

B-27 Professionalism It’s a small world – make friends Never ever bad-mouth another program Don’t blow off an interview Follow-up letter, phone-call, or .

B-28 MS-I and MS -II Clinical observation in ED Summer/ongoing research projects with EM staff EM interest group affiliation National medical societies Keep an open mind about specialty selection!

B-29 MS-III ED rotation(s) ED interactions on off-service rotations Develop relationship with EM physician as mentor Start selecting fourth year rotations

B-30 MS-IV Mandatory/Elective EM rotation –Develop clinical expertise, experience –Develop information management skills Consider extramural rotations –Additional clinical experience –Exposure to residency programs, other clinical settings Plan for letters of recommendation

B-31 SUMMARY Relax Enjoy emergency medicine! Choose your mentor Communicate with peers Communicate with advisor and mentor