Residency matching and info

Excelling in Interview
Interviews are pleasant experiences for the vast majority of students. In fact, many
interviewees say that the interviews should be called “marketing discussions” because
program directors and faculty really try to “sell” them on their respective programs.
Interviewers do this because they want to give you the information you need to make
the decision that they would hope for (i.e., for you to rank them high on your list), and
they want you to tell others how great they are. In fact, being invited to interview means
that the program considers you to be someone in whom they are interested.
The interview gives both you and the program a chance to see if you “fit”. This fit
is important because you will work long hours with the faculty and residents for years.
What composes this “fit”? Perhaps it’s a mixture of compatible philosophy,
backgrounds, similar interests, and personality type. Whatever it is, many students
state that they can sense if they fit with a program within an hour after being around
a place.

Thus, it’s in your best interests to excel in interviews. Excelling means being
yourself and discussing information that reinforces the “fit” between you and the
program. Here are some things you can do to excel on interviews:

Remember the Basics

Relax. Get to the interview site early and find where you are supposed to be.
Check yourself out in front of a mirror to make sure that you look presentable.
Dress conservatively, males with a well-fitting suit and tie and females with a
business suit. Take a bath before the interview. Pack extra shirts, ties, panty
hose, and a needle and thread. Carry your interview attire on the plane – don’t
check it in your baggage (airlines frequently misplace luggage!). Refrain from
consuming beverages or food during an interview unless you’re really
coordinated and not prone to accidents. Look interested during the interview
by leaning forward and paying attention to the interviewer.
Be nice. Being nice, being informed, and showing interest will increase your
chances of being ranked high by a program. Programs want to “fill” during the
Match, but they don’t want to get a complainer, late-arriver, jerk, etc. So, they
put those folks on the “reject” list. You are under the microscope during any
interaction with a program (including a telephone call). So be nice and appear
interested and appropriately enthusiastic during all aspects of your interview.
Be kind to everyone, including ancillary personnel, and don’t complain about
anything. Smile lots, ☺, and say “thank you” even if that sandwich is stale!
Seek out contact with residents. These are the folks with whom you will be working.
Ask yourself whether they seem happy, inspired, and challenged. Do you “fit
in”? Are they the type of residents you would be proud to call colleagues?
26
Excelling in Interviews

Get Ready for These Questions

Interviewers differ widely in terms of the questions they ask. A few will ask
questions that are impossible to anticipate. Fortunately, most ask predictable questions
for which you can prepare a framework of an answer. Check out Iserson’s Getting Into
a Residency for more questions and plausible responses. Here are a few questions for
you to consider.

“Tell me about yourself.” This open-ended question should be answered in no more
than a minute. Identify categories that you can discuss. Examples include:
Undergraduate education, medical school experience (e.g., basic science
courses you liked and why, and your favorite clerkship), your research interests
(if you have any), and your personal interests. Watch the interviewer. If the
person appears to want more, tell them. Otherwise, wait for them to ask
another question.

“What questions do you have about this program?” This is where an in-depth
knowledge of the program pays off. Ask the questions that will inform you
about the program, but avoid touchy issues like salary and benefits.

“What do you see yourself doing in 10 to 15 years?” The interviewer wants to get a
general idea about your career plans. Talk in general terms by using the
following terms as they apply to you: caring for patients, interdisciplinary
setting, clinical research, coordinating, managing, expanding my knowledge
base, community involvement, professional involvement, and personal interests.

“Name your three greatest assets.” Respond with honesty, humility, and
confidence. This is no time to be shy. Assets like “working with others,” “being
able to delegate,” “being able to prioritize and accomplish goals,” and “empathy
for patients and other health care providers”, or however you want to phrase
them, are what most programs want in their residents.

“What are your three greatest faults?” Turn your faults into strengths. For example,
don’t say: “I have trouble managing my time.” Instead, say: “One of the things
that I’m currently working on is feeling comfortable when I delegate something
to someone. In the past I spent too much time following up insuring the work
was done. I now spend time insuring the person knows what’s expected and
can actually perform the task.” (rephrase in your words)

“Why are you applying to this program?” Before the interview specify one or more
reasons for interviewing in that program and be ready to discuss them.

“Why do you want to go into this specialty?” You should reflect on why you are
pursing a career in a particular specialty and prepare a brief and inspiring
response to this item. (Hint: NEVER say: “I want to be a _______ because I
didn’t like anything else!”)


Practice Interviewing

Ask someone to conduct a “mock” interview with you. Dress as if it’s a real
interview. Note the questions that you handle easily, and get guidance on those that
are difficult for you.

Review the Information You Have About the Program Before the Interview
Summarize all you know about a program on one page. Review this summary the
night before and the morning of the interview. An interviewee who knows specifics
about the program and asks intelligent and thoughtful questions communicates
enthusiasm and interest. Be familiar with the types of patients served, the attendings’
clinical interests, and articles attendings have recently published, but interviewers don’t
appreciate interviewees who appear to refer to this information to “get points.”

Interview Date: _____________________________
Program Title: _____________________________
Address: _____________________________
Building/Room: _____________________________
Telephone Number: _____________________________
Fax Number: _____________________________
Program Director: _____________________________
Key Faculty: _____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Reasons Interviewing: _____________________________
_____________________________
Marketed Strengths: _____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Possible Needs: _____________________________
_____________________________
Look For: _____________________________
_____________________________

Prepare a one-page synopsis of a program to review just before your interview.


Remember Names

Call the faculty “Dr. Lastname” until you are told differently. Record the name of
each person who interviews you or spends time with you. Write down key aspects of
your interaction (e.g., “talked about fly-fishing and made me feel comfortable”). Keep
these notes, because you should...

Write “Thank You” Notes to Interviewers

Immediately after the interview write a thank-you note to each person with whom
you really “bonded” and refer to the conversation (verified by your notes, above) to
make it more personal. An example of a sample thank-you note follows. (Ours is
typed, but write yours in your best handwriting.)

Date

Dear Dr. Block:

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with you during my interview at
your program last week. I appreciate the way you made me
feel at ease during that fast-paced day. It was nice to talk with
someone who shares a mutual interest in pottery. Your
collection is impressive! It was also good to talk with you about
your interest in (mention something dealing with medicine that
you discussed, perhaps clinical research).

Thanks again for making the interview so pleasant.

Your FirstName LastName

Caution: Any person who talks to you during an interview visit might be asked
to comment about you. Therefore, guard your comments and questions carefully,
especially with residents. Get the name and telephone number of a resident with
whom you establish rapport during the interview. You can use that person to obtain
more specific program information (like benefits) without seeming too pushy.


Typical Interview questions
First off, be very prepared to answer questions regarding information on your CV.
You might be asked:
- Why you are interested in applying to our particular Residency Program?

- Why you are interested in that Specific Specialty?

- What do you consider as your biggest weakness? Make it a positive weakness. EX: "Sometimes I have been called too much a perfectionist." Or if it is negative, then follow up with something positive or how you are working to improve on that weakness.
- What do you consider your greatest strength?

- How do you work under pressure?

- What major problem have you encountered, and how did you deal with it?

- What have you learned from your mistakes?

- What do you expect to get out of a Residency Position with us?

- Why do you think that you would be a better candidate for this position than others?

- What can you contribute to this Residency Program?

- How can you improve yourself?

- What do you really want to do in life?

- What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now?

- Do you have any questions?

These are typical questions asked of you during a Residency interview. Know the answers to these questions by heart before interviewing begins .




NRMP: The Match Algorithm
NRMP: The Match Algorithm: "The NRMP matching algorithm uses the preferences expressed in the rank order lists submitted by applicants and programs to place individuals into positions. The process begins with an attempt to place an applicant into the program indicated as most preferred on that applicant's list. If the applicant cannot be matched to this first choice program, an attempt is then made to place the applicant into the second choice program, and so on, until the applicant obtains a tentative match, or all the applicant's choices have been exhausted.
An applicant can be tentatively matched to a program in this process if the program also ranks the applicant on its rank order list, and either:
the program has an unfilled position. In this case, there is room in the program to make a tentative match between the applicant and program.
the program does not have an unfilled position, but the applicant is more attractive to the program than another applicant who is already tentatively matched to the program. In this case, the applicant who is the least preferred current match in the program is removed from the program, to make room for a tentative match with the more preferred applicant.
Matches are 'tentative' because an applicant who is matched to a program at one point in the matching process may be removed from the program at some later point, to make room for an applicant more preferred by the program, as described in the second case above. When an applicant is removed from a previously made tentative match, an attempt is made to re-match that applicant, starting from the top of his/her list. This process is carried out for all applicants, until each applicant has either been tentatively matched to the most preferred choice possible, or all choices submitted by the applicant have been exhausted. When all applicants have be"




H1B VISA -WHAT U NEED TO KNOW
H1b-visa Info
The H-1B visa allows the prospective trainee to avoid the J-1 visa requirement to leave the U.S. for two years by petitioning for permanent resident status in the U.S. while in residency training. An applicant for an H-1B visa must be (1) ECFMG certified (ie have passed USMLE 1, 2ck and 2cs)(2) must have ALSO passed USMLE step 3 AND (3) must hold a license to practice in a U.S. state before application (it takes about three weeks to get a training license after your match).

Residency programs decide individually which type of visa they will support for their candidates for residency training. Previously most did NOT support H-1b applications, although the new visa laws passed in October 2000 mean that now many that previously did not offer them should do so. You should ask your programs directly which they will consider for you.

Remember that many have the default position of refusing such visas (and even note such decisions on residency and hospital websites), but if you learn about them, and talk to the international officers at these institutions, many will reverse their decision and apply for this visa on your behalf. Fortunately, many of you reading this will avoid the problems that I had to go through in securing my H1B visa, as now all academic institutions have unrestricted access to H1B visas, without a cap. This means that your H1B visa is likely to be easily available, and processed quickly (though some can still take up to six months).

A standard H1b application can still takes about 2-3 months for processing, so to be ready for a July 1st start, you have to be quick about your license and your visa application right after you match, unless your employer will use expedited processing for you. Expedited visa application can be achieved by paying an extra $1000 (your employer must pay this), and the visa will be approved within approx 14 days. Foreign medical graduates should verify this information themselves and make every effort to stay up to date on changes in these regulations which may affect your ability to be employed. You should liase closely with your employing hospital in this regard and may wish to retain an immigration attorney to handle the process if your hospital does not have n international office. You will have to think carefully about which visa is right for you. Note that the Match takes place in mid-March, and for a July start you would likely have only a short time to secure a state medical license and submit your H-1B visa application.

PLAN EARLY N BE ON TIME




INTERVIEW PROCESS
Interviews

The most difficult part in your application will be securing an interview. Many program directors find it difficult to evaluate foreign graduates, so are reluctant to make the effort to interview them: there is certainly little doubt that there is substantial variablility in the quality of graduates from disparate medical schools.

There are no guaranteed methods to getting an interview at any of the top hospitals. However you can increase your chances by - doing an elective - getting good USMLE scores - doing well in your own medical school - having a research publication - having very strong letters of reference from your dean and referees Never assume that your application is actually being reviewed by the hospital you applied to.

Make sure you get in touch with the program coordinator after you have seen them download your items from ERAS, asking when you can expect to hear about whether you will be given an interview. All program directors are listed in the AMA green book, and online at FREIDA.

It is true that planning international travel is more complicated than local travel, so you really will benefit from an early decision. If you do get an interview, you should be able to negotiate a day that works in your interviewing schedule, but this can be variable. The interview day itself usually starts the night before, where you'll be hosted to a casual dinner with members of that residency. This is where you get to ask all the hard questions about what life is really like working in that hospital and program. Many residency programs do look for feedback from those who have met you at these dinners, so be on your best behavior.


The actual interview day will usually involve hearing a presentation about the program, going to morning report/conference, and then meeting individually with some of the selection committee during the day. You may not be scheduled to meet with the program director themself, but it is worth asking (given you have travelled so far) to meet directly with them at the end of the day, to find out how you got on, and whether you're in with a good chance at this program. Do follow up with the program director by email or letter after you have left to solidify your intent or interest.

GOOD LUCK




Sample Personal statement for Internal Medicine Residency
Please Click on the link to see the Personal statement
http://home.att.net/%7Eppmd/cv-ps/ps/IM01.HTM




J1 Waiver Program
Some of you or may be most of you must be wondering that what is the Process of getting a J-1 waiver. I found some Info and posting it here for everyone's use.

J1 Waiver Program

PROCEDURES FOR WAIVER APPLICATIONS

There are four steps to processing a waiver review application.

STEP 1. To apply for a recommendation for a waiver of the two-year home residence requirement under any of the above bases, applicants must complete and send a Data Sheet application, and two self-addressed, stamped, legal-size envelopes (S.A.S.E) and a cashier''s check or money order for $230 U.S. dollars per application, payable to the U.S. Department of State to:
Postal Service
US Department of StateWaiver Review DivisionP. O. Box 952137St. Louis, MO 63195-2137
Courier Service
US Department of StateWaiver Review Division(Box 952137)1005 Convention PlazaSt. Louis, MO 63101-1200Please Note:
ONLY REVISED DATA SHEET APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED .Applications with other versions of the Data Sheet will be returned to the sender without processing.Please write on the cashier''s check or money order the applicant''s full name, date of birth and Social Security Number, if any.Remittances must be drawn on a bank or other institution located in the U.S. and made payable in U.S. currency to the U.S. Department of State.If the applicant resides outside the United States at the time of application, remittance may be made by bank international money order of foreign draft drawn on an institution in the U.S. and made payable to the U.S. Department of State in U.S. currency.

STEP 2. Once the Waiver Review Division has received your Data Sheet application, they will use your self-addressed, stamped, legal-size envelopes, to send you a case number and instruction sheet on how to proceed with your application under the basis you designated on your Data Sheet application. This information will include a list of documents that you must submit to complete your waiver review application. After you have received your case number, you must write the full case number on any documentation you submit as well as on the outside envelope of all future correspondence with this office. If you do not write the case number on all correspondence and on the outside of the envelope, the documents you submit will be returned to you.

NOTE: Please do NOT fax or mail copies of your data sheet to the Waiver Review Division. The lock box in St. Louis will forward your data sheet to the Waiver Review Division. If you fax or mail copies of your data sheet to the Waiver Review Division, it will NOT be processed.

STEP 3. It is your responsibility to submit all requested documents and required letters sent on your behalf. Once we have sent you the check list of items necessary to complete the review of your application (Step 2 above), the Waiver Review Office will NOT follow up on documents that have not been received. Rather, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your file is complete. You may check on the status of your application ONLY by calling (202) 663-1600. You must have your full case number in order to obtain the status of your case through this telephone number.

We recommend that you submit all the requested documents at the same time. Some letters (such as a "No Objection" statement from your government) must be submitted directly to the Waiver Review Division by the Embassy. In that case, you, as the applicant, must request that the Embassy write your full case number on the "No Objection" statement and also on the outside of the envelope to be sent to the Waiver Review Division. You may, if the third party agrees, have all of your documents forwarded to the Waiver Review Division through the third party. Please note, however, that ALL documents sent to the Waiver Review Division must have your file number clearly visible on it, and on the outside of the envelope or they will be returned to you.

STEP 4: At the conclusion of the review process, the Waiver Review Division will forward its recommendation directly to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security and you will receive a copy of that recommendation at the address listed on your data sheet. If your application is denied, you will be notified directly. (info obtained from www.travel.state.gov)




IMG Friendly Hospitals in Internal Medicine
Hi everyone, This is a list of some programs which are known to be IMG Friendly in Internal medicine. Any one find any program missing , please post a comment, will be glad to add that to this list.

Alabama
• Baptist Health System Program • Carraway Methodist Medical Center Program

Arizona
• Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Program • Maricopa Medical Center Program • St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Program

California
• Alameda County Medical Center Program • Kaiser Permanente Medical Group (Northern California)/San Francisco Program • Kaiser Permanente Medical Group (Northern California)/Santa Clara Program • Kaiser Permanente Medical Group (Northern California/Oakland) Program • Kaiser Permanente Southern California (Los Angeles) Program • Kern Medical Center Program • Loma Linda University Program • San Joaquin General Hospital Program • Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Program • Scripps Clinic/Scripps Green Hospital Program • St Mary Medical Center Program • St Mary's Hospital and Medical Center Program • University of California (San Francisco)/Fresno Program

Connecticut • Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University Program • Griffin Hospital Program • Hospital of St Raphael Program • Norwalk Hospital Program • St Vincent's Medical Center Program • University of Connecticut (New Britain) Program • University of Connecticut Program • Yale-New Haven Medical Center (Waterbury) Program District of Columbia • Howard University Program

Florida • Jackson Memorial Hospital/Jackson Health System Program • Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida Program

Georgia • Atlanta Medical Center Program • Emory University Program

Illinois • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center/North Side Health Network Program • Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Program • Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital/University of Chicago Program • McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (Evanston) Program • Michael Reese Hospital/University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago Program • Resurrection Medical Center (Westlake) Program • Southern Illinois University Program • St Francis Hospital of Evanston Program • St Joseph Hospital Program • The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Program • University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana Program • West Suburban Medical Center Program

Indiana • Ball Memorial Hospital Program • St Vincent Hospital and Health Care Center Program

Kentucky • University of Louisville Program

Louisiana • Ochsner Clinic Foundation Program

Maryland • Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland Program • Harbor Hospital Center Program • Johns Hopkins University/Bayview Medical Center Program • Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Program • Prince George's Hospital Center Program • Union Memorial Hospital Program

Massachusetts • Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine Program • Caritas Carney Hospital Program • Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Program • Lahey Clinic Program • Salem Hospital Program • St Vincent Hospital Program

Michigan • Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center/Michigan State University Program • Hurley Medical Center/Michigan State University Program • Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies/Michigan State University Program • Oakwood Hospital Program • St John Hospital and Medical Center Program • St Joseph Mercy Hospital Program • St Joseph Mercy-Oakland Program • Synergy Medical Education Alliance Program • Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center (Grace Hospital) Program • Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center Program

Missouri • St John's Mercy Medical Center Program • St Luke's Hospital Program • St Mary's Health Center Program • University of Missouri at Kansas City Program • University of Missouri-Columbia Program

Nevada • University of Nevada (Reno) Program New Jersey • Atlantic City Medical Center Program • Atlantic Health System (Morristown) Program • Atlantic Health System (Mountainside) Program • Atlantic Health System (Overlook) Program • Capital Health System-Fuld Campus Program • Jersey Shore University Medical Center Program • Monmouth Medical Center Program • Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Englewood) Program • Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Jersey City) Program • Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Program • Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Program • Raritan Bay Medical Center Program • Seton Hall University School of Graduate Medical Education (St Francis) Program • Seton Hall University School of Graduate Medical Education Program • St Barnabas Medical Center Program • St Peter's University Hospital Program • UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School Program • UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (Camden) Program • UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Program

New York • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Jacobi) Program • Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center Program • Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center Program • Bassett Healthcare Program • Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center Program • Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Program • Brooklyn Hospital Center Program • Flushing Hospital Medical Center Program • Harlem Hospital Center Program • Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Program • Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Program • Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center Program • Long Island College Hospital Program • Lutheran Medical Center Program • Maimonides Medical Center Program • Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Cabrini) Program • Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Elmhurst) Program • Mount Sinai School of Medicine (North General) Program • Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Queens Hospital Center) Program • Nassau University Medical Center Program • New York Medical College (Brooklyn-Queens) Program • New York Medical College (Metropolitan) Program • New York Medical College (Our Lady of Mercy) Program • New York Medical College (Richmond) Program • New York Medical College (Sound Shore) Program • New York Medical College at St Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York Program • New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center Program • New York Methodist Hospital Program • North Shore University Hospital at Forest Hills Program • NYU Downtown Hospital Program • Rochester General Hospital Program • St Barnabas Hospital Program • St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center Program • Staten Island University Hospital Program • SUNY at Buffalo Graduate Medical-Dental Education Consortium (Mercy Hospital) Program • SUNY at Buffalo Graduate Medical-Dental Education Consortium (Sisters of Charity) Program • SUNY at Buffalo Graduate Medical-Dental Education Consortium Program • SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn Program • SUNY Upstate Medical University Program • United Health Services Hospitals Program • Unity Health System (Rochester) Program • Winthrop-University Hospital Program • Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center Program North Carolina • Carolinas Medical Center Program • Moses H Cone Memorial Hospital Program

North Dakota • University of North Dakota Program

Ohio • Akron General Medical Center/NEOUCOM Program • Canton Medical Education Foundation/NEOUCOM Program • Case Western Reserve University (MetroHealth) Program • Fairview Health System Program • Huron Hospital Program • Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati Program • Medical College of Ohio Program • Riverside Methodist Hospitals (OhioHealth) Program • St Elizabeth Health Center/NEOUCOM Program • Summa Health System/NEOUCOM Program • TriHealth (Good Samaritan Hospital) Program • University Hospital/University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Program • Western Reserve Care System/NEOUCOM Program • Wright State University Program

Oklahoma • University of Oklahoma College of Medicine-Tulsa Program

Oregon • Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center Program

Pennsylvania • Abington Memorial Hospital Program • Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Program • Allegheny General Hospital Program • Easton Hospital Program • Geisinger Health System Program • Graduate Hospital Program • Lankenau Hospital Program • Lehigh Valley Hospital/Pennsylvania State University Program • Mercy Catholic Medical Center Program • Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh Program • Penn State University/Milton S Hershey Medical Center Program • Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System Program • PinnacleHealth Hospitals Program • Reading Hospital and Medical Center Program • Scranton-Temple Residency Program • St Luke's Hospital Program • Temple University/Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital Program • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Medical Education (McKeesport Hospital) Program • Western Pennsylvania Hospital/Temple University Program • York Hospital Program

Rhode Island • Roger Williams Medical Center Program

South Carolina • Palmetto Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Program

South Dakota • University of South Dakota Program

Tennessee • East Tennessee State University Program • Meharry Medical College Program • University of Tennessee (Nashville) Program • University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga Program • University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville Program • University of Tennessee Program

Texas • Austin Medical Education Programs of Seton Healthcare Network Program • Baylor College of Medicine Program • Baylor University Medical Center Program • Texas A&M College of Medicine-Scott and White Program • Texas Tech University (Amarillo) Program • Texas Tech University (El Paso) Program • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Program • Texas Tech University (Odessa) Program

Virginia • Carilion Health System/University of Virginia (Roanoke-Salem) Program

Wisconsin • Aurora Health Care Program • Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Program