This is kind of a silly question, but i read forms and a lot of times people mention having good contacts with the Doctors and hospital. So my question is, how do you go about actually doing that. Like how do you make good connections with the doctor without annoying them. Like with the doctors i have worked with so far, i have a good doctor and student relationship with them. So how can i make connections now, which may help me out in the future?!
This is a social skill that can not be acquired I guess.
Some people are good at it and some people are bad it.
It means that you go and talk and make friends with US medical personnel. Chatting, Facebook friends, Dinning outs, Smiling Hellos, ...etc
However, connections in the sense of increasing your match probability does not only entails this social skill but it also means that for example your neighbor knows a doctor in hospital X very well. You ask your neighbor to introduce you to that doctor. You go visit him/her and he/she then may introduce you to another doctor that they can help you (for example by offering you an observership, research, ...etc) and so on. It's a chain reaction, once you start it, it will never stop. The difficulty is with the first one or two doors, once that's open then all other doors will eventually open.
The ultimate goal is to reach the program director. Once the program director likes you then you definitely will get an interview and there's a high chance that you'll be accepted there.
According to my personal experience in the States with PDs they like to hire people through connections especially if these connections were faculty or internest with teaching positions, however they don't like your personal communication with them. Stay undercover, don't expose yourself, PDs don't want any headache. They will like you through your CV and contacts in the program when you apply through ERAS. When you come to the interview behave innocent, don't miss what your connections are building for you, just do your best to impress the PD regardless the connections.
Yes, if you know someone who knows the PD then your chances of getting an interview is certainly high. If your connection took the job of actually recommending you to the PD, a task that requires a very high level of trust from the part of the connection to your potentials and skills.
However, if you are seen directly by the PD like doing an observership with him/her or presenting a seminar in front of him/her then your chances of getting that interview is even higher.
Of course, PDs are very busy and it can be very difficult to even have a short chat with them. But as I said, they are the ultimate goal, if you reach a bit more proximal goals then it's fine, but at the end of the day somebody should talk to the PD.
Another caveat here with the indirect PD connection, is that sometimes people tell you that they know the PD while in fact they are not or even worse sometimes they have conflicts with them or are "hated" by the PDs and a recommendation from that doctor may prove disastrous. So be very careful when you look up those connection. Faculty is usually (but not always) better than just "attending" or "external" physicians.
What applicantguide is perhaps pointing to, is the scenario when you practice undue stickiness to the PD despite his/her rejection. PDs and other professionals usually do not like "sticky" people. So the advice here is that show yourself just enough to be remembered in the match and do not press harder as it may be counterproductive.
In addition, some people may try to make an appointment directly with PD. Like for example they go to Hospital X and knock the door and present themselves to the PD directly. I myself know of several IMGs who have done this, but unfortunately very few of them succeeded. So it's always better that you are introduced via a trusted "someone" even if it was a nurse or a non-medical friend of the PD.
You know guys, I work for University hospital and I know personally PD, chiefs of the departments and a lot of attendings and I have a lot of doubts I will get here residency here, Im sure I will have to apply to community hospital, because my scores dont meet their requirements, so I dont believe such a thing as a "connection".They ve already told me how gooa Im , but also mentioned that I dont "fit" their profile...(((((
You know guys, I work for University hospital and I know personally PD, chiefs of the departments and a lot of attendings and I have a lot of doubts I will get here residency here, Im sure I will have to apply to community hospital, because my scores dont meet their requirements, so I dont believe such a thing as a "connection".They ve already told me how gooa Im , but also mentioned that I dont "fit" their profile...(((((
yes there is & connections is the best credential.
what do you mean by "known personally"? do you go out/hang out with them like friends or buddies? or you just knew them in the hospital your working?
what they mean by the "connection" term is that these people are really your friends outside the hospital.
and also having connection in any univ hosp is not a guarantee that you will match there..
do you feel that borderline"its the best credential, but not guarantee!" Exactly! thats what I was trying to say! My relationship with them is very professional, but to the point where I feel comfortable to talk to them about my family, where we joke at work and all of them promised me good LORs, but when it goes to residency issues they wished me luck and advised to apply for community hospitals nationwide.....Youre right , I dont hang out with them, we are not like "buddy-buddy", I dont have personal relationship there, so...... when I see those posts aka " 75/75/ passed whatever attempt and got residency in Univ program in decent specialty", it does really make me mad
do you feel that borderline"its the best credential, but not guarantee!" Exactly! thats what I was trying to say! My relationship with them is very professional, but to the point where I feel comfortable to talk to them about my family, where we joke at work and all of them promised me good LORs, but when it goes to residency issues they wished me luck and advised to apply for community hospitals nationwide.....Youre right , I dont hang out with them, we are not like "buddy-buddy", I dont have personal relationship there, so...... when I see those posts aka " 75/75/ passed whatever attempt and got residency in Univ program in decent specialty", it does really make me mad
i see.
yeah i feel you on that. its because of this other word too -> "POLITICS". that connection you have isn't the connection that they've been talking about.. yes i know its very frustrating to hear those kinds of stories - 75/75 & univ program. they are either AMGs or have connections. but we can't blame them for having those strong connections.
anyway, community hosp isnt that bad as what you think. give it a try.
don't fret, just keep working hard. you'll get match.
guys interesting thread out here...!! i rotated under an assistant PD last yr for the whole month and was able to be in good terms with her..she gave me an excellent evaluation for my clerkship with her..so I asked her for an LOR but she hasn't been replying to my emails. I was hoping to get a chance of interviewing atleast..what do i do in this scenario?
Life is a who you know game……and the who you know is a part of the what you know….not the other way around…The whole world works like that. But I also know that when you want something bad enough, the whole universe aligns and conspires in helping you achieve that…. Keep chugging….. Top 10 EM University-Based 2015!! Lets go!! We can do it!!!
The MATCH is just one conduit to get into a residency program. One that is not strictly mandatory. If you know someone, you are in. My study partner got a 241 on Step 1 and is starting R1 in in July without Step 2. Guess what? Her husband is R2 @ the hospital and is buds with the PD. go figure. Good for her!!
:notsure::notsure::notsure::notsure::notsure:
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