“Tips to Match” Panel Highlights

Written by Breanna Thompson

Panelists

Highlights

Mentorship

  • Societies like RJOS and MSOS are great places to start if you need a mentor.

  • Do not be scared to send cold emails. A good way to do this is to start with a subject line that catches their eye. Try to get your point across on why you want them to be your mentor – answer the question of why should they dedicate time to you?

  • Do not undervalue ANY connections you make in the field, because connections lead to other connections.

 

Away Rotations

  • Inside The Match, Nailed It Ortho, White Coat Coaching have great blogs on resources to use during your away rotation. Some specific resources include OrthoAccess, JBJS Clinical Classroom, Netter’s Concise Orthopaedic Anatomy, Pocket Pimped, Surgical Exposures in Orthopaedics: The Anatomic Approach.

  • Many of our panelists found a big part of being successful on rotations was being a great team member and showing strong work ethic rather than knowing the textbook.

  • Ask the nurses, scrub techs, residents, and anesthesiologists about how you can best help them prior to and following the surgery.

 

How do you get a better sense of the culture of a program?

  • If you are unable to do an away rotation at a program, try to do 1-2 week “visits.” Some programs may be more receptive to this than others.

  • Try to attend open houses and pay attention to how the residents interact (whether they are energized, etc.) at these events and on social media. Consider whether talking to them feels natural to you.

 

Signaling

  • About 70% of the interviews our panelists received came from programs they signaled.

  • When you interview, communicate that you signaled a program and are extremely interested; make sure they know you are excited!

  • Signal the programs you would be ecstatic to go to, whether it be because of geography, representation, etc.; know your non-negotiables.

 

Research Years

  • Ayobami discussed that as an IMG, the best way to match into an orthopedic surgery residency is via research. He applied for a masters in epidemiology and statistics, learned the basics of research, and then looked for job opportunities in orthopedic surgery.

  • Talk to your own mentors and your home program director to about whether you should take a research year.

 

Interview

  • Make sure you practice, whether it be to attendings, to yourself in the mirror, etc. If you have a virtual interview, make sure to practice on Zoom – you may notice you use a lot of filler words, talk with your hands a lot, etc.

  • Read over the abstracts of your own manuscripts to refresh yourself.

  • Take time to make sure you are putting down hobbies in ERAS that you genuinely feel very passionate about. Many of our panelists were asked about their hobbies during interviews, and it will show negatively if you do not have a true passion.

  • If you are a nontraditional student or took a break before applying, be ready to talk about it.

Christopher Bellaire is an MS4 at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai who recently matched at Georgetown University. He is additionally a Marine Corps Veteran, serving as an intelligence officer for 4 years.

 

Ayobami Ogunsola, MD is a recent graduate from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He recently matched as an incoming physician scientist at Wake Forest University.

 

Tiffany Smith is an MS4 at Rutgers University who recently matched at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital.

 


Clay Townsend, MD graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2021. He completed a preliminary general surgery year before matching in orthopedic surgery at Temple University.

 

Tyler Williamson is an OMS4 at the University of the Incarnate Word who recently matched at the University of Texas San Antonio.

 



Sara Winfrey is an MS4 at Loyola University, who recently matched at Loyola University.


Overview

The “Tips to Match” panel was the second in a series of informational panels included in the MSOS 2nd Annual Research Symposium. The panel enabled medical students to hear from recently matched students from varying backgrounds and learn more about how to navigate the application season