Neurology A Guide to the Match What

Neurology A Guide to the Match

What is Neurology? l Clinical treatment of neurologic disease – Chronic: MS, Parkinson’s, dementia, headache – Acute: stroke, critical care l Long-term patient relationships l Evolving field with lots of research opportunities l Not just “diagnose and adios”

Career Paths $$ www. doximity. com/careers Low - 240 K Medium - 260 K High – 300 K Medscape. com

Career Paths l Academic vs. private vs. mixed l Research opportunities – l Basic, translational, clinical Most residents fellowships academic affiliated or private practice – Some go directly to private practice

Fellowships l Fellowships are common, not overly competitive l https: //www. aan. com/fellowship/ – – l Vascular/stroke, neuro-critical care MS/neuro-immunology, movement, headache, pain, imaging, sleep, neuro-ophtho, oncology, cognitive, imaging Neurophys – EEG/EMG, epilepsy, neuromuscular Research 1 -3 years

Fellowships Vascular/Stroke Movement disorders Neuromuscular MS Cognitive Neuroinfectious Disease Headache Neurocritical care Interventional Neuroimmunology Balance Sleep Medicine Neuroradiology Pain Management Epilepsy Neurophysiology Neuro-otology Neuro-opthalmology Behavior Neurohospitalist Child Neuro**

Structure of Residency l 1 year medicine + 3 years neurology = 4 years l Categorical: all 4 included, no need for prelim l Advanced: PGY 2 - 4 – Often need separate prelim spot – Some programs have guaranteed spot, may or may not need to interview on same day or separately – ^^ They may not tell you this until your interview day

Structure of Residency l Categorical vs. Advanced In general: – – Midwest: categorical – West: advanced – l Northeast: advanced South: categorical Read program website, ERAS, FREIDA carefully!

Thinking of Neurology? l Join the AAN for free: – – l http: //tinyurl. com/AANstudent (need dean or department to sign) NIHSS Certification Take Basic Neuro (NEU 801) as MS 3, or early MS 4 (B, C) – – BGH/consult: variety of cases and attendings GVI/stroke: high volume stroke center, hands-on NICU: new student rotation VA and WCHOB have fewer pts, so let coordinator know about your interest

Preparing to Apply l When you decide on neuro, contact Dr. Silvestri njs 6@buffalo. edu (program director) l Take Advanced Neuro (NEU 805) early MS 4 – Contact Eva Tamoga ejtamoga@buffalo. edu l Electives: research, neurosurgery, sleep, chronic pain… l Aways are NOT necessary l Research NOT necessary (but helpful) – But can e-mail Silvestri/faculty for advice if you’re interested

USMLE Step 2 l Schedule a date ASAP, they fill up! – Required by Dec. 31 of MS 4 year per UB l Get CS out of the way l Most programs do not require CK, but it helps

Personal Statement l Start writing during/after rotation l Ask for help editing and proofreading

Letters of Recommendation l Ask early and follow up! – l Provide draft of PS, CV, LOR request form – l “Do you feel comfortable writing a positive letter…” Optional: USMLE, list of programs 4 MAX letters on ERAS – 3 neuro + 1 medicine, usually – Chair letter – Gil Wolfe gilwolfe@buffalo. edu – Many prelims require Medicine Chair letter – contact Anne Curtis early abcurtis@buffalo. edu http: //tinyurl. com/ubmdneurology for affiliated faculty and e-mail

Selecting Programs l Assess your competitiveness – – l Step 1: 225, Step 2: 233 Mean # Research: 3 HUGE difference between Top and Middle Tier – Big name college XX big name program

Selecting Programs

Selecting Programs

Selecting Programs l Apply to 15 -30 programs top/mid tier – – l More if weaker applicant Easier to turn down programs Prelims: more competitive! – l Apply based on region, # advanced Submit Sept. 15

Interviews l Invites begin ~2 wks after ERAS opens l Check your e-mail A LOT – – l Reply immediately; call if you don’t hear back Have a calendar handy E-mail coordinators directly about more available dates, waitlist dates, coordinating travel

Interviews l Schedule as many as you can – – l Some programs may surprise you! Try to go on 10 -12 Cancel early so others can interview (and it’s polite)

Interviews l Late October to late January (F/G/H/I) l UB allows 3 days/elective for interviews – If you need more, ask attending directly; don’t e-mail department coordinator – Anatomy TA, radiology at VA, EMed, Path l E-mail Dr. Cohan about Neuro TA early (G/H/I) l Try to avoid Advanced Medicine

Interviews l Unofficial average cost: $10, 000 – Reach out to friends and family in area – Check hospitals’ website if they have discounted rates at local hotels – Book flights early – Southwest, Priceline/etc l – l If you stick with one airline, you’ll probably fly enough to qualify for free flights UB HOST: https: //medicine. buffalo. edu/alumni/ub-host. html Residency Relocation Loans http: //tinyurl. com/relocationloans – Private companies tend to have better rates

Travel Wisdom l Take your suit as carry-on l Travel with phone numbers/e-mail of coordinator in case of delay/getting lost l Bring bleach pen, floss, extra pair of tights, umbrella

Pre-Interview Dinner l Informal setting, chat with residents: – Are they happy? – Do they like each other? – What do they think about the program? l Business casual l If the residents are drinking, you can too

Interview Day l 7: 30 -ish to 3: 00 -ish l Intro by PD or resident l Interviews: 3 -6, 15 -30+ minutes, usually 1 -on-1 – Prepare questions! Read up on program. l Tour l Lunch with residents +/- faculty BE YOURSELF!

Common Interview Questions l Why neurology? What subspecialty? l Describe an interesting case. l Describe a difficult [anything]. l Personal strengths or weaknesses? l DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

After the Interview l Send thank you notes (e-mail okay) l Second looks NOT required, don’t get pressured l Take notes on program – NRMP Prism app

Ranking l ROL opens mid-January; closes late February l Consider: – – – Faculty and residents Diversity/breadth of training Research and elective time Fellowship opportunities in-house; placement of residents Location l The Match favors YOU; don’t try to game the system l Ask: Would I rather match here or not match?

Take Home Points l Do neuro rotation ASAP l Develop relationships with faculty l 3 neuro letters + 1 med/other l Research l Personal statement – don’t wait until September! l Maintain or get non-medical hobbies l Look into programs in May/June l Apply to 15 -30, interview at 10 -12 l Submit application at earliest date

Helpful Websites l FREIDA Online https: //freida. ama-assn. org/Freida/user/search/program. Search. do l American Academy of Neurology https: //www. aan. com/ l NRMP Match Data http: //www. nrmp. org/match-data/nrmp-historical-reports/ l Map of Residencies https: //maps. google. com/maps/ms? hl=en&ie=UTF 8&msa=0&msid=204426385331860659425. 0004 a 0939179 ebe 1 e 105 a&ll=41. 836828, 82. 661133&spn=25. 947463, 50. 053711&z=5&iwloc=0004 a 0 d 55 c 140899131 b 2