The Interview Chronicles - An Introduction

The months of November through January were a busy time in the life of the average fourth year medical student, and Your Humble Observer was no exception. These months are known as "Interview Season", a time for doctors in training to brush up their resumes, brush off their suits, put on a smile and their best behavior, and strut their stuff, so to speak, for residency programs.

It's an exciting time, to say the least, and it often involves travels to distant and exotic places (i.e. Syracuse, NY), at times involving multiple cities in back to back days. Hotels, taxis, airports, and complimentary breakfasts become a way of life. It's a lot of fun, but it does take it's toll. At the busiest time, YHO had 8 interviews in 6 different cities, involving 7 flights and 1 train ride, in a span of 17 days. Whew, takes my breath away just to write that out.

What follows is a four-part photoessay of the life of the weary traveler. Follow along as YHO goes on interview.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me A Match!

Oh, come on! You had to have seen that title coming...

I speak, of course, of the residency match. And the great Yente of the entire process is the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). Ok, here goes my attempt at explaining this process.

If you recall back in September I began the process of applying for residency positions. The initial application process was mediated through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). This is an online tool that allows the applicant to assemble all necessary documents in one place and then to research and, ultimately, apply to various residency programs. Programs then invite qualified applicants to interview for their program. Interview season begins in October and lasts through January. At this point the applicant begins deciding which programs they liked, which they could tolerate, and which were less than ideal. On the other end, the residency programs do the same for their potential candidates.

Enter Yente. On February 24, programs and candidates alike submitted their Rank Order Lists (ROLs). What that means is that a list of programs/candidates is submitted in order of preference to the NRMP. Over the next few weeks, the NRMP will run the Match Algorithm, a computer program, to try and place candidates at the programs that they desire and who desire them. It's a whole big long complicated process, and it boggles my mind to try and think of it...so I won't. Suffice it to say, the idea is that each candidate and program will be hooked up with their top choices.

Once the results are finalized, candidates and programs will be notified. On March 15, the candidates will be notified whether they matched or not. Unfortunately, just because you submit a ROL does not guarantee a match. On March 18, candidates that matched will be told exactly where they were placed. This constitutes a binding contract between applicant and program. The obvious difference from the usual application process is that the candidate is not notified of acceptance from multiple institutions, then makes their ultimate choice. The time for those choices has passed, and now, come March 18, we must accept the result handed to us.

Once that is all over, information is sent, contracts are signed, and the newly chosen resident awaits the start of their post-graduate training, usually beginning July 1.

FYI

Let's Talk About Me

Far be it from Your Humble Observer to keep his readership out of the loop or, perish the thought, allow them to become bored. So here we go...what's going on in the life of YHO?

Well, a lot and not much all at once.

As you'll recall, I do this little thing called medical school. And for all the fun it brings, let's face it, all good things must end. Although it's nice to be the medical student who can get away with ignorance, spend real time with patients, and rock a groovy short white coat, the world needs... doctors...and I am to be one of those...doctors...

Ok, back from my little emetic spell there. It's fun, exciting, anxiety-causing, and nauseating all rolled into one neat package. The last of my core rotation exams was completed last month and I can proudly say that I am officially done with ALL medical school tests. Graduation looms in early June, while Commencement ceremony will be May 29 back on the ol' island of St. Maarten (for those who don't remember, no I have NOT misspelled the name of the island. There really are two 'A's). Most exciting of all, however, is the fact that in less than eight weeks, I will be completely done with all rotations. Give me a 'Y', give me an 'A', give me a 'Y'! What does that spell? FREEDOM!

And what does the next step involve? Well, there's this little thing called the Match. The Match determines what you'll be doing with the rest of your life. So no big deal. And all of this will come to pass on March 18. On that day, I will know whether I matched or not, and if so, which program I matched at. More to come on this maddening process...

In sports news, I continue to train for the New York City Half Marathon on March 21. YHO's training progress may be tracked in the 'To Athens' section of this blog. If you're in the big city and you care to spend an entire Saturday morning watching endless throngs of people run for 2 consecutive hours, then come on down and cheer us on. More to come on this maddening process...

(Geez, what a nice easy way to cop out of writing a lot)

That's the quick and dirty. More informative, insightful, and witty posts to come. I can hear the collective inspiration as you all hold your breaths. More to come on this maddening process...

Beace!

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 5 - Footprints And Fun

Part 5 - Footprints And Fun

And now...a little fun...

...

...

...

...

...

And quite possibly the best picture of YHO...ever.

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 4 - After & Before

Part 4 - After & Before

Pile 'em on high atop the cars and street

The shrubbery of 85th Street covered in snow

A shot down my block

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 3 - Snowy Streets Of Brooklyn

Part 3 - Snowy Streets Of Brooklyn

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 2 - A Moving Tribute

Part 2 - A Moving Tribute

A video from the streets of Brooklyn during Snow-Day 02/10/2010

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 1 - Inside Looking Out

A running photoessay documenting Snow-Day 02/10/2010:

Part 1 - Inside Looking Out

These were the sights that YHO awoke to early this morning.

A Long, Long Time Ago

I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.

The Day The Music Died

2/3/59

R.I.P. Valens, Holly, Bopper

In Texto Veritas - Revelation (on a Psych Ward)

Revelation (on a Psych Ward)

From: YHO
Date: 02/02/10
Time: 11:00

The following is a text message to M.R. that spiraled out of control:

"So...TID, BID, QHS, and, yes, even QID are fine abbreviations. In fact, they are preferred. But the dreaded QD elevates you to the level of heretic. Abbreviation-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Commonly known as "You-Know-What". PURE evil. The Adversary in word form. Shaitan himself. Capable of pillaging women and raping horses. Belongs in Dante's 7th circle. Fire and brimstone. Gnashing of teeth. That which bears the mark of the beast. 666. 7 trumpets, 4 horsemen. Destruction of the earth, coming of The Kingdom.

AH-HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!"

(Ok, so maybe an unwarranted level of drama there. Whatever...you try spending 5 hours trapped inside a glass bowl being tapped at like a goldfish and not resorting to these histrionics.)