Applying for Allergy/Immunology fellowship few yrs after residency

[rs2006]

HHi everyone,
Good evening. I hope all is well. I am a US grad from a top university IM program and completed my IM residency in 2009 and have been working in academics since graduation. I am currently on the faculty of a top medical school and have been considering applying for allergy/immunology and would like to get some advice regarding applying when in my situation-- who to get rec letters from, getting involved with research and also how realistic is it for me to apply given that I am a few years out of residency? Unfortunately, I have not done much research, but have solid step scores and am board certified in IM. Thanks in advance.

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[WorkaholicsAnon]

HHi everyone,
Good evening. I hope all is well. I am a US grad from a top university IM program and completed my IM residency in 2009 and have been working in academics since graduation. I am currently on the faculty of a top medical school and have been considering applying for allergy/immunology and would like to get some advice regarding applying when in my situation-- who to get rec letters from, getting involved with research and also how realistic is it for me to apply given that I am a few years out of residency? Unfortunately, I have not done much research, but have solid step scores and am board certified in IM. Thanks in advance.

I think not only is it realistic, you also have a leg up on a lot of applicants applying as PGY2-3s because of your demonstrated success in the academic world (and you're already board certified so fellowship programs dont have to worry about a fellow not passing ABIM boards).

As for who to ask for letters... I dont know much about the allergy/immunology sphere in terms of whether they want letters from A&I faculty or not. I am applying for endocrine (which granted is a lot less competitive) and they just wanted a PD letter, at least one letter attesting to my clinical ability, and one other letter. In fact programs told me that it's better to have a non-endocrinologist write the clinical letter if they know me better. So in that case, since you've been working clinically for the past few years, you can just find a couple of colleagues that know you well, or your supervisor (if he/she knows your clinical work), to write 2 of your letters, and then the 3rd has to be a letter from your former PD.

 

[johnnywalker]

HHi everyone,
Good evening. I hope all is well. I am a US grad from a top university IM program and completed my IM residency in 2009 and have been working in academics since graduation. I am currently on the faculty of a top medical school and have been considering applying for allergy/immunology and would like to get some advice regarding applying when in my situation-- who to get rec letters from, getting involved with research and also how realistic is it for me to apply given that I am a few years out of residency? Unfortunately, I have not done much research, but have solid step scores and am board certified in IM. Thanks in advance.

i was told that i needed only one good allergy letter in addition to my PD/chair letter. so i'd do some research or taylor previous research to allergy or immunology and you'd be set. there is a huge need per the interviewers for academic allergists so if you can demonstrate your want to stay in academics even better

 

[breezy818]

I agree I think you should be ok r2006. Hey did you guys hear that LICH has no program anymore. I've been on 4 interviews so far and 2/4 programs have asked me where I've interviewed or have gotten interviews. Is this a bad or a good tihng... do they think I'm a weak candidate or they want to know their competition?

 

[umc]

I agree I think you should be ok r2006. Hey did you guys hear that LICH has no program anymore. I've been on 4 interviews so far and 2/4 programs have asked me where I've interviewed or have gotten interviews. Is this a bad or a good tihng... do they think I'm a weak candidate or they want to know their competition?

I finished 7 interviews, 4 more to go. Half of them asked me where else I already interviewed. I think it's ok to tell them.
LICH? You mean Long Island College Hospital? Is it in affiliation with SUNY downstate at Brooklyn? I will interview at SUNY downstate in March.

 

[johnnywalker]

I am now at five done. I have been asked on every interview where I am interviewing at, and if they want to know that I'm pretty competitive for their competition then so be it. I wonder what they do with the information honestly. Will it change their rank list?

 

[breezy818]

Yeah LICH used to have its own program, but now Downstate rotates through LICH.

 

[sima2113]

So LIJ no longer has its own allergy & immunology program? You would have to go through downstate to apply?
Also, I have heard it is important to do your Internal medicine residency at a program that offers an Allergy & immunology fellowship if that's what you what to pursue. How important is this?
What other factors are important for getting into A&I?
Thanks