Away rotations for path

Started by tunicaexterna
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tunicaexterna

tunicaexterna

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Hello all,

Im trying to navigate vsas and schedule away rotations. How many away rotations should I apply for per time slot in vsas? How competitive are away rotations in path?
 
Before doing a pathology rotation, get as much non-pathology clinical experience in the US as possible. Ideally, several months even if it's not full time (e.g. every Saturday ER volunteer). At minimum, a month of full-time experience (any experience) in a clinical medicine setting. A pathology residency still has elements of clinical medicine, and pathologists still interact with clinicians and should not be perceived as (and should not actually be) clueless about how clinical medicine generally works in the US.
 
StatistPriceControlsFail said:
Before doing a pathology rotation, get as much non-pathology clinical experience in the US as possible. Ideally, several months even if it's not full time (e.g. every Saturday ER volunteer). At minimum, a month of full-time experience (any experience) in a clinical medicine setting. A pathology residency still has elements of clinical medicine, and pathologists still interact with clinicians and should not be perceived as (and should not actually be) clueless about how clinical medicine generally works in the US.
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Wow totally false. Don’t listen to that post. Don’t waste your time with non-pathology unless you get tired of doing pathology always. Pathology always are extremely helpful. Not super competitive and not 100% necessary for landing a good residency but helpful to see other programs and figure out what you want in a program.
 
Silverlining1234 said:
Wow totally false. Don’t listen to that post. Don’t waste your time with non-pathology unless you get tired of doing pathology always. Pathology always are extremely helpful. Not super competitive and not 100% necessary for landing a good residency but helpful to see other programs and figure out what you want in a program.
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Your syntax is a bit shaky but a SIGNIFICANT clinical background has helped every pathologist i am aware of who had one.
 
mikesheree said:
Your syntax is a bit shaky but a SIGNIFICANT clinical background has helped every pathologist i am aware of who had one.
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Agree 100% but you will have to land a residency position first before you consider to be a good pathologist. If you don't have many pathology rotations or related to show on you CV, how can you convince programs you are truly interested in pathology? Your application will appear weak if you don't have pathology related things there.
 
Pathgod2629 said:
Agree 100% but you will have to land a residency position first before you consider to be a good pathologist. If you don't have many pathology rotations or related to show on you CV, how can you convince programs you are truly interested in pathology? Your application will appear weak if you don't have pathology related things there.
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Agree. Your main objective as a foreign grad is to show you truly have interest in Pathology and have been exposed to pathology in this country (if you have done Path in your own country that's also good). Not sure how many observerships you can do as a foreigner on a visa but try to get all your observerships at academic programs if you can. A letter from an academic attesting to your interest in Pathology will go a long way when it comes to applications (versus a community pathologist).

Doing observerships in clinical medicine is a waste of time. Your objective is to MATCH period. It's Not to show how much clinical medicine experience in the US you have and how much that will help you become a better pathologist. You may be limited in how many rotations you can get so I would put all your eggs in one basket and do all pathology rotations at academic institutions so you can get letters of reference.

Strong letters of recommendations from pathologists will help your application much more than how one ER attending perceives your clinical skills. No one cares whether you know how to perform a full body physical or work up a case of chest pain in the ER. Seriously get real...your time is limited and use it wisely.
 
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