Chief Residency Help?

[Anasazi23]

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I'm taking a poll from a few different sources to determine if there's an advantage in people's experience, in obtaining fellowships if one has worked as 'Chief Resident' and has this on their resume.

 

[Poety]

Just to recap here, you're on SDN like 24/7 (when not on vaca in the MOUNTAINS or driving your beamer or harley) and YOU MADE CHIEF? hmmmm very very interesting indeed 😉 😛

Congrats btw!

 

[Doc Samson]

I'm taking a poll from a few different sources to determine if there's an advantage in people's experience, in obtaining fellowships if one has worked as 'Chief Resident' and has this on their resume.

Fellowship aside, I've heard from numerous "headhunters" that a chief residency is the only thing that non-academic employers will care about on your CV. They don't give a crap about publications, committees, or other academic pursuits, but a chiefship shows that you can manage the administrative side of the job as well as the clinical.

 

[Poety]

Fellowship aside, I've heard from numerous "headhunters" that a chief residency is the only thing that non-academic employers will care about on your CV. They don't give a crap about publications, committees, or other academic pursuits, but a chiefship shows that you can manage the administrative side of the job as well as the clinical.

So DS, is not making chief detrimental for private practice then?

 

[Solideliquid]

Heck I doubt it Poety, after all the majority of psych residents don't get to become chief.

 

[Doc Samson]

So DS, is not making chief detrimental for private practice then?

Can't imagine it would be... but if you're looking to be hired by a group, hospital, clinic, or other organization, I've heard that it does.

 

[Poety]

Can't imagine it would be... but if you're looking to be hired by a group, hospital, clinic, or other organization, I've heard that it does.

yeah, but what if there is only one chief per year? I mean isn't that hard to get? I knwo some programs make everyone chief, but mine doesn't.

 

[Anasazi23]

Just to recap here, you're on SDN like 24/7 (when not on vaca in the MOUNTAINS or driving your beamer or harley) and YOU MADE CHIEF? hmmmm very very interesting indeed 😉 😛

Congrats btw!

Maybe I didn't make chief and am worrying that I'll be behind in the fellowship race....


😉

 

[Anasazi23]

Fellowship aside, I've heard from numerous "headhunters" that a chief residency is the only thing that non-academic employers will care about on your CV. They don't give a crap about publications, committees, or other academic pursuits, but a chiefship shows that you can manage the administrative side of the job as well as the clinical.

That's very interesting. That never really crossed my mind.

Makes sense. Then again, there are lots of lousy chiefs.

 

[Milo]

there are lots of lousy chiefs.

Hmmm, am I picking up on a bit o' latent anger here? Care to expound? 😉

 

[The Brain]

Speaking as a current chief resident, it helps a lot if you are planning to join the faculty of the institution that you are training at. It also probably helps some in terms of getting interviews for some fellowships, but probably does not help as much as very good letters of recommendation, or an already distinguished research track record in your chosen field of subspecialty. You have to realize that in general, you are going to be working substantially harder than your colleagues, so it is important to know that going into it given that the return from it isn't necessarily huge. Just my 2 cents.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Speaking as a current chief resident, it helps a lot if you are planning to join the faculty of the institution that you are training at. It also probably helps some in terms of getting interviews for some fellowships, but probably does not help as much as very good letters of recommendation, or an already distinguished research track record in your chosen field of subspecialty. You have to realize that in general, you are going to be working substantially harder than your colleagues, so it is important to know that going into it given that the return from it isn't necessarily huge. Just my 2 cents.

The way I look at it, those residents that would be considered seriously by a program for chief probably have a good enough track record to obtain those outstanding letters of recommendation anyway, without the extra work and "title" of Chief. It might be nice validation of your leadership skills though.

..and no, OPD wasn't even asked to be chief, and I don't think it hurt my career prospects.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Maybe I didn't make chief and am worrying that I'll be behind in the fellowship race....


😉

Sazi, you'll always be OUR Chief Resident here--no matter what happens in the "Real World". 😀

THREE CHEERS FOR CHIEF SAZI!

 

[Anasazi23]

Hmmm, am I picking up on a bit o' latent anger here? Care to expound? 😉

We've all had the experience as medical students or residents where you look at the malignant, or poorly-related, or socially inept, chief resident and say, "Why in the world did they pick him/her to be chief?!"

That's all.

Personally, I've had good luck with them since my residency started.

 

[Anasazi23]

Sazi, you'll always be OUR Chief Resident here--no matter what happens in the "Real World". 😀

THREE CHEERS FOR CHIEF SAZI!

Thank you.

Yes, it's true. But I've known for quite a while. I've just been looking seriously into fellowships lately, and this has been something I've been thinking about, as forensics is getting highly competitive, and I need all the help I can get.

😳

 

[Poety]

I may not make chief, but I've learned today about my horoscope house or whatever so that SHOULD lead me to my success right?

 

[Hurricane]

I'm glad there are people out there who want to be chief because I sure as hell don't want to.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I'm glad there are people out there who want to be chief because I sure as hell don't want to.

Agreed--the phrase "bucket of warm spit" always comes to mind.

 

[Anasazi23]

I'm glad there are people out there who want to be chief because I sure as hell don't want to.

That's how I feel about addiction psych.

Touche OPD!
😛

 

[Poety]

That's how I feel about addiction psych.

Touche OPD!
😛

Sazi you're bossy like a chief - you're gunna be great 😛

 

[Anasazi23]

Sazi you're bossy like a chief - you're gunna be great 😛

Naw, I'm a softie.

Most of the time.

 

[MBK2003]

I'm glad there are people out there who want to be chief because I sure as hell don't want to.

My thoughts and feelings exactly!
As we discussed at my program, would anyone actually want to do it if they called it what it is, "Administrative Elective"? Everyone wants to feel the narcissistic glow after being picked by a conglomerate of residency directors and faculty, but how many examples do you have of people who are great psychiatrists and who got great fellowships but were not chief residents. I have about 10 that I can think of. I have a colleague that used an elective slot to write a paper with a Forensics faculty member as a PGY-4. Secured themselves a highly coveted Forensics fellowship and didn't have to be "microphone monkey" at grand rounds for 4 months.
Also there are lots of ways to get administrative experience while not having to suffer through the vagaries of pizza vs. Indian vs. Thai food for resident lunch week after week. If you get chief resident, congratulations, if you don't, use that same time commitment to do something that is more fun!
MBK

 

[rambor]

My good friend is Chief Resident of Psychiatry and she will be a fellow next year. It appears that being chief was not important in gaining the fellowship. Similarly, most of my friends will be graduating this year and have opted for the fellowship. They were not chiefs of anything and they all received fellowships. I think there are more fellowships than chiefs and I don't think a competitive edge is gained from being chief.

I think the most important element is really how well you got along with people and the letters of recommendation. These will be much more important for getting a fellowship.

The real question is "When does having been a Chief matter?"

 

[Anasazi23]

"All things being equal" (which we know almost never exists in reality), would you be more likely to be selected over another equally-qualified candidate if you had the chief, compared to not having it?

If you were on the borderline on whether to 'accept to interview' or not, would it help get you in the door for the interview?

 

[Anasazi23]

Would you get to have your very own webpage like this guy?