Agree that case count alone isn't a great metric, but as @FindersFee5 mentions, hospitalizations are up, icu admissions are up, and all the like. As to your point about testing the hell out of everyone. I disagree. I don't think we're testing enough and to be frank we haven't tested nearly enough since this pandemic started. Currently I think the national test positivity rate is 11.1% per JHU's data. That's pretty far off from the <5% that we should have to indicate we're testing enough. I think CFR and IFR are kinda faulty statistics for the lay public. It's often the covid-deniers that use those values as evidence that this isn't a big deal at all. Personally, daily fatalities as well as the 7 day rolling avg is probably the most important number to track and it's grim and has been grim for some time.
You’re an IMG with low scores and only 2 letters. Honestly even getting 2 GS interviews in that scenario is extremely lucky. You are not being discriminated against, so you can chill with the Nazi references.
Is that what I said? I'm serious, I want you to re-read what I wrote and ask yourself that question. I could write "the sky is blue" on SDN and people would take issue with it.
You make some good points about the positivity rate being that high. I'm not saying it should only be clinical judgment call, because I understand that certain people (especially healthcare workers) need to be sure they aren't positive. But the tests are really only as good as people's willingness to sequester themselves and I don't think that has been Americans' strong suit. I'd really like to learn more about how other countries approached this, and why there is the perception (or reality) that America did so much worse than everywhere else. Why are we having so much more trouble than other countries?
You made a reference that compared programs to the third reich, and insinuated that it's because of your disability you aren't getting interviews. You have four great explanations for why you don't have more: IMG, low step 1, low step 2, and most importantly, only two letters! Without at least three, your application isn't complete at most places! Good god.
Lol, your application isn’t good and your attitude is worse. I wouldn’t have written you a letter either. Best of luck at your interviews.
You should take your crusade to its own thread where you can get specific advice, empathy, and traffic to it and not do it in this thread. You aren't going to get the responses you want here and the other posters don't want to read this derailment either. Putting it in its own thread will help it reach the people you actually need/want to read it as they don't read this applicant thread. It's exhausting. Good luck.
People apply FM as a backup all the time. I have a classmate applying FM and a hyper competitive surgical subspecialty and hasn't gotten any FM interviews because his application was obviously surgical. FM is all about fit, and unfortunately without a LoR from FM it would appear they're your 2nd choice. However, as to answer your question, try to do well on the interviews. They sent you an IV therefore they are ok with your letters/scores but be prepared to discuss it.
LOL it's "all old men in an ivory tower". Whatever, but the numbers don't lie and IMGs have a hard time matching. Do you honestly think that it isn't part of your problem?
Your lack of proper letters for FM is what is hurting you most.
I concur. The issue is this poster needs FM letters and needs a 3rd letter to get past being screened out. All other drama aside.
Bruh. We’re in the eleventh hour of interview season. You only have two letters. Neither in the fields you’re applying to. Never mind the scores and IMG status. You’re complaining about having only two interviews when you have a below average and technically incomplete app. I’m surprised you have any.
All of our students will be immune by the end of January, so I'm hoping for an in person graduation.
Don’t forget about guests/families...also vaccines efficacy is only 94-95%...still pretty risky...
This is such a tough situation..only med student here but if I write a letter to vouch for someone for a position, I put my reputation at risk and have to be confident that that person will be able to carry out job and pretty good at it...not everyone are suited to be surgeons. Let be honest, surgeries require lot of standing and back pain sure makes it more difficult...should I write a letter for someone just because I don’t want to violate the discrimination law, vouching for that person even though I don’t believe that person will be able to do the job? I am not saying the person who refuse to write the letter is right...remember there maybe more then that what OP posted...also at the end of the day, you also put your reputation on a line when you write letter...and really not every student pick the right specialty for themselves
What constitutes reasonable accommodation is pretty subjective. If the physician witnessed OP struggling with basic patient care tasks it very well could have been their judgment they don’t think OP would be the best candidate for a specialty that has known physical demands, particularly on people’s backs. This doesn’t violate school policy or the ADA. People aren’t obligated to write LORs.
Lucky you! Word is invites for students to be vaccinated started going out last week at my school, but I still haven't heard anything. I have a parent getting elective surgery next week (we went back and forth on whether this was a good idea...but basically decided the risks from not getting surgery exceeded the COVID exposure risks) and I am planning to be their driver/caregiver while they recuperate. Sure would be nice to get that email...
Interesting. At our hospital medical students are expected to help with patient transfers in the OR.
This is what I mean when I say there is no defined endpoint for covid precautions. We’re going to have everyone vaccinated at 95% efficacy and people will still focus on the 5% and insist on virtual gatherings. I’m not blaming you and I get that guests/families may not be vaccinated yet, but Fauci himself said we should still all wear masks after the public is vaccinated. It’s ludicrous to continue these measures when the vaccine is so effective and the data to date shows a pretty low mortality rate. And as our testing ramps up even higher it’s likely that the case fatality rate will drop even further as a symptomatic cases are discovered. At some point I think people need to accept that there are risks to living life, and living as hermits isn’t really living at all.
There is risk in life I agree...but not worth it to put lot of people in a small space sitting next to each other even with mask and ?~95% immune just for graduation ceremony....don’t forget there is a new strain so whether the vaccine will protect against that as well is questionable..I personally don’t plan to attend match or graduation with or without covid...sure as hell I am not putting my fam at risk now 🤣 it is an easy decision for me...for others, it is not.
So if the virus keeps mutating, we just continue this cycle indefinitely? economy and entire world be damned?
Idk lol. Was just talking about a graduation ceremony...which is nothing compared to economy and either world lmao...
I agree with what you’re saying mostly, but the emphasis will need to be on “everyone vaccinated”. We’ve had vaccines with similar efficacy in the past (smallpox I think is 95%?) that worked out well. I’m hopeful for the same this time around.
I hear you, and I get it. That is a good point that there is a difference between the start and end of vaccine administration.
Focusing only on the health effects is what most doctors are doing, and I think it is shortsighted. See the part about 130 million people starving this year. Think that doesn’t have health effects?
Hi Taiwan & New Zealand
We were expected to do this as well
Yeah I’m involved in transfers for OR, ED, deceased, ICU proning, etc
