How are fellowship applicants chosen?

[nightflight747]

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Question for the PDs out there or anyone else who might have some insights.

Recently matched into Anesthesiology. I'm assuming fellowships will become more popular in Anesthesiology over the next few years. I was wondering what makes an applicant a strong candidate for a competitive/hard-to-get fellowship?

Is it all based on written evaluations by the attendings? Anesthesiology Boards shouldn't be a factor if my understanding is right that people apply to fellowships as CA-2? Research/presentations important? Does USMLE-3 matter for fellowships at all? Any data from the Match (Med Skool, USMLE1/2, AOA, etc) still valid?

Are there any "equivalents" to Match-entities such as AOA, grades, USMLEs during residency? I mean, are ITE and AKA used in a similar fashion for the fellowship application?

Thank you for any constructive help. I am aware that this is a few years away but wish I had known some of the Match stuff before ERAS opened. 🙂

 

[Gern Blansten]

I assume different PDs look for different things. You won't go wrong if you shoot for some of the following:
-work hard and develop the reputation that you are a team player with excellent knowledge and skills
-write up one or two case reports for presentation at a national meeting and hopefully take the project to publication in a peer reviewed journal (research would be nice, but there are other ways to get published)
-study and perform well on ITEs
-stay out of trouble
-treat colleagues and ancillary staff with respect (it's a small world and people may know other people)
-get elected chief resident
-participate in departmental, institutional, state , and national committees
-get good letters of rec from faculty who know you well or have some pull at the location at which you want to end up
-go the extra mile such as teaching ACLS/ATLS/assuming leadership positions etc
-be an extremely attractive person (just kidding...perhaps)

 

[Jeff05]

- publish something relevant, even if it's a case report
- do well on ITEs
- get fantastic, glowing recommendations
- if you're personable and hardworking, do an away somewhere you want to go.
- being chief helps, but is by no means necessary

the above is only for competitive fellowships, ie pain and perhaps peds (limited number of programs).

you can WALK into most ICU, cardiac, OB, regional (maybe except HSS) fellowships.

 

[Airway]

so to follow up...

USMLE 3 - passing on first time is all that matters? or do people look @ scores (obviously when comparing two candidates any objective data is useful)

 

[geauxg8rs]

unfortunately most fellows are chosen from the same institution pool of residents. It is better to know who might be dealing with for that year rather than take a chance on an interviewee "who looks good on paper".

 

[Consigliere]

Easy - "Heads you're in.......Tails you're not"

 

[veetz]

I just accepted a CT fellowship. IMHO, great recommendations, especially from attendings who are well known in the specialty and know people at fellowship programs are the most important factor.

 

[SleepIsGood]

Misnomer-->being chief doesnt really matter. In effect, I know some people who believe chiefs are the 'kiss ass es" of the class and actually look down upon it...just FYI


-get great recs
-publish
-dont be on the bottom of the list for ITE and USMLE scores

I think the RECs and published work take you far, atleast for an interview.👍

 

[sweetalkr]

I just accepted a pain fellowship

there is no secret. work hard, do well on your tests.
the only things YOU can do, get involved in the ASA politically, or be chief resident.
and do well on ITE's. well as in better than 80%
and donate to the ASAPAC so when you graduate from fellowship, some nurse isn't doing your job for half the price

 

[dhb]

.

 

[AnesCoord]

I assume different PDs look for different things. You won't go wrong if you shoot for some of the following:
-work hard and develop the reputation that you are a team player with excellent knowledge and skills
-write up one or two case reports for presentation at a national meeting and hopefully take the project to publication in a peer reviewed journal (research would be nice, but there are other ways to get published)
-study and perform well on ITEs
-stay out of trouble
-treat colleagues and ancillary staff with respect (it's a small world and people may know other people)
-get elected chief resident
-participate in departmental, institutional, state , and national committees
-get good letters of rec from faculty who know you well or have some pull at the location at which you want to end up
-go the extra mile such as teaching ACLS/ATLS/assuming leadership positions etc
-be an extremely attractive person (just kidding...perhaps)

Excellent advice...the only thing I would add is that you should have at least one recommendation from an anesthesiologist certified in the fellowship your applying for (you know--get someone from the pain division to recommend you for a pain fellowship).