How to fill out ERAS as an MD/PhD

[PTPoeny]

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As a MD/PhD student, are we supposed to check the box about medical education being extended or interrupted? The box sounds like a place to talk about things that went wrong and/or were unexpected and not a planned rather than taking part in a program that is expected to take longer.

I did look through old threads, it seems like in the past students go half and half in terms of checking that box or not but it hasn't been addressed in several years. Any new thoughts?

Also, is the medical school awards section for awards during our entire time at our school or only for awards pertaining to the medical years? Specifically, can I put an F30 grant as a medical school award?

Thanks!

 

[Ombret]

I reviewed a lot of resident applications as chief resident. The majority of the MD/PhDs checked yes for the interruption in training and it never seemed weird for them to have done so. Actually, a good way to hide an unfortunate spell in jail or rehab might be to go for your PhD afterward... "Why yes, I did interrupt my training for a brief time..."

As for the F30, you might as well go ahead and put it as an award. Really, that space is meant for your Highest Score in Anatomy award and I honestly can't remember whether I've seen people put grants in that space, but that means that if they did it it was unobtrusive.

What you don't want to do when filling out ERAS, not that we are talking about this but it's worth mentioning--misstating author order, or saying papers are in press when they are just out for review (the readers who matter will PubMed your pubs list). Another red flag is articles in predatory open access journals. It would be better not to have that article at all.

 

[fibrosis mudfud]

I am starting to fill out my ERAS and also had a few questions about where and how to put things as an MD/PhD.

1. Does anyone list grad school as a separate school under education? I think that is the only place I can find to put Masters and PhD degrees.

2. What do people think about listing lab rotations as separate experiences?

3. How about listing an F30 as a separate experience? It seems a bit anti-climactic to stick it at the end under medical school awards.

 

[lens]

1. I listed grad school as a separate school.

2. Yes, list lab rotations as separate experiences.

3. I would list F30 as an award, but make mention of it in the Work Experience section of your major PhD lab (e.g., "I successfully competed for an NIH F30 grant from the NIMH to complete this work...").

OK -- more questions for you all:

1. I served as a teaching assistant during my PhD years for three different classes during three separate, contiguous school terms -- would you list all three separately, or just create one "Teaching Assistant" experience and describe the three classes/the TA's role?

2. I mentored some undergrads -- list as a work experience separately, or include it under my PhD research blurb?

3. I have a hobby that I occasionally teach for money -- but it's primarily a hobby. Would you all suggest including it under Work Experience? It's a serious hobby for me, but it has absolutely nothing to do with medicine.

 

[PTPoeny]

I'm not planning on listing grad school as a separate school as I did it at the same institution and combined MD/PhD is one of the degree options for the medical school category.

Also, if you put the F31 under Medical School Awards and look at the PDF that ERAS creates it is listed up at the top despite being on the last page of ERAS, fyi.

This might be a really stupid question, but why are you listing your lab rotations? Just to highlight different techniques you learned? Different topics you are interested in? It never crossed my mind to list lab rotations as experiences.