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hey guys, I was searching around and found this interview randomly. It sheds some interesting light on what some PD's are looking for in applicants:
(1)What do you find most exciting about the field of plastic surgery?
The fact that each patient is different, and each patient requires a
different solution. This makes the specialty always interesting and always
challenging.
(2) What is your typical week like? How much time is devoted to
teaching, academics, and surgery?
Since I run a training program, a certain amount of time each week doing
administrative tasks. I take care of a lot of patients, usually with
residents and students involved, and at any one time I'm usually writing a
paper or two. My workweek is 100 to 115 hours, some of which is done at
home. My wife thinks this is too much, and I always feel it will become
less, but it never seems to.
(3) What are some of your interests outside of plastic surgery and
teaching?
I'm a musician, and usually play several times a week, and also sing in a
choir. I play tennis and golf, and love to read outside medicine -- usually
history.
(4) What advice would you give a first year medical student who
approaches you and says, "I want to be a plastic surgeon".
Spend time on the plastic surgery service-- get to know your plastic
surgeons and what they do.
(5) Although many advisors tell students to keep an open mind through
the first two years of medical school, many residency programs like to
see research and an early commitment to plastic surgery. Is it is 'too
late' to become interested in plastic surgery in the 3rd and 4th year of
medical school?
No, not at all. Good research in any field -- any evidence of productive
academic activity -- will be looked upon favorably, but you should become
involved to some extent with the plastic surgeons in your institution to
demonstrate that your interest in plastic surgery is not completely
abstract, and does have a foundation in real experience. Also, it helps to
have a recommendation or two from plastic surgeons.
(6) The list of integrated programs appears very dynamic and ever
changing. What trends have you seen among the integrated/combined and
independent programs? And what has been the impetus behind these
changes?
Clearly the trend in plastic surgery has been towards integrated/coordinated
programs, at least partly because the pool of applicants from General
Surgery seems to have dwindled, and the applicants from medical school are
so very good.
(7) What advice do you give to a fourth year medical student applying
for a PGY-1 plastic surgery position? How would you assess whether or
not a student should 'risk' not matching in this highly competitive
match?
There are still plastic surgery programs taking applicants from General
surgery, so I would suggest that besides the PGY-1 positions, you should
apply to the best General surgery programs you could get into. That way, if
you fail to match in plastic surgery, you still have the option of applying
for plastic surgery programs from General surgery. You also might fall in
love with General surgery and stay there!
(8) Comparing the traditional route (general surgery plus a fellowship
in plastic surgery) and the integrated/combined model:
(a) What model makes the better plastic surgeon?
(b) Are there any striking disadvantages of either path?
Both models make good plastic surgeons. For many years we trained one
traditional resident side-by-side with a coordinated resident, and found
that at the end of the residency, everything had leveled off-- we could not
tell the difference. There are no striking disadvantages of either path--
only differences of logistics that can be taken advantage of by individuals
with different requirements.
(9)Generally speaking, what makes a good plastic surgeon?
Below are a list of traits. On a scale of one to five, one being
'minimally important' and five being 'essential' to a good plastic
surgeon or plastic surgeon resident, how would you rate the following
traits or characteristics?
_3__ intelligence
_4__ artistic ability
_4__ dexterity/technical skills
_4__ visual-spatial skills
_4__ compassion and empathy
_4__ communication skills
_5__ dedication and hard work
_4__ ability to get along with others
___ (Other)_________________
(10)Please describe some of the strengths of your program. Why should a
student apply to Brown's program?
The Brown program is very nicely rounded, with good clinical experience
throughout the range and scope of plastic surgery, a very strong research
program, a dedicated attending staff, and a superb group of fellow residents.
Besides, Providence is a great place to live and train.
(11) Generally speaking, what do you look for in an applicant? And what
do you NOT look for?
Dr. Edstrom, regarding the list below, could you please rate the
following on a scale of one to five with respect to the selection
process (again, one being minimally important and five being essential).
__4_ USMLE Step I
__4_ USMLE Step II
__4_ Class Rank
__4_ Clinical evaluations
__4_ Letters
__4_ Research experience
__2_ Geographic location (that is, do you tend to select from the
East Coast, etc.)
__3_ The medical school the applicant attended
__2_ The undergraduate school the student attended
__4_ AOA membership
(12)What electives do you like to see students taking in the fourth
year? What advice do you give students who choose to do only plastic
surgery electives during their fourth year to "improve" their chances of
__3_ The medical school the applicant attended
__2_ The undergraduate school the student attended
__4_ AOA membership
(12)What electives do you like to see students taking in the fourth
__3_ The medical school the applicant attended
__2_ The undergraduate school the student attended
__4_ AOA membership
(12)What electives do you like to see students taking in the fourth
year? What advice do you give students who choose to do only plastic
surgery electives during their fourth year to "improve" their chances of
matching?
I don't think which electives an individual takes are of particular
importance. Take what interests you and best rounds out your experience.
But see question 13 below.
(13) Does doing an audition rotation at Brown guarantee a courtesy
interview or improve a student's chances of matching at Brown?
There is no question that a good candidate improves his chances by spending
a month with us here in Providence. Just the opposite for a weaker
candidate.
Dr. Edstrom, below are some of the nuts and bolts behind our database.
It has been my experience that these are some of the most commonly asked
questions by medical students.
How many students generally apply to your program per year?____150____
How many students do you generally interview per year? ___25 to 30____
How many PGY-1 positions are available per year? ___2____
It has been my experience that these are some of the most commonly asked
questions by medical students.
How many students generally apply to your program per year?____150____
How many students do you generally interview per year? ___25 to 30____
How many PGY-1 positions are available per year? ___2____
What are your average USMLE Step I scores? ____we generally will not
interview a candidate under 225, with some exceptions.___
What is the class rank of the typical student interviewed?___upper quarter__
What medical schools have you matched in the last five years?
BU, Yale, Northwestern, Loyola, UT Southwestern, Alabama, Ottawa,
Mount Sinai, and University of Massachusetts (Worcester).
Regarding letters of recommendation: How many do you prefer? How many
is too many? From what department(s)? And from whom (department head
versus someone who knows the student very well).
See below. In general we like to see letters from plastic surgeons,
indicating actual experience in plastic surgery, and evaluation by people we
know.
Perhaps the most important question, Dr. Edstrom: How do we apply?
We are now part of the ERAS system, and that makes the application process
easier for all of us. The student performs the application process only
once, and sends its two as many programs as he wishes -- for a fee, but no
extra work.
(1)What do you find most exciting about the field of plastic surgery?
The fact that each patient is different, and each patient requires a
different solution. This makes the specialty always interesting and always
challenging.
(2) What is your typical week like? How much time is devoted to
teaching, academics, and surgery?
Since I run a training program, a certain amount of time each week doing
administrative tasks. I take care of a lot of patients, usually with
residents and students involved, and at any one time I'm usually writing a
paper or two. My workweek is 100 to 115 hours, some of which is done at
home. My wife thinks this is too much, and I always feel it will become
less, but it never seems to.
(3) What are some of your interests outside of plastic surgery and
teaching?
I'm a musician, and usually play several times a week, and also sing in a
choir. I play tennis and golf, and love to read outside medicine -- usually
history.
(4) What advice would you give a first year medical student who
approaches you and says, "I want to be a plastic surgeon".
Spend time on the plastic surgery service-- get to know your plastic
surgeons and what they do.
(5) Although many advisors tell students to keep an open mind through
the first two years of medical school, many residency programs like to
see research and an early commitment to plastic surgery. Is it is 'too
late' to become interested in plastic surgery in the 3rd and 4th year of
medical school?
No, not at all. Good research in any field -- any evidence of productive
academic activity -- will be looked upon favorably, but you should become
involved to some extent with the plastic surgeons in your institution to
demonstrate that your interest in plastic surgery is not completely
abstract, and does have a foundation in real experience. Also, it helps to
have a recommendation or two from plastic surgeons.
(6) The list of integrated programs appears very dynamic and ever
changing. What trends have you seen among the integrated/combined and
independent programs? And what has been the impetus behind these
changes?
Clearly the trend in plastic surgery has been towards integrated/coordinated
programs, at least partly because the pool of applicants from General
Surgery seems to have dwindled, and the applicants from medical school are
so very good.
(7) What advice do you give to a fourth year medical student applying
for a PGY-1 plastic surgery position? How would you assess whether or
not a student should 'risk' not matching in this highly competitive
match?
There are still plastic surgery programs taking applicants from General
surgery, so I would suggest that besides the PGY-1 positions, you should
apply to the best General surgery programs you could get into. That way, if
you fail to match in plastic surgery, you still have the option of applying
for plastic surgery programs from General surgery. You also might fall in
love with General surgery and stay there!
(8) Comparing the traditional route (general surgery plus a fellowship
in plastic surgery) and the integrated/combined model:
(a) What model makes the better plastic surgeon?
(b) Are there any striking disadvantages of either path?
Both models make good plastic surgeons. For many years we trained one
traditional resident side-by-side with a coordinated resident, and found
that at the end of the residency, everything had leveled off-- we could not
tell the difference. There are no striking disadvantages of either path--
only differences of logistics that can be taken advantage of by individuals
with different requirements.
(9)Generally speaking, what makes a good plastic surgeon?
Below are a list of traits. On a scale of one to five, one being
'minimally important' and five being 'essential' to a good plastic
surgeon or plastic surgeon resident, how would you rate the following
traits or characteristics?
_3__ intelligence
_4__ artistic ability
_4__ dexterity/technical skills
_4__ visual-spatial skills
_4__ compassion and empathy
_4__ communication skills
_5__ dedication and hard work
_4__ ability to get along with others
___ (Other)_________________
(10)Please describe some of the strengths of your program. Why should a
student apply to Brown's program?
The Brown program is very nicely rounded, with good clinical experience
throughout the range and scope of plastic surgery, a very strong research
program, a dedicated attending staff, and a superb group of fellow residents.
Besides, Providence is a great place to live and train.
(11) Generally speaking, what do you look for in an applicant? And what
do you NOT look for?
Dr. Edstrom, regarding the list below, could you please rate the
following on a scale of one to five with respect to the selection
process (again, one being minimally important and five being essential).
__4_ USMLE Step I
__4_ USMLE Step II
__4_ Class Rank
__4_ Clinical evaluations
__4_ Letters
__4_ Research experience
__2_ Geographic location (that is, do you tend to select from the
East Coast, etc.)
__3_ The medical school the applicant attended
__2_ The undergraduate school the student attended
__4_ AOA membership
(12)What electives do you like to see students taking in the fourth
year? What advice do you give students who choose to do only plastic
surgery electives during their fourth year to "improve" their chances of
__3_ The medical school the applicant attended
__2_ The undergraduate school the student attended
__4_ AOA membership
(12)What electives do you like to see students taking in the fourth
__3_ The medical school the applicant attended
__2_ The undergraduate school the student attended
__4_ AOA membership
(12)What electives do you like to see students taking in the fourth
year? What advice do you give students who choose to do only plastic
surgery electives during their fourth year to "improve" their chances of
matching?
I don't think which electives an individual takes are of particular
importance. Take what interests you and best rounds out your experience.
But see question 13 below.
(13) Does doing an audition rotation at Brown guarantee a courtesy
interview or improve a student's chances of matching at Brown?
There is no question that a good candidate improves his chances by spending
a month with us here in Providence. Just the opposite for a weaker
candidate.
Dr. Edstrom, below are some of the nuts and bolts behind our database.
It has been my experience that these are some of the most commonly asked
questions by medical students.
How many students generally apply to your program per year?____150____
How many students do you generally interview per year? ___25 to 30____
How many PGY-1 positions are available per year? ___2____
It has been my experience that these are some of the most commonly asked
questions by medical students.
How many students generally apply to your program per year?____150____
How many students do you generally interview per year? ___25 to 30____
How many PGY-1 positions are available per year? ___2____
What are your average USMLE Step I scores? ____we generally will not
interview a candidate under 225, with some exceptions.___
What is the class rank of the typical student interviewed?___upper quarter__
What medical schools have you matched in the last five years?
BU, Yale, Northwestern, Loyola, UT Southwestern, Alabama, Ottawa,
Mount Sinai, and University of Massachusetts (Worcester).
Regarding letters of recommendation: How many do you prefer? How many
is too many? From what department(s)? And from whom (department head
versus someone who knows the student very well).
See below. In general we like to see letters from plastic surgeons,
indicating actual experience in plastic surgery, and evaluation by people we
know.
Perhaps the most important question, Dr. Edstrom: How do we apply?
We are now part of the ERAS system, and that makes the application process
easier for all of us. The student performs the application process only
once, and sends its two as many programs as he wishes -- for a fee, but no
extra work.
