JCAHPO for residency?

[idkididk]

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I'm currently in my gap year before med school, and I was just accepted last month. I'm currently working as an ophthalmic technician, and I absolutely love it. I get to scribe for a retinal specialist and partake in everything from intravitreous injections to billing.

If I'm thinking of applying to ophthalmology residencies, would it be worth it for me to study for the JCAHPO test and be a certified ophthalmology technician?

Also, would it be helpful for me to get a LOR from the retinal specialist I work with and save the letter until I apply to residency?

Thanks!

 

[futuremd16]

Letters have to be sealed and signed and it would be about 4 years old...don't know how much value it would hold. Not at all necessary to be certified, but you could mention your experiences in your personal statement. I'm sure a certificate could only help, though.

 

[DrZeke]

I'm currently in my gap year before med school, and I was just accepted last month. I'm currently working as an ophthalmic technician, and I absolutely love it. I get to scribe for a retinal specialist and partake in everything from intravitreous injections to billing.

If I'm thinking of applying to ophthalmology residencies, would it be worth it for me to study for the JCAHPO test and be a certified ophthalmology technician?

Also, would it be helpful for me to get a LOR from the retinal specialist I work with and save the letter until I apply to residency?

Thanks!

Might be helpful if you want to work as an ophthalmic tech during summers or during medical school randomly. Maybe it will help you get onto some crazy international trip..

 

[docta9]

I think it is better. There is one small possibility that it would hurt. When applying to ophthalmology residencies, others may be considered medical students with interest in ophthalmology or ophthalmology research but you would be considered the former ophthalmology tech. This is a probably a very small possibility.

The reason I say this is that when applicants were being discussed, one was called "the optometrist" because that was what he was even though he was now a medical student. Another was called "the woman pharmacist". On the bright side, there was NOT derogatory descriptions like "that fat guy" though there was about "that tall guy from ____ school".

Instead, dwell on your experience working with ophthalmology patients, not your certification (even if you have it). No need to hide it, though.

 

[hurdlepup]

I think some pertinent advice would be to not try to "outgun" the first year residents with your tech experience when you are rotating as a med student. I've seen that and it doesn't go over well.

Otherwise, go for it!