Matching in allergy (and other questions)

[LFSdriver]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Would any residents, fellows, attendings care to help me out with a few questions regarding matching in allergy? I am a pre-clinical MS so my knowledge of these matters is generally low.

Aside from:

1) matching into the best university hospital in IM that I can
2) research

I am still wondering about the following things

1) who to get letters of recommendation for in IM rotations as a resident? Would any internal medicine subspeciality attending suffice? Or are LORs from allergy attendings weighted more heavily?

2) how much are USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores weighted?

3) given that there are only ~ 250 fellows matriculated every year, how many applications would an average allergy program get?

4) as an allergy fellow what do you rotate through? Or how much time do you spend in research/clinics/floor?

6) is there much allergy research available in university hospitals as a resident?

5) as an attending is it feasible to get allergy jobs in smaller towns (ie less than 150000 population)?

Thanks everyone, looking forward to your input 👍

 

[manahilb]

Answers to your Q to the best of my knowledge ...Things may vary depending on if u are a US grad vs a Foreign grad . Allergy is tough primarily because there are less spots available and an excellent lifestyle.

1- LOR should be from Allergy attendings x 2 and your Program director. You can have a letter from a med attending in place of one of the Allergy attendings but ideally I d go for 2 letters for AI attendings that u have worked with.

2-USMLE scores are weighed even though no one admits it . However u can offset some of the impact ( if u have low scores) by involving urself in research and getting something published or presented at the annual meetings either of the college or academy.

3-There is no deficiency of applicants to chose from for the programs. As this is a well fought match I know of programs which interviewed only 5 to 6 applicants for one spot knowing very well that they will still match and they did ! U have to remember that on an average the program offer 1 or 2 spots per year so there is no stress of how many applications they get vs how many they can recruit, the balance is always in their favour.

4-The rotatiosn depend on the focus of the program some have research as the focus and some clinical. I always would wana opt for a balanced program unless I know what my ultimate goal is. Having said that Allergy is basically an out patient / clinic based speciality so thats where u spend most of your time. The obligatory research is approx 6 months to 8 months dueing which ur continuity clinics still go on . You are only excused from the extra clinics. You will also have the oppurtunty of rotating with other closely linked specialities like Pulmonary and ENT.

5-Research as an intern/resident is HARD unless u have a favourable program in which u have many people already conducting research and if they are willing to let u in. I after many futile efforts landed a project in which I was given an idea and then told to go figure how to do it! I wrote the IRB and made the arrangements myself. I was still very fortunate to 1, get a project and 2 to have someone to call for help when I needed it. All this is hard but doable if u have the commitment. As an intern u are trying to stay afloat and research is not ur focus but u have to balance and do it, the fruit is definitely worth the effort. Go for a simple project that u can handle unless someone can involve u in one of their big ones ( best choice but can be hard to get into)

6-Hmmm for ur last Q being a big fish in a small pond is always great 🙂 with the foods becoming more and more synthetic and allergies rising u will be doing well. Honestly if u look at it there is not much needed to set up an allergy practice. I would advise however to work with someone senior for a while so that u have a good grip before u set out on ur own.

Hope this helps. I am a FMG and my motto is if i can get it so can u ! U have to connect and work with the right people ( people who help and those that have an influence). Make sure if Allergy is what u want or for that matter anything that u are decided on doing , u get electives in that sub speciality early in ur intern year so that u can develop links early. Time is too short since they expect u to apply for the fellowship in mid 2nd year and to get something substantial done to look good on ur CV is a challenge.

 

[LFSdriver]

Thank you very much manahlib for the thorough response.