Matching & Straight Through Training

[SeminoleFan3]

I've seen it before on here, but I can't seem to find it: does anyone have the form that the match committee uses? Something about points and whatnot.


Also, does anyone have any suggestions on how to match into a residency slot that can train straight through? (I'm not so much interested in very competitive slots like rads or derm, but more like IM and surgery)
Should I do rotations at certain hospitals, get certain recommendation letters, etc?

Thanks. Please don't go off on the GMO tour probability. I understand it's a real possibility. I would just like some answers to the aforementioned questions.

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[colbgw02]

What service are you talking about?

For the Army, IM and general surgery are relatively easy to match into.

The same things that get you a civilian residency also get you a military residency. Of course, prior service folks or GMOs get a bit of an edge, but it still comes down to grades, boards, etc. You'll definitely want to rotate at your top choice.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

What service are you talking about?

For the Army, IM and general surgery are relatively easy to match into.

The same things that get you a civilian residency also get you a military residency. Of course, prior service folks or GMOs get a bit of an edge, but it still comes down to grades, boards, etc. You'll definitely want to rotate at your top choice.

Thanks. Specifically, I'm talking Navy.

 

[NavyFP]

I've seen it before on here, but I can't seem to find it: does anyone have the form that the match committee uses? Something about points and whatnot.


Also, does anyone have any suggestions on how to match into a residency slot that can train straight through? (I'm not so much interested in very competitive slots like rads or derm, but more like IM and surgery)
Should I do rotations at certain hospitals, get certain recommendation letters, etc?

Thanks. Please don't go off on the GMO tour probability. I understand it's a real possibility. I would just like some answers to the aforementioned questions.

If you really want to go straight through, consider the primary care specialties. Many IM, FP, Peds, OB and Psych get to go straight through. Gen Surg will occasionally have someone go straight through.

I think you should focus more on what kind of doctor you want to be because that is what you will be doing for 20+ years.(in or out of the service)

 

[met19]

If you really want to go straight through, consider the primary care specialties. Many IM, FP, Peds, OB and Psych get to go straight through. Gen Surg will occasionally have someone go straight through.

I think you should focus more on what kind of doctor you want to be because that is what you will be doing for 20+ years.(in or out of the service)

navyFP is correct. Choose your specialty based on what you want. Yeah not goign straight thru isn't that much fun (some like their GMO's BTW), but it is more important to be happy in a specialty that you enjoy rather than unhappy in a specialty you went straight tnru in.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

navyFP is correct. Choose your specialty based on what you want. Yeah not goign straight thru isn't that much fun (some like their GMO's BTW), but it is more important to be happy in a specialty that you enjoy rather than unhappy in a specialty you went straight tnru in.

Thanks. I didn't mean to imply that I was going to pick my specialty by which one has the greatest chance to train straight through. The two I mentioned were some I was currently interested.
Someone suggested to rotate at the MTF where I might be interested. Do I need to rotate in the particular specialty I'm considering? I know my required rotations (Gen. Surgery, IM, FP, etc) will be done at my academic center. Would I do an extra surgery or IM rotation at an MTF, or something else?

 

[hammena1]

I was told that it is becoming more and more common due to the ACGME getting all over the Navy's behind. Navy Ortho is currently taking one person in each year straight through (last 2-3y, depending on sight), with plans to expand it in the future.

As one of two ortho straight through at San Diego this year I agree with that statement. I think that there is another straight through at bethesda or portsmouth as well. There are 2 gen surg going straight through at NMCSD too. specialties are opening up to traditional training schemes. Of course, this in no way has any bearing to the way things will be in the future year to year, but it is a good sign for the long term health of navy medicine.

 

[met19]

Thanks. I didn't mean to imply that I was going to pick my specialty by which one has the greatest chance to train straight through. The two I mentioned were some I was currently interested.
Someone suggested to rotate at the MTF where I might be interested. Do I need to rotate in the particular specialty I'm considering? I know my required rotations (Gen. Surgery, IM, FP, etc) will be done at my academic center. Would I do an extra surgery or IM rotation at an MTF, or something else?

do either a sub I or a sub specialty in the fields you want to explore at the MTF. You should do at least one rotation at the MTF you want to go to. I did a med sub-I at bethesda and a EM rotation at Portsmouth.

 

[NavyFP]

Thanks. I didn't mean to imply that I was going to pick my specialty by which one has the greatest chance to train straight through. The two I mentioned were some I was currently interested.
Someone suggested to rotate at the MTF where I might be interested. Do I need to rotate in the particular specialty I'm considering? I know my required rotations (Gen. Surgery, IM, FP, etc) will be done at my academic center. Would I do an extra surgery or IM rotation at an MTF, or something else?

Yes, you should rotate at the MTF where you are interested. Ideally you would rotate in the department you want as well. As a general rule, if you are planning a residency that does not have a traditional categorical internship (ie. rads, derm, anes) rotating in the actual department is less important, but can help if you seek a full deferment. It is always good to have Navy specialists recommend you for their particular discipline.

I was told that it is becoming more and more common due to the ACGME getting all over the Navy's behind. Navy Ortho is currently taking one person in each year straight through (last 2-3y, depending on sight), with plans to expand it in the future.

You are correct. Specialty RRCs are looking at the breaks in training with a negative eye, and the Navy is doing its able best to allow straight through training. There is significant effort being expended to significantly reduce the GMO requirements to eventually get to an all board eligible/certified force. When will we get there? Good question, but over the next 5 years we will get a lot closer.

 

[met19]

I ended up rotating at NNMC and NMCSD, just to make interviewing easier. NNMC was good about giving me a day off to head down to Portsmouth. I don't know how I would have gotten to NMCSD to interview if I hadn't done it this way.

i wasnt interested in san deigo. thats why i did NNMC and Portsmouth. All of my family is east coast

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I'm not so much interested in very competitive slots like rads or derm, but more like IM and surgery

Sounds to me like you have no friggin' idea what you want to do. I have yet to meet someone late in their 4th year going....well....it's either General Surgery or Internal Medicine....I guess I'll have to apply to both!

You'll figure it out, but I guarantee that however you decide it will be an easy decision to choose a general surgery like specialty or a medicine like specialty.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

Sounds to me like you have no friggin' idea what you want to do. I have yet to meet someone late in their 4th year going....well....it's either General Surgery or Internal Medicine....I guess I'll have to apply to both!

You'll figure it out, but I guarantee that however you decide it will be an easy decision to choose a general surgery like specialty or a medicine like specialty.

You're partially wrong. I do have SOME idea of what I want to do, and definitely a good idea of what I DON'T want to do.

 

[NavyFP]

You're partially wrong. I do have SOME idea of what I want to do, and definitely a good idea of what I DON'T want to do.

Don't sweat it. I have known students who were undecided about what they wanted to do when they graduated. That is where the GMO tour can actually be a benefit. Many interns leave for GMO land thinking one specialty and change to another by the end of the tour. As you progress through medical school, two things may happen. Your preferences may change (you could decide derm or rads or (gasp) psych) and your grades may deselect you. I have known of lower performing med students applying for very competitive residencies without success. (go figure.)

Work hard, get good grades, and worry about specialty later.