Montefiore - pimping?

[alwayslight]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Past SDN'ers have mentioned that Albert Einstein's interview is quite grueling... any inside takes on this? My interview is creeping up real soon, and I'd love to match there. I've been reading through PM&R secrets... but I don't know if there are particular chapters I should focus on.

As always...any and all help is appreciated

 

[VApmrdoc]

I can't say how things are recently but when I interviewed there in ~2006 the hardest question I had to answer is what animal would describe me...

With that said, I would focus on topics related to rotations you have done in PMR, if any. So if you have spent time in TBI or SCI, know some things that would be important to do when evaluating those patients (Dysreflexia, glascow coma score, ASIA exam). As a medical student, keep in mind that you will be expected to know anatomy since "you're closer to those classes than (we) are". When in doubt remember that rehab is still an extension of all the other medical fields that came before - rule out things that may kill a patient before jumping to the rehab part, at the very least it gives you time to think about what else to talk about. This stuck with me because an interviewer was glad I actually said examine the patient if called in the middle of the night for a back pain issue if I was on-call rather than jumping to Vitamin M order.

Hope that helps.

 

[drvlad2004]

Most of the attendings at Montefiore did pimp when I interviewed there back in 2003 but the interview itself was not truly grueling. They asked basic science questions common PM&R topics such as CVA, spondylolysis. I think you will like the attendings. The housing there in the Bronx is unbeatable. Don't kill yourself studying every PM&R topic prior to the interview.

Best of luck

 

[Gastrocnemius]

Is this process unique to Montefiore? How much PMR would they expect us to know as medical students!

 

[VApmrdoc]

Is this process unique to Montefiore? How much PMR would they expect us to know as medical students!

It's not specific to Montefiore, I think some programs just do it more than others and certainly some interviewers do it more than others.

In terms of how much PMR should you know in medical school, that's a loaded question since it's not just medical school but prior experience that add to your knowledge base as well. Knowing a little bit more than what was thrown at you in med school lectures certainly can make the interviewer consider you a stronger candidate. There is a whole thread discussing more exposure to PMR during med school which gives insight into just that idea. Not to mention the stronger candidates hopefully would also have had a chance to do some type of elective or even volunteer in PMR prior to interviewing.

 

[alwayslight]

hey....just wanted to update anyone who's been following this thread. I'll make a more detailed review once I go on some more interviews, but just a brief overview of the Montefiore interview date -- def not an intimidating process. Everyone was very nice...just seemed like they were getting to know you. There is 1 interviewer who will ask you a few ethical questions, but seriously, nothing bad at all. Good luck to all! 👍

 

[rehab_sports_dr]

I know that I pimp when I interview. for me, more important than the answer to the question is the reaction to the question (for example, is the medical student composed, are their answers well thought out, etc)

Looking back on when I was interviewed as a medical student, I am much more appreciative for the interviewers who actually interviewed me and pimped me a bit. That shows that they were actually trying to learn about me as a person. If they are just having casual coffee talk, then they didn't really need me to fly across the country to meet with them- I just could have sent them my CV

 

[Ludicolo]

I know that I pimp when I interview. for me, more important than the answer to the question is the reaction to the question (for example, is the medical student composed, are their answers well thought out, etc)

Looking back on when I was interviewed as a medical student, I am much more appreciative for the interviewers who actually interviewed me and pimped me a bit. That shows that they were actually trying to learn about me as a person. If they are just having casual coffee talk, then they didn't really need me to fly across the country to meet with them- I just could have sent them my CV

You have convinced me. I believe I shall pimp this interview season. 😀

But let’s define “pimping”. My definition: asking students or residents to quickly recall seemingly esoteric medical knowledge, in order to publicly demonstrate how dumb/smart they are. Doing this on interviews is silly, IMO.

I do agree though that the interview shouldn’t be entirely slow-pitch softball. I think it’s fair game to ask candidates challenging, thought-provoking questions about themselves, PM&R, medicine, or life itself. I don’t consider this pimping. I’m trying to get a sense of a candidate’s composure (or nervousness), experience (or naiveté), humility (or arrogance), and preparedness (or lack thereof). I'm trying to gauge the candidate's overall character and thought process by asking them insightful questions in a somewhat stressful situation.

My objective, as a teaching attending, is to get residents to think about and solve our patients’ problems effectively and efficiently. Residents who demonstrate that they like to think (and are good at it) make my job that much more enjoyable.