Need advice on introducing myself to the PD/Chair?

[longlost.s]

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So I need an advice/suggestions on this. In an upcoming interview, I will be interviewed by the chair who is also an active researcher and I have read one of his articles that I found very interesting, way before I was invited to interview by this program. I was thinking of bringing his article on my interview, just to make a connection. Is this wise?
Also, how do I start the conversation: "Hi Dr X, I have read your article on ABC and I am glad that I am finally getting to meet you..." or should i let the conversation start off with general "Tell me about yourself" an bring this up in the end?
Or any other suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Animalcules]

So I need an advice/suggestions on this. In an upcoming interview, I will be interviewed by the chair who is also an active researcher and I have read one of his articles that I found very interesting, way before I was invited to interview by this program. I was thinking of bringing his article on my interview, just to make a connection. Is this wise?
Also, how do I start the conversation: "Hi Dr X, I have read your article on ABC and I am glad that I am finally getting to meet you..." or should i let the conversation start off with general "Tell me about yourself" an bring this up in the end?
Or any other suggestions?
Thanks!

Is the question whether you should use the kitchen sink approach and prove to the Chair that you can gracefully force conversations from the get go?

 

[longlost.s]

Is the question whether you should use the kitchen sink approach and prove to the Chair that you can gracefully force conversations from the get go?

No that is not the question at all. I do not want to prove to the chair that I can force conversations or anything, I just want him to know that I enjoyed reading his article when I did not even know him, now I am happy I am getting to meet him through this interview.

 

[DokterMom]

"I read your article on XYZ last year while..."

IF it can come up naturally in the conversation and not if you have to force it. Make sure you include timing and context so the suck-up is less blatant.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Just have a normal conversation. Chances are there will be some opportunity to discuss research at the program, and that would be an appropriate time to bring up the article.

 

[doc05]

He probably didn't even write the paper... would he even remember it?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Do not "bring it up" or "work it into the conversation".

Discuss it if it naturally arises as part of your interview.

 

[longlost.s]

Thank you all for your advices, but I am confused, because the resident who wrote the article with him, asked me to "bring it up" or "let him to know" that I read it. Now, I don't know what to do, this resident is a pgy3 and will vouch for me too later, and he wants me to make this connection which he thinks "would be nice and liked"..

 

[j4pac]

If I was an interviewer, the top question I would ask myself about every applicant would be, “is this applicant genuine?” Because if I think someone is not being genuine...then I can’t trust anything they say, either in an interview or personal statement. Don’t be a suck up...it will screw you.

On the other hand, when asked “why our program?” Answering along the lines of...”research is important to me...and it’d be an honor to work with you and your staff on projects that I share a common interest”...would show that you have done your homework on the program and genuinely explains a big reason why you are interested in their program. But just keep in mind that the majority of fellowships out there are looking for sound clinicians...so don’t oversell research.

 

[AdmiralChz]

If I was an interviewer, the top question I would ask myself about every applicant would be, “is this applicant genuine?” Because if I think someone is not being genuine...then I can’t trust anything they say, either in an interview or personal statement. Don’t be a suck up...it will screw you.

Very important, as an interviewer it's actually not too hard to tease this out. Have at least two or three available questions for the inevitable "do you have any questions for me" - twice last year an applicant told me no and once they said "oh I read your website so I think I understand everything." Came across as rude and uninterested.

Another, on probing, admitted he was applying into anesthesia as a backup as it was his second time applying into Ortho. He was very personable and many liked him, but ultimately went unranked as he was a huge risk to jump ship during training.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Thank you all for your advices, but I am confused, because the resident who wrote the article with him, asked me to "bring it up" or "let him to know" that I read it. Now, I don't know what to do, this resident is a pgy3 and will vouch for me too later, and he wants me to make this connection which he thinks "would be nice and liked"..

I think that the advice you have gotten here is generally good, HOWEVER... if a resident who knows the guy well at the program says to bring it up, then maybe this particularly attending is just an ass who likes to have people suck up to them. Those do, unfortunately exist.

If that is indeed the case, I still wouldn't lead with it, but if the opportunity presents itself the resident's may not be bad advice to follow.

 

[candbgirl]

Thank you all for your advices, but I am confused, because the resident who wrote the article with him, asked me to "bring it up" or "let him to know" that I read it. Now, I don't know what to do, this resident is a pgy3 and will vouch for me too later, and he wants me to make this connection which he thinks "would be nice and liked"..

I’m confused why you asked. It seems you just wanted confirmation and when you didn’t really get it well...

 

[Psai]

Very important, as an interviewer it's actually not too hard to tease this out. Have at least two or three available questions for the inevitable "do you have any questions for me" - twice last year an applicant told me no and once they said "oh I read your website so I think I understand everything." Came across as rude and uninterested.

Another, on probing, admitted he was applying into anesthesia as a backup as it was his second time applying into Ortho. He was very personable and many liked him, but ultimately went unranked as he was a huge risk to jump ship during training.

Jesus man
Literally the most annoying question on the interview trail
I just want to be a doctor and train at a half decent program is that too much to ask for?
I was very interested in every program I interviewed at; you just don't know enough about the program before you're in it
Sick of people expecting flowery bull**** to make themselves feel warm and fuzzy about how beautiful their program and staff are
The best interviews were the ones that flowed like conversations by people who read your application, not those who don't know you and go through a lazy list of protocolized questions

Shout out to Rochester and UMich, excellent interview days