Questions about GME-1 rank list

[ActiveDutyNavy]

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Along with standard contact information, the student will submit a ranking list of programs for which they wish to be considered. Students must select 5 programs. Selections are based upon the specialty training a student desires and not a geographic location. Whatever specialty a student selects for choice 1, all other sites that provide that training must also be ranked. For example, if a student selects Internal Medicine at Portsmouth for first choice, San Diego and Bethesda must be ranked as numbers 2 and 3 (in either order). If a Family Medicine Program is selected, all five programs must be ranked. Students may request a full deferment, but if there is a Navy categorical internship in the deferment specialty requested, all Navy sites must be ranked as well. Deferment may be placed in any position except position 5.
The fifth position for all but those who choose Family Medicine must be a specialty without a specific location. For example if a student chooses a surgical internship (General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, or OB), choice five must be General Surgery – any site, Family Medicine – any site, or Transitional – any site. If a student chooses a non-surgical internship, they must choose either Internal Medicine – any site, Family Medicine – any site, Transitional – any site, or Psychiatry – any site. The intent, is to keep students in a general training tract. The any site designation means that a student will be considered by all the programs in that specialty and will be given a position based on available positions in any of those programs.

Above are the instructions for GME-1 rank lists from NAVMED MPT&E. I'm an aspiring Ophthalmologist. My question is how to proceed with my rank list, more specifically what am I required to rank as my 5th choice.

My current rank list:
1) Medicine - TBD
2) Medicine - TBD
3) Medicine - TBD
4) Transitional (TBD) or Civ Deferment
5) ??????

Nowhere that I'm aware of in the GME-1 application (although I haven't officially seen it) allows you to mention your GME-2 training goal. So as far as the Navy knows when I rank Medicine first, I'm an aspiring Internist. Do I have to rank Gen Surg at #5 since Ophtho is a surgical subspecialty or can I rank Transitional (any location)?


FWIW, I haven't officially excluded EM from my career goals. I know there's a lot of disparity between those two fields, but they both appeal to me in their own ways.

Thanks for the help

 

[Gastrapathy]

Above are the instructions for GME-1 rank lists from NAVMED MPT&E. I'm an aspiring Ophthalmologist. My question is how to proceed with my rank list, more specifically what am I required to rank as my 5th choice.

My current rank list:
1) Medicine - TBD
2) Medicine - TBD
3) Medicine - TBD
4) Transitional (TBD) or Civ Deferment
5) ??????

Nowhere that I'm aware of in the GME-1 application (although I haven't officially seen it) allows you to mention your GME-2 training goal. So as far as the Navy knows when I rank Medicine first, I'm an aspiring Internist. Do I have to rank Gen Surg at #5 since Ophtho is a surgical subspecialty or can I rank Transitional (any location)?


FWIW, I haven't officially excluded EM from my career goals. I know there's a lot of disparity between those two fields, but they both appeal to me in their own ways.

Thanks for the help

Why medicine?
If I were you, I would rank:
1. Deferred Ophtho
2. TY SD
3. TY NNMC
4. TY Portsmouth
5. IM any location

 

[ActiveDutyNavy]

Why medicine?
If I were you, I would rank:
1. Deferred Ophtho
2. TY SD
3. TY NNMC
4. TY Portsmouth
5. IM any location

For the 1st choice, deferred Ophtho, I don't know if that's in the cards. First, I can't remember when the last time Ophtho was granted a deferment. Secondly, I've got a growing family to think about.

As for TY vs Medicine, I haven't actually decided yet. I was thinking Medicine would be the best intern year to pursue because:

1. It would give me the latitude to pursue EM if I decide to switch my career goals (Yes, I realize TY qualifies for a military EM residency, too)
2. If I was unable to secure a military residency after my GMO/FS tour, I was thinking a Medicine intern year would make me more attractive in the civilian world, whether for Ophtho or EM.
3. A medicine prelim is all that's offered at my medical school for matched Ophtho residents. So my opinion may be jaded.

Are my thoughts, off-based?

I realize I'm a young medical student and don't have the advantage of experience in both the Navy and GME arena. That's why I'm turning to the SDN for some opinions and insight?

 

[IgD]

As for TY vs Medicine, I haven't actually decided yet. I was thinking Medicine would be the best intern year to pursue because...

I think transitional year has more surgery rotations so if you want to do ophtho or EM a TY internship might be more helpful. Are you considering internal medicine as a career? If the answer is yes maybe a medicine internship would be a good choice. What about a surgery internship, would that be more suited to ophtho?

I did read the instructions you posted but I would say don't rank a program if you don't want to attend. When I went through the pipeline I didn't like the medicine program at Bethesda and I would have rather done a GMO tour than miss out on Portsmouth or San Diego.

 

[NavyFP]

TY is a well rounded internship that will allow you to rotate through both the ED and Oph clinics. It will prepare you well for GMO land and will not limit you if you go to a civilian program later in your career (and have to repeat an internship)

I agree the possiblity of a deferment is very low, but always ask for what you want, worst case, they say no.

 

[Saipan]

TY is a well rounded internship that will allow you to rotate through both the ED and Oph clinics. It will prepare you well for GMO land and will not limit you if you go to a civilian program later in your career (and have to repeat an internship)

I agree the possiblity of a deferment is very low, but always ask for what you want, worst case, they say no.

How competitive is a TY. Which of the intern year programs is the least competitive, generally speaking.

 

[NavyFP]

How competitive is a TY. Which of the intern year programs is the least competitive, generally speaking.

IM/FP/Psych tend to be the least competitive.

TY has a lot of slots so most who want it, get it. San Diego is the most popular choice. Bethesda has fewer slots and USUHS students will frequently pick that as a #1 if they are going for a specialty in which a GMO tour is likely. Portsmouth is the least competitive.

 

[IgD]

...Portsmouth is the least competitive.

But offers the best training. Ample procedures, great diversity in cases. Wouldn't you agree? 🙂

 

[Gastrapathy]

But offers the best training. Ample procedures, great diversity in cases. Wouldn't you agree? 🙂

Pluses and minuses for all three. Don't think you can generalize like this at all. Flagship, Starship...For the OP, he should try to get to a place with an Ophtho residency.

 

[AF M4]

Transitional. Transitional!!!! A million times over do transitional over IM!

 

[orbitsurgMD]

Above are the instructions for GME-1 rank lists from NAVMED MPT&E. I'm an aspiring Ophthalmologist. My question is how to proceed with my rank list, more specifically what am I required to rank as my 5th choice.

My current rank list:
1) Medicine - TBD
2) Medicine - TBD
3) Medicine - TBD
4) Transitional (TBD) or Civ Deferment
5) ??????

Nowhere that I'm aware of in the GME-1 application (although I haven't officially seen it) allows you to mention your GME-2 training goal. So as far as the Navy knows when I rank Medicine first, I'm an aspiring Internist. Do I have to rank Gen Surg at #5 since Ophtho is a surgical subspecialty or can I rank Transitional (any location)?


FWIW, I haven't officially excluded EM from my career goals. I know there's a lot of disparity between those two fields, but they both appeal to me in their own ways.

Thanks for the help

TY or surgery would be preferable to IM. Civilian programs would not care which you did; IM is not preferred over anything else, at least from the prerspective of Ophtho.

Despite its somewhat outlier nature, Ophtho is a surgical discipline, and having a surgery year is very useful. Certain fellowships will see your having done a surgery internship as a relative strength, particularly plastics and retina

 

[NavyFP]

But offers the best training. Ample procedures, great diversity in cases. Wouldn't you agree? 🙂

I don't know about best, but certainly very good.

 

[Saipan]

So, what's the best ranking for a candidate who whose priorities are, in this order

1. get a Navy GME-1 position
2. get a GMO tour
3. possibly do a FM residency in the future

Rank list #1

Five FM locations in order of choice of location

Rank list #2

1) TY (three locations in order of choice)
2) TY
3) TY
4) FM (location)
5) FM (as assigned)

The second ranking list seems superior to me as the first list ranks 43 slots (the total for FM) while the second list ranks 91 (the total for TY and FM) slots and therefore is preferable to an applicant with the #1 priority of getting a GME-1 position.

Is this thinking sound? With the given list of priorities is there a better ranking?

Any thoughts?

 

[ActiveDutyNavy]

i think you have to do a FM internship in order to do a FM residency. (not 100% sure though) That would make option #2, no good for your eventual career ambition.

 

[Gastrapathy]

i think you have to do a FM internship in order to do a FM residency. (not 100% sure though) That would make option #2, no good for your eventual career ambition.

Do option 1. The FP slots are much less competitive than the tranny slots, so even though you rank "fewer" you are more likely to get one.

 

[ActiveDutyNavy]

TY or surgery would be preferable to IM. Civilian programs would not care which you did; IM is not preferred over anything else, at least from the prerspective of Ophtho.

Despite its somewhat outlier nature, Ophtho is a surgical discipline, and having a surgery year is very useful. Certain fellowships will see your having done a surgery internship as a relative strength, particularly plastics and retina

Good point. The thought of my internships impact on my fellowship application never crossed my mind.

I guess I was going with TY or IM knowing that the NMCSD Ophtho PD and another ophtho attending did each, respectively.

Thanks for all the replies. On a side note, if you choosing TY as your #1 choice, your choice #5 cannot be surgery even if your GME-2 goal is a surgical sub-specialty. The form will not allow it.