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Radiology Faculty--Answering Questions/"AMA"
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An applicant calling doesn't mean that much, IMHO. I don't know anything about the signaling stuff but calling is just one more random communication that the program has to deal with, burning more of their time.
If you can get important people to make calls on your behalf, that means a lot more.
I wish I knew important people. As a US IMG, i'm beginning to panic at just 6 interviews.
I mean an attending at UCLA is a family friend, but there's no way the PD will ruin his prestigious roster with a Caribbean bloke
6 is pretty solid for an IMG. Puts you at 60-70% of match per 2022 charting the outcomes for IMGs, and I imagine there are probably one or two more coming your way.
Not who you asked but my PD had our tests with what we got right and wrong.
I didn't receive results "early" (I don't think--tbh, not sure when the residents got the results).
I also did not receive specific test questions or which ones were answered correctly. Only received the "scaled score" and the "percentile rank".
I graduated from residency in 2012 so things are likely very different these days. With this said, why would away rotations not be recommended for any med student? When I was a med student these were encouraged since one can make personal connections at certain outside programs which would increase their chances of matching. I graduated from a mid-tier Manhattan program (which made it a pseudo-upper tier program based on location) and the one DO student that ever matched there (to my knowledge) did an away rotation with us (our PD apparently had a good impression)...Retrospectively a significant reason why I matched at this program was likely due to the fact that I did an away rotation at a different institution which entailed performing "soft" research with a radiologist that did a lot of publishing but more importantly for me, did a lot of conferences/board review at the program where I ultimately matched.
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It’s a politics game. I don’t think it’d necessarily shoot you in the foot, unless people expect you to be memorable during an away. But for it to be useful you have to leave a good impression with someone who has influence with the review committee, which is difficult. It’s variable from program to program and it’s impossible to glean this information most of the time, but the single most likely person to have the greatest influence over the adcom is the program director of the residency. If you’re able to work with them somehow on a research or QI project during your time there, or you’re able to establish a meaningful mentorship relationship with them, that would be best. The alternative is working on another project closely with someone who will meaningfully go to bat for you with the adcom (the formal way to do this is to ask for a recommendation letter from them).
Most diagnostic radiologists, including in academics, are increasingly indifferent to trainees so it’s becoming especially difficult to leave an impression. With med students it’s doubly challenging because there is no radiologic performance to assess on a rotation. It’s essentially a month-long shadowing experience where you’re looking over someone’s shoulder. I don’t see any way to leave an impression other than through some kind of project. If your’e not doing a project, the juice probably isn’t worth the squeeze.
The way to go about doing this is, once you’ve established you’re doing an away, well in advance of your away ask the contact person if they know of anyone looking for people to help with research, or better yet peruse the faculty page to find faculty engaged in research. Then simply reach out to that faculty and start the ball rolling. You’ll want to be squared away with your IRB and research ethics stuff before you get there. Then outside of your time on service, go gungho on that project, enough to make an impression to ask for a strong LOR. That strong LOR will go a long away for that adcom.
Most diagnostic radiologists, including in academics, are increasingly indifferent to trainees so it’s becoming especially difficult to leave an impression. With med students it’s doubly challenging because there is no radiologic performance to assess on a rotation. It’s essentially a month-long shadowing experience where you’re looking over someone’s shoulder. I don’t see any way to leave an impression other than through some kind of project. If your’e not doing a project, the juice probably isn’t worth the squeeze.
The way to go about doing this is, once you’ve established you’re doing an away, well in advance of your away ask the contact person if they know of anyone looking for people to help with research, or better yet peruse the faculty page to find faculty engaged in research. Then simply reach out to that faculty and start the ball rolling. You’ll want to be squared away with your IRB and research ethics stuff before you get there. Then outside of your time on service, go gungho on that project, enough to make an impression to ask for a strong LOR. That strong LOR will go a long away for that adcom.
SeisK hit this one out of the park with the reply.
In addition to that advice, here is another strategy for an away: Do an away at a place that you are seriously thinking of ranking high but don't know much about AND which is within reach of your metrics (consider your scores, honors, activities, leadership, personality--the whole package).
There are two reasons for this:
1. You do this away FOR YOU--gives you a much better chance to know the culture of the program, observe the existing residents, and help you decide if this is really the place you want to rank highly and be at for 4 or more years. With metrics that are "in the range", the PD will want to meet you, so take the opportunity to do that. It may still feel like faculty are blowing you off, especially those not involved in selection, but don't feel bad about that--keep your eyes and ears open to the residents and how they interact with faculty and each other.
2. Since this program is not a "reach", your presence should help increase the likelihood of moving up the rank list if you are seriously considering it, because the program realizes you are a "known quantity"--but do consider how well you come off in these situations. Do you converse easily with people? Do you have good EQ? If you are too shy (little shy is ok), awkward, too much of a "bro", or tend to be cocky, the away can only hurt you.
Doing an away at a "reach" program may be the only way you can get in, but it often doesn't work.
In addition to that advice, here is another strategy for an away: Do an away at a place that you are seriously thinking of ranking high but don't know much about AND which is within reach of your metrics (consider your scores, honors, activities, leadership, personality--the whole package).
There are two reasons for this:
1. You do this away FOR YOU--gives you a much better chance to know the culture of the program, observe the existing residents, and help you decide if this is really the place you want to rank highly and be at for 4 or more years. With metrics that are "in the range", the PD will want to meet you, so take the opportunity to do that. It may still feel like faculty are blowing you off, especially those not involved in selection, but don't feel bad about that--keep your eyes and ears open to the residents and how they interact with faculty and each other.
2. Since this program is not a "reach", your presence should help increase the likelihood of moving up the rank list if you are seriously considering it, because the program realizes you are a "known quantity"--but do consider how well you come off in these situations. Do you converse easily with people? Do you have good EQ? If you are too shy (little shy is ok), awkward, too much of a "bro", or tend to be cocky, the away can only hurt you.
Doing an away at a "reach" program may be the only way you can get in, but it often doesn't work.
EMtoRadsHopeful
New Member
I'm currently a full time ER doc that's looking to make a change. I want to apply in this match cycle to Radiology.
Aside from CMS funding for residency positions and a good story on my personal statement, what are some things that a radiology PDs are going to want to see in an application like that?
I've been doing quite a few "ECs" between our ER and Radiology departments in terms of QI/PI projects and some other leadership type stuff.
I trained at a T20 med school, Step 1/2 are both in the 250s range, and am only a few years out of residency so I figure I still have a shot at matching.
LORs, personal statements, and application fees are of course an afterthought given where I am in my career. I have plenty of people willing to support me on this career change, though I am not tied to a specific academic center.
Anything in particular I should be thinking about? @RadiologyPD
Aside from CMS funding for residency positions and a good story on my personal statement, what are some things that a radiology PDs are going to want to see in an application like that?
I've been doing quite a few "ECs" between our ER and Radiology departments in terms of QI/PI projects and some other leadership type stuff.
I trained at a T20 med school, Step 1/2 are both in the 250s range, and am only a few years out of residency so I figure I still have a shot at matching.
LORs, personal statements, and application fees are of course an afterthought given where I am in my career. I have plenty of people willing to support me on this career change, though I am not tied to a specific academic center.
Anything in particular I should be thinking about? @RadiologyPD
Sorry for the late response, it has been quiet in this thread so I don't check often.
Your experience will be seen as a plus. Your scores seem like they are great. You should be successful.
What a selection committee will "look for" in your application won't be anything different than their program-specific rubric. I outlined mine (when I was PD) in my previous posts.
Be sure to apply for R positions (in which you would start as an R1 in 2025) as well as standard A positions (in which you'd start as an R1 in 2026). Obviously you don't want a C spot where the internship is tied into the residency (many won't consider you for those, though some might--depends on how they fund it). You can also look for any open spots right now, of course.
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Same apology for delayed response.
I can't speak from actual experience on this matter since I am not involved in our program's selection, no longer being the PD.
My understanding from our program as well as from others is that signaling has become super important now that interviews are virtual, since the virtual format substantially reduces the commitment that an applicant has to the program, given that there are no costs to going for the interview. This will be especially true for the more "higher ranked" programs (with all the caveats I've mentioned before about ranking). A well-regarded program like Michigan, for example, isn't going to chase most highly qualified candidates who choose to signal the West (for example), since those highly qualified candidates will get plenty of interviews in that region. Michigan would have plenty of people to choose from who are just as highly qualified who have indicated that they would prefer to be in their area.
If I were a pd, I'd want to know that you're truly going to be ok going back to being paid like a trainee for another 4-5 years and that you're going to be fully invested in learning radiology and not spending all your time off moonlighting in the ED.
Not sure I understand what you mean by your statement. If you can't see post #9 and #41, I'm not sure why.
@EMtoRadsHopeful, these would not be my concerns. You'll be fine, good luck.
You have been dedicated to talking **** about Bhalla across multiple accounts for multiple years at this point. What did they do, pee in your cereal?
he does much worse than that 😆. There are stories. Many many stories.
So many stories, all from the same person
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deleted1224763
which rad residencies are popular these days?
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deleted1238347
I'd prefer the coasts. ucla, nyu (chill). Unfortunately I have to be in St Louis. So hoping to find some info on wash u vs. slu.
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deleted1238347
are interviews still virtual?
do slu over wash u? if you're not into research, same thing. or convince or wife to move elsewhere 🤣.
