Resident Congratulations After Match?

[Dave Evans]

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Although the PD and Chair were great in welcoming me to the department of the program I matched in (my top choice), I received only one email from a resident congratulating me and I know a number of them very well - is this something that other people experienced, am I overreacting, or is this a bad sign in terms of how enthused they are to have me aboard. 😕

 

[The_Fly]

Nobody emailed me. . . except the chair/pd 🙂

I hadn't thought about it -- but i don't think it's a big deal - they're very busy - i'm sure if you run into them, they will be excited and congratulate you (that is, when and if you run into them) 🙂

 

[Stanky]

I got nothing. Consider yourselves lucky. It would be nice to hear from at least the PD, but I guess it's not a big deal. After all that we just went through, hard to let anything rain on the parade.

 

[radoncmonkey]

I didn't get anything from my rad onc program (or prelim, for that matter) so I sent a thank you to the PD-- I was so thrilled/in disbelief over matching that it was a relief when I got a short but welcoming response via email from the program; made it seem more real that the match is finally over and I matched, whoohoo!

 

[stephew]

they're not going to contact you. if anything a thank you to them would be more expected. dont take it personally. its not a loaded action (or inaction).

 

[The_Fly]

they're not going to contact you. if anything a thank you to them would be more expected. dont take it personally. its not a loaded action (or inaction).

This is one of the problems in medicine though - the sort of courtesies that should be extended never are. . . it's always up to the junior. This sort of epitomizes some of the things that bother me about the whole culture of medicine in general.

 

[stephew]

well i see where youre coming from however put it the other way around; they've accepted you for training. often canadidates call to say thank you. Personally I agree; some mutal contact would be very appropraite; the chief resident should call the candidates and the candidates could contact the PD o something like that. it shows respect on both sides.

 

[deleted4401]

I know it seems like a big deal to you that you matched, and it is. I was super excited when it finally happened to me. But, for a faculty, the match might be just another part of the job (like port films), or maybe they didn't get their first choice, or maybe they just are uncomfortable about protocol since you won't be showing up for another year, or maybe they are just tired of dealing with the match and they are glad it's all over for a little while ... but most of them will be happy to have you when you show up. I didn't hear anything, so I e-mailed them 'thanks' and then eventually talked to the PD on the phone.

It's not that big a deal. When Kirby Vacuums hired me as a 9th grader to do some telemarketing, I didn't get a congrats or "welcome to our team" phone call, and when I didn't get a call from my program last year, I figured it just the same sort of thing ...

-S

 

[stephew]

pretty much.

 

[The_Fly]

All I can say as a reply to everyone is that it doesn't take much time or effort to make people feel good - the people that I was most impressed with on the interview circuit (e.g., Ted Lawrence) are the people that are among the most respected in the field and that wasn't because of a preconceived notion, but rather because of the fact that I felt that they took the time to read my ERAS and get to know me (albeit it on paper). I was struck by PDs like Lynn Wilson, who took the time to call candidates after their interview to thank them. Lynn probably spent an hour of his time calling all the candidates after their interview dates, or even less time, but I guarantee that each one of them remembers that very clearly, because it was so surprising and kind.

My point is that it really doesn't take much time to make people feel good by acknowledging them. I think that anyone in the business world would be shocked at the pervasive decorum in medicine - it's self-serving, and alienating and will need to change in the next 25 years to keep good people in this field.

I guess I just wish that things were different, no matter what the field. It's just unfortunate.

 

[stephew]

I'm in agreement with you. Its a matter of courtesy which is, in turn, a reflection of a deeper respect and just a nice place to be. There is a book you should read (im not kidding) that talks about the larger ramifcations of work enviorment that i recommend to resident who are dealing with a bad atmosphere. Its really better for managers who are looking to address this issue in the work place, but is nice for people who have to suffer with bad behavior, in so far as its a validation of things they go through.
http://www.amazon.com/dingus-Rule-C...6961541?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174311353&sr=8-1

All I can say as a reply to everyone is that it doesn't take much time or effort to make people feel good - the people that I was most impressed with on the interview circuit (e.g., Ted Lawrence) are the people that are among the most respected in the field and that wasn't because of a preconceived notion, but rather because of the fact that I felt that they took the time to read my ERAS and get to know me (albeit it on paper). I was struck by PDs like Lynn Wilson, who took the time to call candidates after their interview to thank them. Lynn probably spent an hour of his time calling all the candidates after their interview dates, or even less time, but I guarantee that each one of them remembers that very clearly, because it was so surprising and kind.

My point is that it really doesn't take much time to make people feel good by acknowledging them. I think that anyone in the business world would be shocked at the pervasive decorum in medicine - it's self-serving, and alienating and will need to change in the next 25 years to keep good people in this field.

I guess I just wish that things were different, no matter what the field. It's just unfortunate.

 

[Soze]

I'd recommend taking the first step as a recently matched applicant and shooting a brief e-mail to the people you'd want to contact. I did so for my chair, pd and residents, and received positive responses back. They've even taken steps to help me with housing when I move there in June!

 

[Dave Evans]

I'd recommend taking the first step as a recently matched applicant and shooting a brief e-mail to the people you'd want to contact. I did so for my chair, pd and residents, and received positive responses back. They've even taken steps to help me with housing when I move there in June!

I agree, but with me, I matched at my home institution and know many of the residents pretty well, which is why it surprised me that none (well, 1 did)contacted me. If I had matched elsewhere, I wouldn't have expected it. . . I was even cc'd the department-wide email delineating the matched applicants, so I know everyone knows who matched. I was just a little bummed that's all- no big deal.

That book about the workplace looks interesting- i might just buy it!

 

[The_Fly]

I agree, but with me, I matched at my home institution and know many of the residents pretty well, which is why it surprised me that none (well, 1 did)contacted me.

Maybe it's just me- but that does seem odd - do you feel like you have good relations with most of the residents?

 

[Dave Evans]

I thought so, but in light of this, who knows. . . 🙄

 

[phil the thrill]

The days after match day are surprisingly anticlimatic, I got a generic email and then made a phone call to the PD. I don't expect to hear much more for a year.

 

[stephew]

relax guys. these people have busy lives and remember, the thrill has worn off for them (of getting new residents, plus theyre not the ones who matched). it may not be the most courteous thing to not reach out but these are new colleagues, not your best buds sharing the personal glow with you. youre over thinking this. trust me; if you didnt work well and have good relationshipw/the residents you wouldnt be matched there.