Should I include elective rotations on ERAS??

[Blitz2006]

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So I'm a psych resident, applying for Pain medicine fellowship.

I want the PDs to see that I have done 2 pain electives. While I have mentioned them in my personal statement, should I also include them in my ERAS app? Such as in 'work experience,'?

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[gutonc]

Still no. The answer is the same now as when you applied for residency.

 

[Blitz2006]

Still no. The answer is the same now as when you applied for residency.

As I mentioned in the other similar thread, when I was a medical student (I'm IMG), I listed the electives under 'work experience', since electives are not on our medical school transcript.

I just want to make sure fellowship directors don't miss out on my pain experience that i've had.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Answer still doesn't change! It's not work experience

 

[Blitz2006]

Answer still doesn't change! It's not work experience

So any suggestions on how I can draw a PD's attention to my elective work. I guess just personal statement mention, and LOR?

 

[gutonc]

So any suggestions on how I can draw a PD's attention to my elective work. I guess just personal statement mention, and LOR?

Exactly.

 

[AdmiralChz]

The longer answer is, unlike residency where the are often a ton of applications and PDs likely don't have time to review LORs/PS in depth prior to offering interview, fellowship applications involve a much smaller pool. Yes, I know pain is pretty competitive but it is still a much, much smaller subset of people than a huge specialty like Psych.

Because of this, your application is much more likely to be considered as whole including LORs (which have a greater impact since it's a smaller field, increasing the chances of docs actually knowing each other) and personal statements. It's an foregone assumption that you have done several electives in the field - how else would you develop (and confirm) interest in the field? But including this as work experience is absolutely wrong - if I am applying to critical care, should I include my 2 months in the ICU as an intern, or my extra month in the cardiac ICU this year? No way, it's part of my residency and I will have gained a letter from these rotations.

I know it's awkward not having much to put in "work experience" but know that you are hardly alone - most people haven't had side jobs in medical school or residency. Some have taken time off between residency and fellowship, and that is predominantly what this field is for.

 

[Lostin_space]

The longer answer is, unlike residency where the are often a ton of applications and PDs likely don't have time to review LORs/PS in depth prior to offering interview, fellowship applications involve a much smaller pool. Yes, I know pain is pretty competitive but it is still a much, much smaller subset of people than a huge specialty like Psych.

Because of this, your application is much more likely to be considered as whole including LORs (which have a greater impact since it's a smaller field, increasing the chances of docs actually knowing each other) and personal statements. It's an foregone assumption that you have done several electives in the field - how else would you develop (and confirm) interest in the field? But including this as work experience is absolutely wrong - if I am applying to critical care, should I include my 2 months in the ICU as an intern, or my extra month in the cardiac ICU this year? No way, it's part of my residency and I will have gained a letter from these rotations.

I know it's awkward not having much to put in "work experience" but know that you are hardly alone - most people haven't had side jobs in medical school or residency. Some have taken time off between residency and fellowship, and that is predominantly what this field is for.

Yeah I would agree with this. I have done 2 pain rotations too, but I think it would look odd to list them under work experience since they are part of residency. I assume that it will be taken as understood by having a Pain letter that I rotated, as well as by having some experiences to discuss both in person (hopefully!) and in the PS. How many letters from pain docs are needed?

 

[AdmiralChz]

At the very least 1, 2 would be better if possible but can be tough since you may not have been exposed to a large number of pain physicians. This is the case for many subspecialties.

So you'd have PD, Pain doc, then "other" who would be more of a character letter "this resident is so good because of XYZ..."

 

[Lostin_space]

At the very least 1, 2 would be better if possible but can be tough since you may not have been exposed to a large number of pain physicians. This is the case for many subspecialties.

So you'd have PD, Pain doc, then "other" who would be more of a character letter "this resident is so good because of XYZ..."

Yeah that's my plan actually - I think PD likes me, I am in the process of getting the pain doc letter, and I have a previous PD letter that's really good. I kind of feel like I'm back applying for residency - everything is so nerve wrecking.