So....why GI?

[Dr. Don]

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Hey everyone, so I'm a DO and an intern at a small ACGME-community based program. I never really contemplated going into a fellowship but recently I've been involved in some good GI research with very good potential for a publication or two. My Attending is strongly encouraging me to apply to GI and now that I'm getting into it, I think I will. But I know it's going to be a HUGE uphill battle! First, I'm a DO, no USMLE, just COMLEX with decent scores. Considering I'm putting all my effort into this project, I will have a poster ready by the end of this year, with an abstract and possibly a full paper by the end of my first year of internship. My attending and research director told me that I have to have my application ready to go by my second year if I'm serious about GI...so I should be able to get strong letters of rec as well.

I know GI is a procedure driven field and that makes it appealing. I love procedures! My research is also very interesting and I can see myself getting involved in some community based research....basic science hellz no!

Any residents, GI fellows, or even program directors out there that can share some stories as to why you decided to go into GI and not another field? Also any advice as to how I can make myself more competitive would be appreciated. Obviously I'm applying to both DO and MD GI programs to maximize my chances of getting in. Thanks!

 

[Dr. Don]

207 views and no response? Where is the love? 😎 Come on, am I the only who is considering GI?

 

[dragonfly99]

Hi,
cards fellow here
You probably aren't getting a lot of responses b/c a lot of us MD's wouldn't have any idea what advice to give. I also don't think there are many GI docs on here.

I don't know anything about the feasibility of getting into an allopathic medicine subspecialty (of any kind) without having taken the USMLE. I just would have no idea. I also don't know if the COMLEX and/or USMLE is a major selection factor for GI fellowships. For cards I know some places use the USMLE, but it's not the biggest factor; some don't ask for your scores at all.

With your research and attendings encouraging you to do this GI fellowship, I would think you have an excellent chance to get in somewhere. Since you are a DO, going for DO fellowships seems logical. If you don't want to do bench research, then avoid certain MD fellowships that highly value bench research (some big well known university programs fall into this category). I think only <70% or so of allopathic residents get in to GI on their first try, so yes it will be hard...for anyone. However, medicine fellowships tend to be based on "who you know" as much or more so than any test scores, etc. so the fact that your GI attendings want to support you will probably get you a spot somewhere, especially if you have at least 1 publication.

You are early in this process. I would suggest if you are interested in particular MD/allopathic GI programs, I'd send a polite email to the program director of the programs. Keep it short and to the point. Tell them you are a DO intern at "x" hospital and are doing GI research there and have become very interested in GI fellowship, you have only taken COMLEX and how do they feel about reviewing applications from DO docs like you. If they say no or sound very lukewarm,then you have your negative answer. Many will probably say they would review it...if you had done USMLE I would say more would, but I really don't know. You should just ask before wasting time and money applying there, but I'm sure you'll be competitive at various places if your research pans out.

 

[adam6]

Hey there,

I am also not a GI person (endo fellow), but I was a chief resident and spent time advising residents re:fellowships.

Having a passion for the field is certainly the first step. Also, maximize on your connections - find out where your mentors trained and if they'd be willing to make some calls for you (down the line). I would also consider an external GI elective rotation at a place that catches your interest if you are better in person than on paper.

There is more of a premium placed on publications for GI/Cards applicants - so if you could consider applying in your PGY3 year if by then you'd have a publication or two under your belt...

And a standard piece of advice (also cliche) - be the best resident you can! Having worked closely with program directors, I know that it is hard for them to write stellar recs when the individuals are less-than-stellar. You want the resident to succeed, but you are putting your rep on the line to recommend him/her.

Anyways, best of luck!

 

[KBoogie311]

Hey everyone, so I'm a DO and an intern at a small ACGME-community based program. I never really contemplated going into a fellowship but recently I've been involved in some good GI research with very good potential for a publication or two. My Attending is strongly encouraging me to apply to GI and now that I'm getting into it, I think I will. But I know it's going to be a HUGE uphill battle! First, I'm a DO, no USMLE, just COMLEX with decent scores. Considering I'm putting all my effort into this project, I will have a poster ready by the end of this year, with an abstract and possibly a full paper by the end of my first year of internship. My attending and research director told me that I have to have my application ready to go by my second year if I'm serious about GI...so I should be able to get strong letters of rec as well.

I know GI is a procedure driven field and that makes it appealing. I love procedures! My research is also very interesting and I can see myself getting involved in some community based research....basic science hellz no!

Any residents, GI fellows, or even program directors out there that can share some stories as to why you decided to go into GI and not another field? Also any advice as to how I can make myself more competitive would be appreciated. Obviously I'm applying to both DO and MD GI programs to maximize my chances of getting in. Thanks!

Dr. Don,
I agree there aren't many GI fellows floating around on these websights. That being said...I am a 2nd year GI fellow at University program 😛. I acutally have a 3rd fellow now who is a DO in my program. In addition, I have met plenty of DOs at conferences from numerous programs around the country.

I wrote a post a couple of years ago about what matters towards getting into a fellowship...Based on what I am seeing with the GI programs around and the other fellowships at my hospital most of it still stands true.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=375336

Things always change from year to year. However, the one stat that seems to be consistent over the last 2-3 years is that roughly 8-10% of the spots a year go to FMGs and DOs (for GI). Some fields are even tougher while others aren't. This isn't meant to scare you as much as it is to give you a sense of what the reality is. This link will show you all the medicine subspeciality results:

http://www.nrmp.org/fellow/match_name/msmp/stats.html

It will certainly help for you to apply to MD and DO programs....I totally agree.

I hope that helps.

-KBoogie

 

[Dr. Don]

Thank you all for your advice! I really appreciate it. I have contacted some programs that I'm interested in and will probably do some away electives to see what they are all about. In the meantime I'll be focusing on my research and excelling in the remaining of my rotations.