What can I do to match academic IM? I am aiming for a fellowship in Hem-Onc/PCCM/GI

[Medigal]

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I am a second-year DO student and have always been passionate about Hem-Onc, PCCM, and GI, and I would be happy going into any of these fellowships. I have recently been more interested in Hem-Onc after learning about it in-depth during these first two years of preclinical studies and having seen a closed one going through the condition and surviving many years ago. I can really see myself being in the field and helping patients. PCCM and GI are also rewarding since I have some great experiences from premed that sparked my interest. If I am unable to match into either of the three fellowships, I would not enjoy being an IM and I might rather do something other than IM, so I want to see how realistic it is to pursue an academic IM residency as a DO.

I understand that it is not impossible and many people have matched into academic IM and IM fellowships, but what exactly do I need to do right to make sure I can get into a decent residency? I have one review article that I hope to get published soon; apart from that, I have zero lab or clinical research. I have some ECs and they are mostly tailored towards tutoring and mentoring, very little volunteering here and there through school clubs, and 2 club positions (not very substantive roles though, and one club position lasted for the first year only).

 

[ToKingdomCome]

Get good grades, network, research, good letter of recs from big name academic people

 

[pigsinacloth]

Get research. Get good step 2 score. These are the two most important things assuming you are fine on clinicals. I will say if you have no research and good scores some places just won't look at you. You just need a little something like a poster, you don't need official publications necessarily.

 

[Medigal]

Get good grades, network, research, good letter of recs from big name academic people

Thanks! Do I need to do research in a specific field or just something I can present or publish?

 

[Medigal]

Get research. Get good step 2 score. These are the two most important things assuming you are fine on clinicals. I will say if you have no research and good scores some places just won't look at you. You just need a little something like a poster, you don't need official publications necessarily.

Thanks, do you suggest having any ECs to stand out or just focus on research for now?

 

[DO2015CA]

These are 3 different fields. How are you passionate about all 3 as a 2nd year. Build a good IM application WITH research then in residency figure out which one you are actually passionate about and go for it

 

[Medigal]

These are 3 different fields. How are you passionate about all 3 as a 2nd year. Build a good IM application WITH research then in residency figure out which one you are actually passionate about and go for it

I am most inclined toward Hem/Onc but open to PCCM and GI in case I end up doing Internal Medicine and need more options. Right now, I plan to build a good application to make sure I match into a DO-friendly academic IM with in-house fellowships. I get mixed responses online, some DOs say they matched academic IM without research and some say they had multiple pubs/presentations.

I don't know how to find research or ECs that could show my interest in Hem-Onc or how competitive it is to match as a DO. My school does not have Hem-Onc-focused research.

 

[DO2015CA]

I am most inclined toward Hem/Onc but open to PCCM and GI in case I end up doing Internal Medicine and need more options. Right now, I plan to build a good application to make sure I match into a DO-friendly academic IM with in-house fellowships. I get mixed responses online, some DOs say they matched academic IM without research and some say they had multiple pubs/presentations.

I don't know how to find research or ECs that could show my interest in Hem-Onc or how competitive it is to match as a DO. My school does not have Hem-Onc-focused research.

Research out to nearby MD programs. You can help for free in between years 1-2

 

[Medigal]

Research out to nearby MD programs. You can help for free in between years 1-2

Thanks for the advice

 

[Dr. Robb Bassett]

Hey, really appreciate how honestly you laid this out. You’re clearly thinking deeply about your future, and that kind of self-awareness is one of the most underrated strengths a med student can have.

Hem Onc, PCCM, and GI are all powerful, high-impact fields, but they’re also emotionally and energetically very different. So the fact that you’re already trying to sort out what truly fits—that’s huge. Because here’s the truth: once you know where you're going, the road feels shorter. It doesn’t get easier, but it becomes more intentional. And that changes everything.

Let’s break this into a few important frames:

1. Clarity First: The Right “Why” Changes the Whole Game

You said something that really stood out:

“If I can’t do one of those fellowships, I might not want to do IM.”

That’s not something to brush past. That instinct—that gut-level doubt—is important. Because if you don’t see internal medicine as fulfilling on its own, even outside of fellowship, that’s a flag worth paying attention to. Not a red flag, but a guiding light. It might be telling you that you're more procedural than you realized. Or that you need to feel more direct, immediate impact. Or that you simply haven't seen what aligned internal medicine can look like yet.

This is why I’m such a strong advocate for students getting early, transparent exposure to attendings across different specialties. Not the sugar-coated stuff, but the real, unfiltered reflections from people who’ve already walked the road. It’s one of the main reasons I created a pilot program focused on this, because once students see the day-to-day and the 10-year arc of a specialty through that lens, everything starts to click. The fog lifts. And their decisions feel less like guesses and more like commitments.

So if that doubt about IM keeps resurfacing, don’t ignore it. Investigate it. Talk to people in those fields, not just residents, but attendings. Ask the uncomfortable questions. That clarity will serve you more than any checklist ever could.

2. Academic IM as a DO? 100% Possible with Strategic Focus

You’re right: plenty of DOs match into academic IM and go on to competitive fellowships. But the ones who do it well usually lean into three key pillars:

• Research (any kind counts): Clinical, QI, chart reviews, case reports—it all adds up. A review article is a great start. Even something small can show momentum.
  
  
• Relationships: Especially with academic attendings. Strong letters > perfect résumé. Show up with curiosity and follow-through—those two things build advocates fast.
  
  
• Narrative Alignment: Fellowship directors don’t just want stats—they want a story. Why Hem Onc? Why GI? Why you? The stronger your internal clarity, the easier it becomes to tell that story in a way that sticks.
  

3. What You Do Now Matters Less Than You Think, And More Than You Think

The paradox is this:
What gets you the fellowship isn’t what you do as a second year—it’s how you perform in residency. That’s where the heavy lifting happens. But how you prepare yourself now: how you build habits, get clarity, and start laying groundwork can absolutely influence the opportunities you create later.

So no, you don’t need to be maxed out right now. But if you start showing momentum now—small wins, deliberate choices—it creates compounding returns.

You clearly care about doing meaningful work. Just make sure you’re building toward a future that feels fulfilling even if the most competitive version of your plan changes. The best specialty for you isn’t just one you’re good at—it’s the one that keeps you grounded in your values when things get hard.

You’ve got time. You’ve got heart. Just keep aiming for alignment, not perfection.

And if you ever want to bounce thoughts around, I’m here for that. You’re not walking this road alone.