Whats the best way...

[Idiopathic]

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To make a good impression on a program/attending?

I have the following as goals:

1) Be early/on time.
2) Be prepared to work/answer questions.
3) Don't slack.

My questions are about: should I try to do things (i.e. a-lines, intubate, draw up drugs) or just follow someone around (i.e. be an internal medicine-type student). Im really trying to get good interaction and be in the thick of it, but I dont really know how far to go...should I take call with the residents a few times? Will they care? I really think that I will make a fine impression, but I am worried about making a poor one. I dont want to appear like a 'gunner', per se, but if I rotate at a program, I want them to know that it is my desire to go there, right (if it is). How should one communicate this?

 

[2ndyear]

1) Be early/on time.
2) Be prepared to work/answer questions.
3) Don't slack.

Those are all great places to start. They should let you get your hands on procedures, and if they don't then just be a bit more aggressive. When I did my rotations as a med student I was usually with an attending and not a resident. But do interact with the residents as much as possible. Once you feel comfortable with IV's, grab the bag, local and catheter and just start them. Once you learn how to intubate, prepare everything and jump in. Get the suction ready, blade out, tube out, etc.

Read, read, read. I had an attending, who authored one of the pediatric chapters in Miller, who I was in on a TAPVR case with. As we were getting ready he was quizzing me on what should have been basic congenital heart stuff. I was bombing, big time. He took me aside, said "You can either watch me do this, or you can go to the library and read about it, and all of the cases for tommorrow. I'd go read." He shook my hand and that was that. Ended up I read every night after that, and he wrote me an awesome letter of rec.

Also, go to all of the resident lectures. And have beers with the residents when they do.

 

[timtye78]

The old adages are probably correct. Cover your bases. Rock your boards. Did I say rock your boards yet? I had two audition rotations at places I was interested in matching at. One I decided to rank almost near the bottom, and the other was my number one. Matched at somewhere I never rotated at. The number one place was interested in board scores mostly, since I did spend time with all the big whigs in the OR, and the PD kept talking about applicants with high board scores, I figured this was probably a recurring theme.

Otherwise, I would say don't kill yourself on the audition rotation since I couldn't help but feel later that all my energy was 'wasted' at those institutions. Don't get your hopes set too high when all the residents tell you that you are a great applicant, and 'we cant wait to see you here next yr" etc, etc. Not trying to be negative, but just realize some things are out of your hands no matter how hard you try. Matching anesthesiology isn't too terribly difficult, if you are nervous, just 'cast your net' out there and go to the best place you can match at. One gas resident told me back then "You can live anywhere for four years-get the freakin' credentials, then work/live where you want." Good advice.

 

[Idiopathic]

Thanks guys, I appreesh. I have my hopes set relatively high, so we will see. I feel like I can compete on paper, and just want to show the letter writers/auditioners what I can do.