Which factor carries more weight in a fellowship application?

[ayjaystudent]

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Assuming both are fairly typical experiences, which is generally viewed as more valuable for fellowship applications — a PGY-3 Chief Residency or a year as a Heme/Onc hospitalist post-residency?

 

[gutonc]

Assuming both are fairly typical experiences, which is generally viewed as more valuable for fellowship applications — a PGY-3 Chief Residency or a year as a Heme/Onc hospitalist post-residency?

Neither of them will have any meaningful impact on your application except possibly at the place you were a Heme/Onc hospitalist.

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

I felt like chief resident PGY4 year helped my application significantly but I don't think PGY3 year would matter as much

 

[whoknows2012]

Neither. Pgy4 chief sure but neither of these are going to be helpful

 

[ayjaystudent]

I felt like chief resident PGY4 year helped my application significantly but I don't think PGY3 year would matter as much

Thanks for the input. What makes PGY-4 helpful on the application?

 

[gutonc]

Thanks for the input. What makes PGY-4 helpful on the application?

Shows commitment to education, administration and people management and gives healthcare system experience outside of being just a note monkey.

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

Shows commitment to education, administration and people management and gives healthcare system experience outside of being just a note monkey.

That honestly put it better than I could have. I’ll add that most programs won’t let their crappy residents be chief so it’s like a legit “we vouch for this person” thing

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend chief year to anyone because financially it’s a big hit but it worked out for where I was in life (among other things I needed to burn a year because my now spouse was behind me in training) and I honestly did learn a lot of people management/office politic skills that I still use today.

I can tell you my fellowship program seemed to value it we always had 1/3 of our fellows that were former chiefs. My research game was weak though.

 

[ayjaystudent]

That honestly put it better than I could have. I’ll add that most programs won’t let their crappy residents be chief so it’s like a legit “we vouch for this person” thing

Couldn't you say the same thing for PGY3 chiefs?

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Couldn't you say the same thing for PGY3 chiefs?

Yeah that’s my question. Seems like PGY3 chiefs do a lot of the same things PGY4 chiefs do? (IIRC PGY 3 chiefs are also selected by their programs - it’s not like surgical specialties where everyone gets called a “chief” in their final year.) Why do you need to burn a year of your life (and lose a massive amount of pay) just to “prove your dedication” or some nonsense?

 

[gutonc]

Yeah that’s my question. Seems like PGY3 chiefs do a lot of the same things PGY4 chiefs do? (IIRC PGY 3 chiefs are also selected by their programs - it’s not like surgical specialties where everyone gets called a “chief” in their final year.) Why do you need to burn a year of your life (and lose a massive amount of pay) just to “prove your dedication” or some nonsense?

I've never seen an IM program with a PGY3 chief, but as a former PGY6 chief during fellowship, the only thing they needed me for was to make the call schedule and be everybody's person to yell at (from first year fellows up to the division chief and cancer center director) when something didn't go someone's way.

I'm not here to argue the merits/drawbacks of a PGY4 IM chief year here. But I can tell you that IME, the PGY4 chief types are the ones who step up to greater responsibility intentionally and with purpose and the "last year of training" chiefs are the ones that lost at musical chairs...myself included.

 

[randomhemoncpd]

Chief. Hospitalist often means couldn’t match the first go around. Not trying to be mean or snarky but that is the initial reaction.