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Some pearls from tonight’s MD/DO-PhD trainee panel!
What did you base your decision on when you chose a program?
Living in an affordable area
Peers with similar interests
A community of people with identities I hold
#DoubleDocs
What did you base your decision on when you chose a program?
Living in an affordable areaPeers with similar interests A community of people with identities I hold#DoubleDocs
About applications + interviews:
Consider AAMC Fee Assistance Program for MCAT, app cost help
Some folks will not get in on their 1st application cycle—that’s OK, persevere!
Check out the MSAR for stats about each med school
No. of apps varies for applicants
#DoubleDocs
Consider AAMC Fee Assistance Program for MCAT, app cost helpSome folks will not get in on their 1st application cycle—that’s OK, persevere!Check out the MSAR for stats about each med schoolNo. of apps varies for applicants#DoubleDocs
Secondaries take a lot of work, be strategic about how many you completeNot getting interviews from every place you interview? You’re not aloneConsider applying to your home institution if it has a programCareer change? Look into postbaccaleureate programs#DoubleDocs
“One of the things that makes the MD/DO-PhD path feasible is resilience. So you need to be resilient through the application cycle”
#DoubleDocs
#DoubleDocs
Time balance in training + career
Focus on each phase at a time: clinical + research
Think about what you want to bring to your research + medical field
Reflect on how much time you would like to spend with patients (but this may change bc funding, life)
#DoubleDocs
Focus on each phase at a time: clinical + researchThink about what you want to bring to your research + medical fieldReflect on how much time you would like to spend with patients (but this may change bc funding, life)#DoubleDocs
How did being LGBTQ+ factor into your application? Should I ID myself as LGBTQ+ on my application?
Think about the places you that may be biased
Personal decision about what to disclose
Can help you determine places that will be supportive
Ask about resources
#DoubleDocs
Think about the places you that may be biasedPersonal decision about what to discloseCan help you determine places that will be supportiveAsk about resources#DoubleDocs
Advice on sharing personal/vulnerable experiences on non-traditional, low-income, disability?
Strike a balance with what you share
Many will expect you to be “past” what has happened to you, be strong
It comes down to how you frame it! Relate w patients
#DoubleDocs
Strike a balance with what you shareMany will expect you to be “past” what has happened to you, be strongIt comes down to how you frame it! Relate w patients#DoubleDocs
Diversity has been shown to make teams better! You have so much to contribute!
Some examples:
Diversity bonus: https://www.santafe.edu/news-center/news/pages-diversity-bonus-makes-business-case-diverse-teams
Diversity paradox in science: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1915378117
#DiverseDoubleDocs
Some examples:
Diversity bonus: https://www.santafe.edu/news-center/news/pages-diversity-bonus-makes-business-case-diverse-teamsDiversity paradox in science: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1915378117#DiverseDoubleDocs
Options before applying post-graduation:
Work
Complete a masters
Participate in a postbacc program (e.g. PREP at many med schools around the country: research full-time, prep courses, grad school classes, https://www.nigms.nih.gov/training/PREP/pages/PartInstPREP.aspx
#DoubleDocs
WorkComplete a mastersParticipate in a postbacc program (e.g. PREP at many med schools around the country: research full-time, prep courses, grad school classes, https://www.nigms.nih.gov/training/PREP/pages/PartInstPREP.aspx#DoubleDocs
Be able to talk about your research in depth! Faculty and other interviewers will ask questions. If you don’t know the answer, it’s OK to say “I don’t know” but follow it up with some hypotheses of what the answer may be.
Metrics to evaluate faculty/progr
You will need an advisor who is on the same pg, matters more than exact research fit
Have set list of questions to ask each faculty member (get a sense of their mentorship style, expectations)
Know what qualities are imp to you
#DoubleDocs
You will need an advisor who is on the same pg, matters more than exact research fitHave set list of questions to ask each faculty member (get a sense of their mentorship style, expectations)Know what qualities are imp to you#DoubleDocs
What were your motivations for joining MD/DO-PhD prog?
Shadowing had a great impact on deciding to include the medical side
Realization that textbooks are based on research, contribute to discovery process
Training in critical thinking to better serve patients
#DoubleDocs
Shadowing had a great impact on deciding to include the medical sideRealization that textbooks are based on research, contribute to discovery processTraining in critical thinking to better serve patients#DoubleDocs
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Intersection of molecular epidemiology + public health
Systems change around trauma-informed care/research
#DoubleDocs
Intersection of molecular epidemiology + public healthSystems change around trauma-informed care/research#DoubleDocs
What do you wish you had known when applying?
Don’t listen to those who say you cannot do both
Be gentle with yourself
You know what is best for you
Focus on the possibilities instead of the barriers
#DoubleDocs
Don’t listen to those who say you cannot do bothBe gentle with yourselfYou know what is best for youFocus on the possibilities instead of the barriers#DoubleDocs
Thank you to our panelists, @MollieMarr, @JSArceneaux91, @MayuDiazOrtiz, @DeanalisaJ, @IkeRChinyere, @ElizabethJDiaz9, @mri_mir! And shout out to moderator @JoseARodrigues8!
