#MedTwitter
Here is my #PreventiveMedicine

#PrevMed is a medical specialty certified by ABMS since 1960, it focuses on the health of individuals and populations in order to protect, promote and maintain health & well-being, prevent disease, disability and premature death. 1/

2/ In order to become a board-certified #PreventiveMedicine physician, one needs:
1. Unrestricted Medical License
2. Complete a #PreventiveMedicine residency (2-years) after doing an intern year on any specialty
3. Have an MPH or equivalent degree.

#MedTwitter #MedEd #PrevMed

3/ What does a #PreventiveMedicine physician does?

Whatever their heart desires!!

Really, there are plenty of opportunities within #PrevMed, and I can't tell you just one thing.

In general, #PreventiveMedicine physicians can work in #PublicHealth #PopulationHealth #Research

4/ There are careers in pharmacovigilance, #Advocacy #CommunityHealth #Academia #LifestyleMedicine #GlobalHealth #ClinicalInformatics #OccMed #QI.

Here is a podcast describing it: https://medicalschoolhq.net/ss-137-a-look-into-preventive-medicine-with-a-residency-director/

Overall, #PreventiveMedicine looks at big picture problems

5/ #PreventiveMedicine physicians can see patients, and in many occasions we do that (Personal preferences +- Job opportunities), but we are better equipped to look at things that affect populations, and promote systemic changes (e.g. screening protocols, #SDoH, research)

6/ #PreventiveMedicine includes clinical care, but it is not standardize, but all of us have done at least 1 year of internship, so the specific clinical skills varies between people.

E.g. I did two years of surgery, so I am pretty good with wound care and acute care triage

7/ By now you are wondering: "do you see patients?"

A: I am fully licensed to see patients, but my work does not include clinical responsibilities.

Q: Can you see patients?
A: Yes. But I came to #PrevMed because clinical care in its current form is not fulfilling.

8/
Q: I want to learn nutrition and exercise, and use that with my patients.
Me: Check out #LifestyleMedicine which is the use of evidence-based practice to help individuals and families adopt and sustain healthy behaviors that affect health and quality of life. @ACLifeMed

9/ Not all #PreventiveMedicine physicians learn about #lifestyleMedicine, there are some programs that are dedicating additional time to it, but those are limited.

Anyone, any specialty can use #lifestyleMedicine to help patients in their road to health. No need to be #PrevMed

10/ Q: Then... what do you learn in #PreventiveMedicine residency?

A: Depends on the program. Those that are based in #PublicHealth departments are great for the people that wants to work in #PublicHealth. Programs at #Hospitals are great for #ClinicalInformatics #Pophealth...

11/ ... There is not "one-size-fits-all", so if you are interested in #PreventiveMedicine it is important to understand the training at each locations and the opportunities to advance and do what you want in the future.

Now, lets talk about training.

#PreventiveMedicine residency training start as #PGY2, and people can only apply if they are already doing an intern year and/or have completed an intern year.

#MedStudents can't apply when they are MS4 because of they way that funding works.

#PreventiveMedicine is not funded by Medicare!!!! Most programs rely on grants, institutional support, VA or HRSA to support themselves, and in many occasions, need to be renewed annually.

Programs might not know if they will be around 2 years from now, so they don't match MS4.

For MS4s interested in #PreventiveMedicine, you will need to do a transitional year or other prelim year and apply to #PrevMed next cycle.

There are usually spots left after #PreventiveMedicine's match. Nobody knows about us, and students are discouraged to even look at us.

If you want to learn more about #PreventiveMedicine, I have put together a list of articles and other resources, including common questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pohSpRZP97yYGWnd8_9XKXcpZV0W3ILKahPuES09v_w/edit?usp=sharing

If you want to learn from #PreventiveMedicine physicians what they do, check out this list, and ask them directly, most of them are very open to talk about their careers.

https://twitter.com/i/lists/1260938321674539009?s=20

Also, you can attend our virtual conference. It is an amazing place to learn what we do and how to get involved: https://twitter.com/ACPM_HQ/status/1281328357276352514?s=20