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Not too long ago, I asked individuals to share their experiences with requests from MS4s who have (rightfully so) leaned into social media as a way to connect with trainees and attending they otherwise would not ever intersect with on this journey we call life. #MedTwitter
I chatted with some humans (in person and via social media) to think about an approach to reach out to trainees for advice/assistance/alchemy in a way that is gracious, respectful, and unlikely to come across as presumptive or burdensome. This thread = the summative knowledge.
1) Know your audience: resident physicians (depending on year) are physicians who are inadequately compensated and unfortunately overworked with an average of 4 days off a month and limited free time to engage in restorative hobbies (compounded by the pandemic).
Your request for a trainee's time is not insignificant. This is not to say that you cannot ask for help (we'll get into what/where/why/how in a minute babes) but it's important to have this context and awareness.
2) Think critically about what this individual can offer: resident physicians recently made the transition from medical student to physician but are rarely involved in the actual decision making re: applicants and are not certain re: what about their application made them match.
The MATCH process is beyond nebulous. Don't equate a "successful" match with "can/should be able to give appropriate advice for my situation." Information about your specific circumstances are best directed to your academic dean. Resident physicians are not adequate guidance.
3) Remember that all social media interactions with individuals at an institution can be fed back to individuals who make decisions: think carefully about how you word your requests and the appropriateness of your messages; tone is lost over social media. Protect yourself!
It's important to keep in mind that if you send a wild DM to a chief resident, resident physician, or an attending that this information can be passed on to the intern selection committee. As someone who has been privy to such conversations, I can't stress this enough.
4) Acknowledge that trainees are physicians: the first blunder when seeking counsel from a trainee is to address them casually. Many female residents shared with me that they have been addressed as "Hey girl" "Hey stunner" "Hey lovely" and infrequently as "Hello Dr. XYZ"
Trainees have earned their title. Hierarchies are silly in a lot of ways but formality and respect are still important. In an attempt to establish a mentorship relationship or request a favor, it's important to lean on the more formal side off the bat.
5) Think about your needs: a resident physician cannot help you with the following request 1) confirming that your personal statement is an authentic representation of your personality & your goals, 2) develop your ERAS list, 3) ensure that you get an invite or timing of invites
I understand that these are unprecedented times and that the times amplify anxiety. While I can't mitigate the new variables this year, I can share this: majority of what you need is 1) an internal conversation with yourself and 2) a conversation with your loved ones.
I'll expand. Your ERAS list is strongly related to what you need out of a program. Strangers cannot help you draft a list. You and your loved ones can come up with a list of parameters (location, size, etc.) - that largely comes from you.
Your personal statement is your heart. Your friends inside and outside of medicine are the best individuals to read your personal statement. Please do not reach out to strangers to take a look; we can review grammar and we are flattered by the "you are an excellent writer" line
but a stranger is not the best individual to assess if your personal statement "sounds like you" and "adequately explains your goal." Ask your friends inside and outside of medicine and your LOR writers to review/reflect with you on what you have drafted.
A message to ask a trainee whether invites have been sent or to see if they can find out if you will/will not be invited is incredibly inappropriate. Please stop doing this! That sort of behavior does get reported back to intern selection committees.
6) Trainees are jaded: the "I'd love to hear about your experience at CHOP" is all the way triggering when I am on a rotation when I am sleep deprived and my favorite question to answer when I am well-rested; the question is broad and time consumptive via text or call.
Approach trainees with targeted questions -- it demonstrates that you respect our time and our emotional bandwidth. Trainees are a great resource to discuss questions not answered on interview day / aspects you can't find online. Do not ask about things available online please!
7) It's a pandemic, be nice: comments and messages that are demanding hit different during a pandemic. An opening or closing line that wishes your trainee of choice who is fretting about PPE with this upcoming wave of COVID goes a long way.
TLDR: resident trainees have a unique perspective that we love to share but are burdened significantly by the hours that we spend in the hospital; targeted questions that are resident specific and thought out are the best way to get the bang for your buck! (cont.)
Formality is the best way to go re: initial contact and ask for an email to have further conversation! Remember that your contacts outside of medicine can support you (even more so) during this process. And remember, YOU know best what you need during these times. Much love.
