More Residency Slots Proposed

There was a well-reasoned op-ed in the NYT this past week on an amendment being proposed to Congress to add fifteen thousand medical residency slots to the hundred thousand residencies the federal government now finances. The point the writers make is that increasing the supply of physicians across the board is much less strategic than training primary care physicians (PCPs) specifically and remunerating those PCPs such that they continue to practice. The piece is written by Shannon Brownlee, the author of “Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer” and David Goodman, a professor at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Here is the article.

Happy Holidays

I'm taking a brief respite during the holiday season. Have a healthy, happy new year!

Doctors Seeking Management Training

Here's an interesting article on MDs who get MBAs or go through other management training programs to improve their administrative skills in the hospital.

Medical School Reapplicants and International Schools

International schools can be a good option for medical school applicants whose grades or MCATs are not at a satisfactory level for US medical schools. But ensure you do your research first: The schools can be very expensive, so be certain you can afford the tuition before you waste your time on an application. Other options: Doing a post-bacc year to increase your science GPA or considering some DO schools that have less rigorous admissions requirements.

Getting started early with a strategy session can make a difference in your medical school application. Contact me.

Scary

Here's a recent article on medical student needle sticks that's a bit disturbing. Worth a read.

Interviews: Third Eye

With regard to interviews, I remind applicants that sitting up straight, speaking slowly and looking an interviewer in the eyes conveys confidence and honesty. Although it might sound silly, if you feel too awkward, you can imagine a third eye on the bridge of the interviewer's nose and focus there. This technique helps some shier applicants.

For assistance with your interviews, contact me.