Pay Inequities Based on Gender and Race Persist in Emergency Medicine

This piece by Dr. Starr Knight on discrepancies in pay for women and black emergency physicians is important but disturbing. The problem has been long-standing and continues, according to recent studies cited in the piece. One 2023 survey found that the average annual income of women emergency physicians was more than $43,000 less than that of their male counterparts. 

Of note, some have argued that differences in hours and part-time versus full-time status account for the pay discrepancies, but a 2017 paper using multivariate linear regression models demonstrated that those reasons are not a valid explanation for the discrepancies. 

See more sobering data in Dr. Knight's article.

Congratulations and Congratulations

I've heard from several clients who have already been accepted to medical school this cycle. Congratulations! I've also heard from several clients who have been waitlisted. Congratulations! The waitlist can feel like a disappointment, but it's important to see it for what it is – a potential acceptance.

One of the hard parts of being on a waitlist is the uncertainty. We humans like to be in control! One way to alleviate this discomfort is to do something. Assuming the school you're waitlisted at allows communication through their portal, email, or snail mail, I recommend sending a letter of interest (LOI).

When writing your LOI, you should have the following goals:

1. Restating your strong enthusiasm for the institution
2. Positioning yourself as a distinctive candidate who can contribute fully to the school
   
3. Showcasing any updates to your candidacy. (If you don't have updates, you should still write the LOI.)

LOI errors to avoid:

1. Don't include generic content about the institution's advantages, meaning don't waste valuable "geography" telling a medical school admissions officer what makes his/her institution special. Using precious space this way is an opportunity cost, keeping you from fully showcasing what makes you a compelling applicant. Instead, a good technique is to link one of your particular accomplishments with a distinctive opportunity at the institution. For example if you've done cancer research, make sure to showcase it and point out that you'll contribute to the renowned oncology center the institution is associated with.
2. Don't focus on how the school will help you. ("Your medical school will assist me in reaching my career goals.") Your angle instead, should be on how you will be a contributor to their institution. For example, you can detail how one of your leadership experiences has given you the tools to make you a future leader at this institution. (It's the "What have you done for me lately?" Janet Jackson principle.)

Finally, let me say that I find the term "letter of interest" to be better than the old jargon "letter of intent" because, generally, I don't recommend you let institutions know what your intent is (since it might change). Note that with a letter of interest you can create one general letter that you modify and send to multiple institutions with different goals (i.e. if you are placed on another waitlist, to request an interview, or to demonstrate your interest post-interview at another medical school). You can also modify the letter and send it to your top choices because, if you are not making a commitment to one school, then you can honestly use it for multiple institutions. 

For those of you interested in LOI assistance for medical school, please contact me.

Highly Recommended, Paid Summer Opportunity - AAAS Mass Media Fellowship

I was an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellow in 1995 (during medical school). The program was truly fantastic and life-altering.

The 10-week summer program places science, engineering, and mathematics students at media organizations around the country, including National Public Radio, the Los Angeles Times, and WIRED. Fellows learn to communicate complex scientific issues for the lay public. They are provided a stipend of $8000 for the summer, plus travel expenses to and from AAAS and their media sites.

I worked at the Oregonian in Portland and had a tremendous time learning how to write and edit effectively. I also gained an appreciation for the impactful influence journalists can have on medical and public health topics. The Mass Media Fellowship is really an amazing program.

Applications for this year's AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship just opened on October 1 and will remain available through January 1, 2024. Check eligibility requirements and apply here.

Medical and Dental School Interviews: Preparing for your MMI

Although the majority of medical and dental school interviews are still traditional, some institutions utilize a multiple mini interview (MMI) platform. The MMI is a format that uses several timed stations to assess applicants' interpersonal skills and judgment.

A few things to note about MMI interview questions:

1) They are not always medically-related. You may be asked to manage an everyday problem (e.g. a disagreement at the supermarket).

2) They are not always situational. You need to be prepared for conventional questions too (e.g. what are your three greatest strengths?).

3) Schools are trying to assess whether you can skillfully employ important techniques and demonstrate professionalism. Underlying topics might include your ability to offer effective counseling, your understanding of patient-doctor confidentiality, an ability to diffuse a heated situation, a capacity to admit wrongdoing, or reporting an impaired supervisor.

It's important that you practice MMI questions before you go to your medical or dental school interview. Even if you have excellent social skills, there are techniques you should hone to expertly manage the challenging MMI format.

Get y'ERAS in Gear

Last week (on Wednesday, September 27) program directors began reviewing MyERAS applications and MSPEs. Residency applicants often ask me about the timing of ERAS submissions. These are my thoughts:

1. Yes, getting your ERAS in early helps. As one of my program director friends points out, since the residency application is arguably one of the biggest steps in one's medical career, getting the application in as early as possible should be a given. 

2. On the other hand, if your application is not in its best shape, then waiting a week (meaning this week) is preferable to submitting a suboptimal ERAS that will be tossed into the "do not invite" pile. I would suggest not going past this week, however.

Contact me for help with residency mock interviews.