Pregnancy During Residency: An Impossible Feat?

The AAMC recently published a piece by Beth Howard on residency programs looking to support female residents during and immediately after pregnancy. The article highlights research that demonstrates that trainees who become pregnant during residency or fellowship have an elevated risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and other pregnancy-related complications compared to the general population.

Starting in 2022, the ACGME mandated at least six weeks of paid parental leave for residents (without causing adverse effects on board eligibility), and last year an ACGME task force published recommendations, including the elimination of overnight calls and 24+- hour shifts in the third trimester, among other supportive policies.

Interestingly, according to a Massachusetts General Hospital randomized trial, instituting a specific pregnancy supportive intervention for trainees kept the burnout curve flat versus a significant burnout increase in the control group. The study points out that the cost of the intervention ($2300) was less than the estimated price of burnout per employee ($7600).

Here's the AAMC news article for more details. 

Get Reliable Post Baccalaureate Program Information

For those applicants seeking post baccalaureate guidance, I highly recommend the AAMC database. On the left panel you can filter by public or private, undergraduate or graduate, and special focus. For the latter, distinguishing whether you need a career changer or academic record enhancer program is critical.

For each individual program, you can search whether the curriculum awards a certificate of completion or a master's degree, affiliations like linkage programs, and, importantly, length of time to complete the program (from one year to 24 months).

Here's some additional information from the AAMC regarding post baccalaureate programs – what to look for, how the curriculum prepares students for medical school, etc. 

Your AMCAS/ AACOMAS Is In. What Should You Do Now?

Once your AMCAS/AACOMAS is submitted, take a deep breath, relax for a few days, and then start thinking about your secondary essays. 

You can look online to see last year's prompts and maximum character counts. While there's no guarantee the prompts will be the same from year to year, the majority of the time they are for an individual school. Here's a brief blog entry on a common secondary prompt: "Why Our School?"

Also, once the AMCAS/AACOMAS is in, take a moment to do some soul searching about what you're seeking geographically, philosophically, and educationally. You want to make considered decisions when the time comes.

Finally, you can start practicing for your interviews. Here's information on my mock interview services.

White Coat Investor Student Scholarship 2026 Applications - Now Open

Each year the White Coat Investor (WCI) offers a scholarship opportunity to students enrolled in full-time US professional schools. This year's application opened June 1, and the deadline is August 31. Students must be in good academic standing in eligible professional schools, including medical, dental, law, podiatry, pharmacy, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and veterinarian, among others. WCI's stated goal of the scholarship is to reduce winning students' indebtedness and to promote financial literacy in professional schools.

The lion's share of the application is an 800 to 1200 word essay. There are 10 grand prize winners. Here's more information.

The Ins and Outs of Choosing a Specialty: The Generalist vs. The Early Committer

I find it frustrating that we tell students to approach medical school with an open mind but then reward those who demonstrate commitment to a field early. 

If you're a pre-med or a medical student in your first or second year, check out this piece I wrote with my colleague David Presser MD MPH called "Choosing a Specialty: The Generalist vs. The Early Committer." 

The case for deciding early is evidence-based, especially for highly competitive fields, but early commitment has real risks too. In the article, read practical advice for effectively approaching a decision about your field.