Neurology

Neurology

General OMS-I guidance

During your OMS-I year, it is important to gain exposure to as many fields as possible, both inside and outside of Neurology. If Neurology is going to be a potential match, one of the biggest things you can do during your OMS-I year is get involved in Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN), which is an interest group under SOIMA. LUCOM has a chapter and SIGN is affiliated with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in which you become a student member of by getting involved. This will open many doors including events at LUCOM, but also events on a state and national level too. AAN conferences for students are an incredible way to network and get to know program directors and neurologists in the field who go out of their way to help students nurture their interest in Neurology. Use this year to pursue any possible shadowing opportunities. Consider attending the Virginia Neurology Society annual meeting which meets around January/February. This is a great way to meet others in the field across the state of Virginia.

General OMS-II guidance

Continue to gain exposure in multiple fields and be involved in interest groups.

General OMS-III guidance

Talk to residents and attendings in the field in order to gain an understanding of the day-to-day work of a Neurology physician and understand the lifestyle. Get involved in research during your OMS-III year to gain more experience and insight into this specialty. Although Neurology is not a required rotation during your OMS-III year, take every opportunity you have to gain experience in taking care of neurology patients, and follow neurologists. Some students are able to request to spend part of a rotation under the Neurology service during their Internal Medicine months. Begin to secure letters of recommendations with faculty members and preceptors in which you have a good relationship and did well on rotations. Start putting together your CV and personal statement that you are going to need for residency applications. Form good relationships with people you encounter on rotations as this may prove very valuable to you.

General OMS-IV guidance

Try to secure as many audition and elective rotations in Neurology as possible and use your OMS-IV year to get a broad exposure to as many medical subspecialties as your schedule sees fit.

Research guidance – What research should a student seeking this specialty engage in?

You may not always have time for a formal research project. However, attempt to write up a case report, present a poster of an interesting patient, or write a review article to get experience and hopefully a publication. You don’t need a publication for your CV, but sometimes saying you are working on something is enough. If you are not able to do so, this will not prevent securing a residency spot.

Letters of Recommendation – How many and by whom

Attempt to secure at least three to four letters of recommendation from faculty and preceptors you have worked with clinically.

Recommended total number of interviews overall

Ideally 10-15 interviews are recommended.

Recommended total number of interviews in the specialty

Ideally 10-15 interviews are recommended.

General CV guidance

Highlight your accomplishments of medical school first, then you may include significant accomplishments from college. High school accomplishments are not recommended unless very significant. Make sure your CV is easy to read and well organized. Have proper headers for sections like work experience, education, honors and awards, research, etc. Show your CV to several people and consider all feedback. There are many templates to consider, including a simple Word template. Ensure to maintain a professional appearance to the CV.

General Personal statement guidance

View your personal statement as your sales/marketing pitch for yourself. Discuss why you want to go into Internal Medicine and what you bring to the program. A few pointers are as follows:

• Highlight any relevant clinical experience, research, or teaching activities that you have participated in.
• Discuss any unique perspectives or experiences that you bring to the field of internal medicine.
• Showcase your commitment to internal medicine and patient care.
• Discuss your long-term objectives for your career and how you plan to achieve them.
• Do not make your personal statement too long. Aim for ¾ page max.

Rotations – What 4th year rotations would you encourage a student in this specialty to secure?

Try to secure as many audition and elective rotations at places you may want to do residency. Once these rotations are secured, work hard while there to show them your value as a potential future resident. Rotations you secure do not necessarily have to be in Internal Medicine, but make sure to introduce yourself to the Internal Medicine Department while on different rotations. Make a point to speak to the program director while on every rotation and make them aware of your intention to apply to Internal Medicine. Use opportunities to rotate in specialties you have not done and may not do again in your OMS-IV year. For example, during my OMS-IV year, I did rotations in Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Nephrology, ENT, and others to get a wide exposure to medicine.

Additional thoughts or suggestions

Connect with preceptors, faculty, and others to learn more about the residency process and receive feedback on your application, CV, and personal statement. Take advantage of various resources such as residency fairs, to learn more about programs. Reach out to current LUCOM Alumni residents. Be aware of the timeline for the residency application process and adhere to deadlines. Consider the cost of applying to residency programs to plan accordingly.

Summary of Academic Metrics for LUCOM Students Entering Neurology:

Click the link above to visit an interactive data tool published by the NRMP to explore the national data pertaining to characteristics of students matching into each specialty.