As you move through the required clerkships, you will begin to consider more seriously which career path you would like to pursue. There are currently two major school programs available to provide career counseling and information on the residency selection process. These are the Department Career Counseling Units, and the Residency Selection Forum.
In addition, there are two major Web-based resources that you will want to access. The first is FREIDA Online, which includes information that is published in the AMA Graduate Medical Education Directory: http://www.ama-assn.org/ (Look under the section called Medical School and Residency).
The second is a new, comprehensive career-planning program, Careers in Medicine, which was developed by the AAMC and AMA: http://www.aamc.org/students/cim.
You should have received your registration information by email at the beginning of your first year. If you have lost this, please contact Michelle Fleming in Student Affairs at flemingm@u.washington.edu.
In addition, Dr. Alan Kent is our new director of career counseling. He is available to assist students with preliminary career exploration and navigating the Careers in Medicine program. Dr. Kent can be reached via email, ajkent@u.washington.edu, or phone, (206) 616-3023.
Each department has appointed several faculty members to serve as career counselors. The major roles of these individuals include helping third and fourth year students to finalize their specialty choice and providing them with advice on residency programs for which they are competitive. The Career Counseling Request Form (Word 32k) includes instructions for how to take advantage of this program. Please complete and submit to Michelle Fleming in the Student Affairs Office (A-300 Health Sciences, Box 356340, Seattle, WA 98195).
Once the career counseling form is received, the student will then be assigned to a career counselor. In addition to discussing career decision-making with these faculty members, students may also want to seek advice related to their fourth-year elective scheduling.
MSTP students should also feel free to request a career counselor even though they may not currently be in the clinical curriculum. Their counselor may be able to provide them with useful information on courses that would be helpful in assessing career options.
This program is for students who will graduate in 2010, or for 2009 graduates who won't be applying to residency programs until the fall of 2009.
The Residency Selection Forum serves as a general orientation to the residency selection and application process. It consists of an overview of the application process, tips for interviewing, and information from graduating seniors who have just completed the residency selection and match process. In addition, many of the departments hold specialty workshops to provide students with more targeted application strategies.
2009 Program Dates
- Boise
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Contact Adriana Olivas, idwwami@u.washington.edu, for more information.
- Spokane
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
5:30 - 7:30 PM
RSVP
Contact Janie Ford, jmford@u.washington.edu, for more information.
- Seattle
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Hogness Auditorium
RSVP
Contact Michelle Fleming, flemingm@u.washington.edu, (206) 543-5561, for more information.
The Residency Selection and Application Process web pages contain all of the information presented at the Forum.