How to Apply for an Internal Medicine Residency

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

An internal medicine residency is the first step in a variety of medical careers from a general internist to a gastroenterologist.  Unlike family medicine, an internal medicine residency focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of adult diseases.  If you're considering applying for an internal medicine residency Baltimore, make sure that you've connected with your academic adviser by the start of your third year.

Typically, hospitals and residency programs are ready to start accepting applications in October.  Which means students have 2-3 months to prepare for their applications. This process includes:

An academic review from your medical school. This is typically performed by the teachers who oversaw your training and will help residency physicians get an accurate view of your work in medical school thus far.

A personal statement.  Your personal statement is the moment you've been given to individualize yourself outside of general applications.  This statement should be carefully crafted to give interviewers a reason to remember. So make sure you take your time on it!  It's your chance to separate yourself from the crowd.

Your ERAS or MPES application.  Depending on the schools you intend to apply for, ERAS or MPES will be the primary applications hospitals receive. Make sure you pay attention to which of these services your desired internal residency program Baltimore uses.

Interviewing for an Internal Medicine Residency Program Baltimore

As you may have guessed, the interview process is one of the most of the most pivotal parts of the application process.  During an interview for residency, students will be subjected to questions by the admissions committee of the given program.  In most cases, applicants are also given the opportunity to talk to current students in the residency program.

The interview process is arguably the most important part of your application.  After all, this is your opportunity to truly decide whether or not the program you're applying for is a good fit for you and your career goals.  Whatever you do, don't settle for less.  The average residency program is at least 3 years long, so you want to make sure that you can be happy wherever you continue your study.

Who Should Apply for a General Surgery Residency?

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

A general surgery residency prepares medical students for challenging (and rewarding) career in surgery.  If you are a student who yearns to be directly involved in the care of patients, a career in surgery may be a fulfilling career.  Surgeons are responsible for saving lives, increasing mobility, and aiding treatment for patients with various diseases.  Much like any medical path, it takes some time and consideration to determine whether or not a general surgery residency is right for you.  Needless to say, if you can't handle the sight of blood, you may want to look into a different medical path.

What to Consider Before Applying for a General Surgery Residency Georgetown

As we mentioned above, it's important to take the time to consider the career paths available to you after residency. Most students acquire their first job from the facility they completed their residency at, so first and foremost: Make sure you want to live in the D.C. area.  If you're a person who despises a bustling, fast-paced life in a city- you're not going to want to apply for a general surgery residency Washington DC. In the same light, you'll want to take your career goals in mind when reviewing the facilities you've been invited to interview at.  If you want to become a bariatric surgeon, it's not the best idea to attend a hospital that focuses on surgical oncology.

More important than the location and facility you are invited to study under, is the confidence in your career path. General surgeons are often looked to as a guiding force in their facilities. Often times, they are looked to as a guiding voice for other physicians who are trying to make care decisions for their patients, as general surgeons are trained in a variety of paths. This is due to the extensive training a student is given during their general surgery residency Washington DC.  In order to operate on the human body, training surgeons must be taught prevention, diagnosis, treatment, as well as surgery.

To learn more about your local general surgery residency Georgetown, visit: http://www.medstarhealth.org/.

Completing a Family Medicine Residency to Treat Adults

Written By: Jessica George

If you are studying to become a family doctor, you should be prepared to treat a variety of age groups. However, doing so requires you to be familiar with many different conditions and diseases, as different age groups are often affected differently. For example, there are many medical problems that affect adults but have less impact on children.

Common Adult Illnesses and Conditions

Make sure you are familiar with the following illnesses (along with many others) as you prepare to treat adults.

• Hypertension: This is also known as high blood pressure, in which the blood pushing against artery walls is so high that it could cause other health issues.
• High Cholesterol: Too much cholesterol can result in buildup in the arteries, which can affect the heart and blood flow.
• Stroke: This occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily cut off, causing brain cells to die. Depending on the severity, it can cause physical and cognitive issues.
• Diabetes: With this condition, the body has trouble processing food and converting it properly to energy.
• Kidney Disease: This occurs when the kidneys become damaged and can no longer filter blood properly.
• Hypothyroidism: With this condition, the thyroid cannot produce enough thyroid hormone to ensure that the body functions as it should.
• Urinary Tract Infection: This occurs when germs infect the area where urine is carried out of the body, including the bladder and the kidneys.
• Menopause: Only affecting women, this occurs when a woman's menstrual cycles stop, also causing an end to fertility.
• Migraine: This is a severe headache that is often accompanied by symptoms like temporary vision loss, pain behind the eyes or ears, nausea or vomiting.
• Anemia: This means a lack of healthy red blood cells, which leads to symptoms like fatigue because organs cannot function properly.
• Dementia: This leads to deterioration of mental abilities.
• Alzheimer's Disease: This is a form of dementia that limits thinking, behavior and memory.

These are just a handful of the conditions and diseases you will need to be familiar with. The more you work with patients, the more familiar you will become with recognizing and treating them. If you are interested in pursuing a family medicine residency, visit www.medstarhealth.org/.