Careers in Medicine Program - Introduction

  
What is Careers in Medicine?
Careers in Medicine is a four-phase program designed to assist you in understanding specialty choice options and selecting and applying to a residency program that meets your careers objectives.  For many students the idea of choosing a specialty seems far off.  Careers in Medicine offers a structured, organized way of thinking about this process; giving them the chance to think systematically about their options.  Choosing a medical specialty and developing  a vision for your future is an evolutionary process and requires time to thoughtfully digest information about yourself (personal careers assessment), information about career options (career exploration), and a determination of what the best fit is for you. 

 Why Careers in Medicine?
You may have thought, “Hey, I know my career.  I’m going to be a doctor.  Why do I need to do any more planning?”  But how many of these questions can you answer without hesitation?

• Why did you choose medicine as a career?

• What specialties have you considered and why?

• What specialties are you not considering and why?

• Do you know how competitive residency programs are in each specialty?

• What will you do if you don’t get a residency position in your first-choice specialty?

• How many hours a week do you intend to work?

• What practice setting appeals most to you?

• Where do you want to live?

•  What type of lifestyle do you want?

If you can’t answer all of these questions with certainty or if you have never really thought about them, you can benefit from this program. 

How People Make Career Decisions
Careers in Medicine uses a widely accepted career development model that helps you answer these questions.  In this model, career planning and development is a four-phase process:

• Phase One: Personal Career Assessment – You will be exploring who you are, what you like to do, what’s important in your life, and how you interact with people.  This is accomplished by assessing your interests, values, personality, and skills.

• Phase Two: Career Exploration – You will begin to learn about medical specialties – what physicians do in these areas, reviewing available information, and meeting and talking with physicians in various specialties. 

• Phase Three: Decision-Making – Once you have collected enough information on all of the possibilities, you can then compare your interests, values, personality, and skills with information about the specialty and other medical career options. 

• Phase Four: Implementation – You will implement your decision by applying for and being accepted into a residency program.  We will guide you through the process of applying to selected residency training programs, interviewing, and completing “The Match” (the National Residency Matching Program, run by the AAMC).  Transitioning out of medical school and into residency will complete the program. 

Careers in Medicine Web Site
The Careers in Medicine Web site (www.aamc.org/careersinmedicine) contains the entire program online, including many of the tools presented in the manual and links to sites that provide other recommended tools.  In addition, you’ll have access to the Careers in Medicine specialty pages for Phase 2, which will help with gathering information about specialties that interest you.  Remember, the web site is a great tool that can help you work through the decision-making process, but it is always important to talk to others to help sort out the information you are finding.  Therefore, be sure and take full advantage of the group resource sessions that will be provided for you.

What If I Still Can’t Decide?
For many people a step-by-step approach to making career decisions is difficult to follow.  If you’re struggling with this approach, talk to the Dean of Students.  Individual help can help you identify other ways of deciding on a specialty or career option.