Mayan Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 Hi all, My understanding is that family medicine is growing increasingly competitive as a specialty. At UBC we can do a maximum of 8 weeks in a single specialty. I'm wondering if it would be wise to do 8 wks of family medicine? Also, if I'm interested in, say, the FM program in Calgary but for whatever reason I can't land an FM rotation there. Is there any benefit to doing a rotation in Calgary but in a different specialty? For example, IM? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lactic Folly Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 Can't speak specifically to FM, but it might be worth trying to arrange an elective in another specialty in Calgary as you have stated, with a view to meeting someone in FM while you are there, and explaining this in your personal statement -- but first, try hard to do FM in Calgary if that is what you want. As for your first question, I doubt you need to do all 8 weeks in FM to demonstrate a sincere interest, and people often try to do high-demand electives such as ophthalmology, ENT, and dermatology that may not be guaranteed during residency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayan Posted January 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thanks for your response! I'm wondering if there are any 4th year students/FM residents that would be willing to share their elective schedule? I'm pretty clueless as to what a balanced elective selection looks like for FM. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 I'm in FM. My electives were 5 weeks FM (3 general and 2 in a clinic focusing on specific populations), 2 wks obs-gyne, 2 wks gen surg, and 2 wks derm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckieLoon Posted January 7, 2014 Report Share Posted January 7, 2014 Also in family. Pre-CARMs electives: 2 weeks FM research, 4 weeks low-risk Obs, 2 weeks peds oncology, 2 weeks neurology, 2 weeks geriatrics. Post-CARMS electives: 2 weeks GIM consult service, 2 weeks CTU just for fun. I didn't do any community family med but luckily still matched to my first choice school/city. As a CaRMS file-reviewer for FM, we're fairly satisfied with seeing about 4 weeks in FM/rural electives or a diversity of FM-related fields (community peds, GIM, geri, low risk obs, palliative, hospitalist). What I don't necessarily want to see is 6-8 wks in a specific area (e.g., ENT, radiology, gen sx etc). If it turns out that "you've seen the light" about FM after doing concentrated electives in one field, please explain in your personal letter. If a candidate appears to be backing up with FM, I will rank the individual lower, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potter Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 hey guys, Do those ranking FM applicants pay attention to where and for how long candidates spend their 4th year electives? I was thinking of doing two family related 2wk electives at UofO followed by single 2wk electives at other schools. The main reason for the 4wk in total at UofO being so that I can spend time with my family who lives there and (eg: UofO is not my first choice for residency location). Would schools ranking me think I'm totally gunning for UofO and therefore rank me lower for spending lots of time in one place?? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starling Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 I'm wondering if there are any 4th year students/FM residents that would be willing to share their elective schedule? FM resident here. I did my med school electives in the following (2wks each): peds EM allergy & immunology ophthalmology dermatology FM + LR-OB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckieLoon Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Hi Potter, I wouldn't worry too much about doing electives at UofO and appearing like a "gunner". FM has gotten more competitive, so if your top choice school is one of the more popular ones (eg UBC, Calgary, Toronto, etc) I would try to do an elective out there. It is pretty standard on your CaRMS application and interview to explain why you want x school, and being able to say you've done an elective, know a program's strength/weakness, and enjoy the city is very helpful. With that being said, I have seen outstanding candidates with top clerkship evaluations, community involvement+, awards, and FM-related publications who have been accepted without doing an elective at their top school. At that point schools are recruiting you, which is a wonderful feeling that you don't get with other specialties on the CaRMS circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorme Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 What kind of electives split would you recommend for someone with a fam med interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mm88 Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 thread jacking here! Is it detrimental to do no clerkship electives in FM if I'm doing a rural/regional longitudinal FM based clerkship? I did one FM elective pre-clerkship in the city of my top choice program, and it bored me out of my skull. Rural FM/EM is what I am mostly interested in. I don't particularly want to spend 2 weeks out of my precious 10 doing another urban FM elective if I already know I will have to apply to an urban FM program (military candidate here, no choices to be made at CaRMS) and am going be doing 8 months of FM based clerkship anyway. What are your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerroger Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Hi all, My understanding is that family medicine is growing increasingly competitive as a specialty. At UBC we can do a maximum of 8 weeks in a single specialty. I'm wondering if it would be wise to do 8 wks of family medicine? Also, if I'm interested in, say, the FM program in Calgary but for whatever reason I can't land an FM rotation there. Is there any benefit to doing a rotation in Calgary but in a different specialty? For example, IM? Thanks! I disagree within FM being competitive. Nothing in my experience indicates this. If you are going for FM it does not matter what you do your electives in. Do a few FM electives and then whatever you feel like. It is very easy to get FM interviews. If you have a reasonable CMG application and interview okay you should no problem gaining acceptance into a top two or three choice program unless you have strange bad luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mm88 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I disagree within FM being competitive. Nothing in my experience indicates this. If you are going for FM it does not matter what you do your electives in. Do a few FM electives and then whatever you feel like. It is very easy to get FM interviews. If you have a reasonable CMG application and interview okay you should no problem gaining acceptance into a top two or three choice program unless you have strange bad luck. Politely beg to differ. There are some FM only applicants, i.e. not backing up something with FM or applying to anything else that did not even receive interviews from Calgary this year. If that's not an indication that at least SOME FM programs are competitive....I don't know what is :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I disagree within FM being competitive. Nothing in my experience indicates this. If you are going for FM it does not matter what you do your electives in. Do a few FM electives and then whatever you feel like. It is very easy to get FM interviews. If you have a reasonable CMG application and interview okay you should no problem gaining acceptance into a top two or three choice program unless you have strange bad luck. I agree with mm88, you are wrong. We had people at my home school who wanted FM and did not get an FM interview (and it's not like they had something wrong with them). Last year, people had to call and beg for interviews, same this year - and they've been turned down. These aren't people who were backing up with FM, either. This year, the chief resident in my program, which takes 8 residents, has received over 100 requests for site visits. I imagine at least twice as many people would be interested in applying, because so many people cannot arrange a site visit for logistical reasons, but still want to apply to the program - I know I didn't! I always wanted FM and ended up in my 4th choice FM program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BK47 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Agree w/ Jochi and mm88. The family program at my school actually had to reject applicants pre-interview this year for the first time in recent memory (apparently they normally interview everyone that applies). They saw a large increase in applications this year. Family isn't as easy as it used to be. Whether it's a combination of increased med school enrollment without a commesurate increase in residency positions, or med schools in general are applying to more programs than before, or some combination thereof... Hard to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerroger Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I'm skeptical of family med being suddenly über competitive this year. I think everything is more competitive than 2 years ago secondary to there being too way too many med students in this country. We are starting to feel the effects now. Let's wait till the CaRMS stats are released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyInTheBubble Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Lots of new med students (at home and abroad), and constant media reports of specialists being unable to get jobs, or unable to get their desired job (either aspect of the specialty or location). It's a slightly terrifying (justified or not) prospect to do undergrad, med school, slog through specialty training +/- fellowship....and have no idea where or when you'll get a job. Family med is so hot right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckieLoon Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Hi folks, Sorry, no one is saying Family Medicine is one of the most competitive areas of medicine. However, FM is getting more competitive, and it was quite surprising the number & good quality of applicants who were turned down pre-interviews this CaRMS cycle. I think it is fair to say that FM is getting competitive in terms of getting the location/school that you want. If a medical student is seriously considering FM for his/her residency, I highly recommend planning accordingly rather than assuming that he/she is guaranteed an interview at their school of interest. MM88 - at least in Alberta, schools take into consideration whether you have done a longitudinal rural clerkship program. As a military candidate, are you sure that you are not eligible for a rural FM position? We are certainly in need of great rural docs, and if you like the pace, independence and diversity of rural/EM, I highly recommend that you consider a regional or rural FM program! Maybe ask your program about whether you can train rurally rather than in an urban program Doctorme - addictions medicine is very relevant to Family Medicine and psychiatry. I don't think you will have any problem "spinning" your addictions elective to work for both FM and psychiatry. If you have time, you could consider doing addictions medicine with a family physician who has done extra training in this area. Otherwise, it's how you spin your application. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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