New Hope

The month of September denotes a new season of uncertainty for graduate doctors as well to fourth year medical students. It's the month were we collectively apply via the Internet using ERAS application program for residency training of our choice at medical programs across America. There is alot of time spent to research programs,collecting letters of recommendations and the most demanding is the soul searching, mind boggling time spent writing up personal statements to express your attributes, aspirations and why they need you ... the better you present yourself in the PS the better it may act as an advocate for you to get the golden prize that being An invitation. I personally found writing the PS was the most demanding mostly because I come from a culture were we don't sing our praises, the more timid or considerate you are the better.

Once all your documents are uploaded by the system, you've filled out your online CV and CAF(Common Application form)and certify that what you have written is the truth you can officially apply to programs. Which poses another problem, how many programs can you afford to apply to? depending on the number of programs you apply to the cost differs. It's no cheap process and not for the faint hearted. Last year I applied to 61 programs I paid around $1200. This year Ive applied to Family medicine programs and Internal medicine programs total of 61 programs I spent $675, price got split because I applied to different fields of medicine but in the end it's still alot of money. I haven't added the costs for the token, USMLE transcript, NRMP .... which is approx $200.

After making the payment and pressing the SUBMIT BUTTON that's when all the fun begins. You check your Inbox twice or thrice daily, check your cellphone frequently you don't want to miss that phone call from a program coordinator. You check online forums frequently to know which programs have sent invitations and rejections while your inbox is dry. You read forum members comments regarding phone Interviews gone bad and sympathise with them as they receive the rejection. You read about people getting rejections because they applied to programs which don't offer visas but on the programs website such information isn't posted. To be honest apart from being stressful it's also been a humbling experience. I still haven't heard from most of the programs Ive applied to but I'm grateful Ive received my first Interview which has given me hope in the system. There is still time to hear from others.

PS.Would like to share an article created by usmlepatient on USMLEFORUM regarding this years match and the way we feel aka the Match 2010 syndrome. Enjoy!!

MATCH 2010 SYNDROME
Frustration with Malignant hypertension and excessively raised Intracranial tension. Frequent palpitations with occasional skipped beats. Unresponsive to therapy.

Associated symptoms: Lack of concentration, hyperphagia (I wish anorexia would be a symptom), mood swings, feeling of guilt, (no suicidal ideation....!)
Excessively peeping into "2010 match" community and not to mention the number of times opening 'My ERAS' for new messages. Occasional night terrors.


Associated risk factors: Step 3 in the very near future.

Aggravating factors : Rejections. Lots of IV calls for fellow IMGs...that too with same creds.
Alleviating factors : at least acknowledgements.

Defenses employed: Denial and rationalization after seeing the rejections. Introjection after seeing IV calls for the fellow IMGs.

Vitals : seemingly normal.
General examination : the patient is disheveled , unkempt and a bit agitated.
Execessively drowsy (even after daily long sleeping hours).


Management:
High doses of IV calls for induction.
Good interview performances for maintenance.
and a Prematch for remission.

Innate immunity : Being an American med graduate.

Acquired Immunity

Active immunity : a)naturally acquired - by doing some USCE
b)artificially acquired - by having some contacts.

Passive immunity : a) naturally acquired - Green card or Citizenship
b) artificially acquired - no more than sheer luck.

P.S. chances of relapse at the time of getting into a fellowship.