Where to Begin: One Road to Advancing your

Medical Career

Marilyn R. Gugliucci, PhD, AGSF, GSAF, AGHEF

ProfessorDirector, Geriatrics Education and Research

Department of Geriatric MedicineUNECOM

November 2013

Objective

• Provide keys to success for preparing an application (CV, Letters, Personal Statement)

Outline

I. Finding Good Mentors

II. Skill Development for the Application Process

III. Looking for Fellowships/Opportunities

I. Find Good Mentors

Mentors

• Establish at least 5 mentors at any one time:– Personal Mentors– Professional Mentors– Life Mentors

• And let them know it…

Finding a Profession/Research Mentor

• An expert in a field related to your interest– not an expert in your field, that’s you!

• An active researcher– Somebody who has an established record and who is currently

producing research.

• A busy academic– Somebody who supervises (works with) others and has

connections.

Options: Self Approach; Networking; Introduction

Mentee/Mentor Expectations

• Discuss what your general expectations are and what your mentee/mentor expects in return.

• Discuss how things are going to work in a practical sense

• Negotiate a timetable of meetings: – keep communication flowing.

• Be honest with your mentee/mentor: – keep communication open.

If You Fall Behind

• Always be doing something

• Balance

• Tell someone– Don’t be too scared or too

proud to ask for help – this is part of your learning!

II. Developing Skills

Fellowship/Practice Applications

• Components:– Curriculum Vitae– Personal Statement– Application – Letters of Recommendation

• Written by you

• Written by the professional

• Name and Address• Education History• Certifications/ Licensure• Honors And Awards • Research Experience / Publications/Presentations• Grants• Employment • Community Service • Leadership/Activities• Professional Organizations • Special Skills

“COURSE OF LIFE”

Curriculum Vitae

• Header

Jane DoeAddress

City, State Zip

Phone

Email

Insert Pg #

CVEDUCATION

• The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME– Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, 2014

–  

• The George Washington University Washington, DC– School of Public Health and Health Services– Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, YEAR

Bates College Lewiston, ME– Bachelor of Science, May 2007– Major: Biology

 

CV

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSE 

Organization, City, State– Certified HIV Prevention Counselor, Dates

• Such Items as: American Medical Director’s Association , City, State

Certified Medical Director, 2002

American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, City, State

Recertified by examination, 1995

CV AWARDS/HONORS

• Commonwealth College, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA– Honors Research Grant, 2009

• Awarded a grant from the honors college to perform an honors research thesis entitled “Top Down Control of Switch Signals and Ambiguous Figures.”

• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA– Phi Beta Kappa, 2008

• Inductee

•  Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA– Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Delta Chapter , 2005

• Inductee

CVRESEARCH EXPERIENCE• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 2009

– Undergraduate Research Thesis – Title: “Top Down Control of Switch Signals and Ambiguous Figures”– Principle investigator: A. Coohey, PhD; advisor: M. David, PhD.

• Co-wrote grant proposals• Co-wrote an internal review board proposal• Recruited and screened participants• Obtained participants consent• Collected data using magnetic resonance imaging.

Research Assistant (Paid Position)

CVPUBLICATIONS:

– Use AMA citation style– Bold your name for each publication

PRESENTATIONS:

• Title of Presentation, Speakers/Authors, Category of Presentation (Poster/Symposium/ Workshop, etc) Where given or Conference Name, City, State, Date of presentation

GRANTS/FUNDING

CVEMPLOYMENT

• UMass Emergency Medical Services, Amherst, MA– EMT Basic, 2010-present

• Worked as an EMT basic on UMass campus on non-ambulance calls.

• United States Census Bureau, Springfield, MA – Enumerator, 6/2010-9/2010

• Door to door census taking as part of the 2010 United States Census

•  

CVVOLUNTEER

Blood Pressure Clinic, Biddeford, ME 2010– Assisted in assessment of blood pressure at a walk in

blood pressure clinic as part of a community health fair in Biddeford, ME

Goodall Center, Waterloo, WA 2010– Preceptor Experience: shadowed an emergency

physician

Marigold Fund, Amherst, WA 2009-2010– Volunteer “Friend of Marigold”

• Assisted with various projects, particularly research on midwifery training for a midwifery training program in Afghanistan.

CVACTIVITIES University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine,

Biddeford, ME

Undergraduate American Academy of OsteopathyMember, 2010-present

• Participate in group meetings and activities to increase abilities in osteopathic manipulation as well as raise awareness of osteopathic manipulation in the community.

American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Member, 2010-present

• Participate in group meetings and outreach activities to raise awareness in the community.

Haley School of Irish Dance, Whitman, MA1996-present• Irish Step Dancing

• Competitive Irish Step Dancer, age of 11 to present.

CV

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Organization, City, State

Role, Yrs

Organization, City, State

Role, Yrs

Personal Hobbies/InfoOptional

Writing a Personal Statement

• BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE OUTLINE!!

• Be aware of the order and content that is asked for.

Such as:– Interest in the Fellowship– Career Goals– Past Experience– Expectations of the Fellowship– Other Information/ ConclusionUse each of these categories as a header while you write your statement.

Personal Statement

Keys…

Personal Statement- example

• INTRO – Interest in the Fellowship:

The American Federation for Aging Research, Medical Student Training in Aging Research Fellowship is particularly important to me because my goal is to be a clinician/researcher. I believe I can accomplish this career path as I have a foundation in research and am applying myself fully in my medical education.

Career Goals• Be direct & succinct

• Apply active writing style rather than passive– Passive: hope; wish, believe

– Active: intend, plan, will accomplish

• Write as if you are already there– Project that where you want to be is where you are

now….

– Avoid: Should I get…; If I am chosen

– Use: As an awardee…; As a resident….;

Personal Statement- example

• Career Goals:

My career goals in medicine are twofold (1) my focus thus far is on family practice or internal medicine as both offer the physician to positively impact patients’ lifestyle and support shared decision making with the patient in their health care; and (2) I desire to incorporate research into my medical career; I am fascinated with the human brain and desire to contribute to advancing older adult care in this realm through translational research.

Expectation of Fellowship-example

My desire is to have physician mentors who participate in clinical medicine and research. I envision the AFAR Fellowship to provide me with 3 key opportunities: (1) to network with professionals and students from other medical schools; (2) to work with an accomplished physician-researcher and hone my skills in translational research; and (3) ascertain some key points as to how research aids patient care. These experiences will advance my abilities to attain my research goal and provide a gateway for me to share my experiences with UNECOM students upon my return to next fall.

Other Info/Conclusion- example

I have been a competitive Irish Step Dancer for 13 years. I believe that many of the skills I developed as a dancer are abilities that I have used successfully in doing research. From dance I learned to pay attention to detail, and to work hard and consistently to achieve a large goal. I learned a degree of perfectionism about my performance, which translated into high standards of quality in my research. ….

….All of these skills and lessons shaped my personality and work ethic, and I believe that they were responsible for much of the success I had in completing the research for my Honors Thesis.

ADD Closing Statement about the Fellowship

Letters of Support

Who to ask

Providing a template

Letters of Support• Requesting a letter

– Ask in person or by phone if possible– Provide a link to the fellowship or provide a synopsis of information in

writing– Be clear on date needed, what format and who submits it – Offer to supply a draft letter

• Letter Content– Letterhead essential– Date– Addressed to the Organization

– See next

Letter (continued)

• First sentences– State the level of recommendation– Who the recommendation is for– What s/he is applying for

• Body of the Letter– Brief background on the letter writer and how

they know the applicant– How the applicant meets the criteria or

expectations for the fellowship (examples)

• Closing Paragraph– Restate the applicant and the fellowship name

and include the level of recommendation