What I Really Learned in Med School

Craig and I are so thrilled to have couple matched in Family Medicine at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida. We decided that it was our first choice on the interview day and never looked back. I feel like it was made for me. We had this extensive checklist of things we were looking for in a program, but when we walked into this hospital, it was as if they showed us exactly what we didn't know we were looking for. We spent Match Day (also St. Patty's Day) at Dad's. It was one day but it made every other day worth it. Dad had the red wine poured and ready to go while we waited for the e-mail. My e-mail came in about 30 seconds before Craig's so here is each of us after finding out. The relief and excitement was beyond words. I am so happy! Those of you who have heard me talk about the interview process have certainly heard me gush about this interview. The 2 hospitals we will work in are new and beautiful and the children's hospital is sponsore...

I've received some really great advice from colleagues, residents, faculty, and online sources over the last year about the U.S. residency application process and the couples match. I attempt to compile the most helpful tips here and add my own insight (as a Canadian IMG from Saba entering my first choice family medicine residency) as a means to "pay it forward."  Choose electives wisely:  You can really focus on networking and finding a residency during fourth year. My strategy was to  do rotations at hospitals that had a family medicine residency program  even if my rotation wasn’t in that specialty. While I was there, I would ask for a meeting with the program director or try to get in on some of the family medicine lectures. I ended up interviewing at 3 places I rotated at plus I received interviews in all 6 states that I did rotations in. For example, I did 6 months of rotations in Louisiana and then received 4 interviews in that state. I was told by a pr...