In the end, I am astonished at having been given the opportunity to become an expert in recognizing, naming, and treating obscure conditions. While having no delusion that my next two years will be easy, I know that, for me, the rheumatology fellowship is the way to go. The fact is, my general internal medicine knowledge and experience shall be used to my advantage in the near, and hopefully far, future.
In recent weeks, my internal medicine residents have asked about my interview experience. I hesitate to give them detailed advice, as I saw how complex the process is and how it is impossible to pin down exactly what led to my match. They all inquire whether I knew when I left the interview, whether I was liked. This amuses me because, 1) I truly had no idea, and 2) I was often in a rush; I had a plane to catch. I know that I was laughing a lot on the day of my Texas interview. I was more relaxed than at other interviews and that, although it was March, in Texas it felt like summer in Massachusetts. So, my advice to prospective fellowship applicants? Be yourself. Whatever that means…
Dr. Gilek is a rheumatology fellow at Southwestern University in Dallas.
References
- Gibson KS, Muffly TM, Penick E, Barber MD. Factors used by program directors to select obstetrics and gynecology fellows. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;119:119-124.
- Poirier MP, Pruitt CW. Factors used by pediatric emergency medicine program directors to select their fellows. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2003;19:157-161.
