The First Job
Residency / Faculty
Hilary Sanfey
Learning Objectives
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What to look for (what to avoid)
Preparing yourself & your CV
The interview
Negotiation
What to Look For
&
What to Avoid
Be wary of institutions / programs:
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High faculty turnover (ask why)
Financial instability
Programs on probation
Chair about to retire
Barriers to meeting with key staff (other
residents) during the interview
Few minorities in key positions
The Department Chair?
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Chair supportive of junior faculty / residents
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Mentorship record
Promotions
Opportunities for leadership
National reputation
Is he / she about to retire or move?
Business plan
Administrative support
Sound billing / reimbursement system
What to look for :
Residency & Faculty
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Know your priorities & goals (1 & 5 year)
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Personal
Professional
The department / program
The institution
Priorities & Goals
Goals should be flexible as interests & opportunities will change
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Personal
Professional
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Clinical
Research
Promotion
Leadership
Financial
Educational
Long term (5 year) and short term (1 year)
SMART Goals
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time
Preparation
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Know the program / department / institution
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Review institutional / departmental / website / marketing
brochures
NIH funding
Educational ranking
National reputation of chair / senior faculty
Talk to faculty / current and past residents / referring
physicians
Know yourself
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Application / priorities / interests
Curriculum Vitae
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Is there an institutional template?
Review CVs from successful colleagues
Be concise
Be honest
Make sure significant achievements stand out
Have an explanation for the “gaps”
Watch spelling / grammar
Teaching portfolio
Personal Statement /Accompanying
Letter
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Why this specialty (institution)?
Personal experiences.
Future expectations (vision).
Spelling / grammar.
Use humor cautiously.
Be original.
Ask advisor(s) to read prior to submission.
Applying to a Residency Program
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Clinical Training - volume and patient mix
Education – board results
Research – optional vs. mandatory
Environment – family friendly or hostile
Hospitals – how many? How far apart?
Where do residents go after training?
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Academic vs. private practice
Fellowship placement
Job Description (Residents)
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Duty hours / night duty / live in time
Rotations
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Research opportunities
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Specialty
Location / hospitals / outreach clinics
Elective
Funding
Leave
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Vacation
Maternity / Paternity
Study
Job Description (Faculty)
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Ascertain goals and priorities of chair / chief.
Percentage time for :
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Clinical work.
Research.
Educational activities.
Administration.
Learn how your salary will be supported.
Is there an inside candidate?
Priorities & Goals
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Personal
Professional
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Clinical
Research
Promotion
Leadership
Financial
Educational
Clinical
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Outreach clinics
Referral pattern
Who is the competition?
Support for new program development
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Financial
Staff
Equipment
Space
Institutional commitment to a new program
Research
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Percentage / protected time
While awaiting NIH funding, ask about
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Salary support
Start up grants
Opportunity for collaboration / sharing staff ,
space & equipment
Lab space allocation
Promotion and / or Tenure
Learn the rules!
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Tracks
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Educator vs. investigator
Clinical vs. non-clinical
Tenure vs. non-tenure
Changing tracks
Definition of scholarship
Promotion record for each track in your
department
Promotion (continued)
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Ascertain relative importance of teaching /
research / clinical / service to P & T.
Time limitations / probationary periods. Are these
negotiable ?
Consequences of failing to obtain P&T.
“time off the clock.”
Leadership (Mentorship)
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Chair / faculty with a national reputation in
your area of interest
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Professional organizations
National / regional committees
Editorial boards
Can they offer you opportunities /
consistent with your goals?
Can you identify with the faculty?
Financial
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How will your salary be supported?
Revenue sources
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Salary
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Clinical / research / other
Base
Negotiated
Incentives / bonus
Overheads
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Collection rate
Office / secretarial support / dean’s tax / shared administrative /
clinic staff / collection fees
Malpractice (tail coverage)
Educational
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Protected time to teach
Relative value placed on resident vs.
medical student teaching by P&T
Salary support for teaching
CME requirements to maintain institutional
credentials
Time off to attend national meetings
Personal
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Personal / family time / part time / flexible /
maternity / paternity leave
Location / commute
Are benefits transferable ?
College fees differential for children
Schools
Housing / travel expenses
Hobbies / interests
The Selection Process : Residency
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Getting an interview
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Academic qualifications USMLE /AOA /school
CV
Personal statement
Letters
Personal recommendation
Getting a job offer / getting ranked
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Compatibility or “fit”
Qualities Determining Compatibility
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Team player?
Motivation?
Communication skills?
Leadership potential?
Attitude?
Compassion?
Non-academic achievements?
The Interview
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Appearance
Polite
Be honest / prepared / enthusiastic / well
dressed / on time
Write thank you letters
Watch what you say at all times!
Interviewing for a Faculty Position
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Should talk to:
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Chair / Chief
Colleagues from your areas of interest and / or
research & clinical collaboration
Business manager
P & T advisor
Residents / Nurses / Secretarial / lab staff
Person vacating the post if relevant
Interviews (Faculty)
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The first interview
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The second interview
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OK to look once even if really not interested
Demonstrating intent
Accompanied by spouse / significant other
The third interview
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Consolidate expectations
Dealing with
Inappropriate
Questions
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The Negotiation
Remember Priorities and Goals
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Personal
Professional
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Clinical
Research
Promotion
leadership
Financial
Educational
Starting the Negotiation
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Wish list in order of priority
Negotiable vs. not negotiable
Balance your goals against what is being
offered
Wish List
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Salary
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AAMC guidelines plus 10%
Department salary range
Penalties for not covering salary
Protected time
Lab space
Part time / flexible opportunities
Negotiation
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The worst thing you can possibly do is
seem desperate to make the deal. That
makes the other guy smell blood and then
you are dead..
Donald Trump
Negotiation
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Patience may be a virtue but in negotiating
it is a weapon of incalculable power. If you
can out wait the other side you usually can
out negotiate them.
Mark McCormack
Author of “On Negotiating”
Take Control
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Speak assertively
Don’t discount what you say before you say
it (don’t apologize for asking!)
Stay focused on your goals
Don’t be seduced by promises
Shake hands and come out fighting
Don’t set yourself up for failure!
Beware the "Once you take the job
we……………
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Will talk about your
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Salary!
Office!
Lab space!
Promotion!
OR time!
Beds!”
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Get everything in writing
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Pick your battles!
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Compromise
The Decision
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Compare notes with personal goals and
priorities
Be realistic
Will I fit in?
Will I be happy?
Will this job help me get my next position?
Goals
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There are two aims in life: one is to achieve
your goals and the other is to take time to
enjoy them. Only the wisest of mankind
achieve the second aim.
Logan Pearsall Smith 1965-1946
Resources
American College of Surgeons
http://www.facs.org/medicalstudents/index.html
 American Medical Association
http://www.amaassn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html
 Mom MD http://www.mommd.com/
 AAMC http://www.aamc.org/
 JAMA Career Net http://www.jamacareernet.com/
 Association of Women Surgeons
http://www.womensurgeons.org/
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References
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The first 90 days : Michael Watkins
On becoming a leader: Warren Bennings
Hardball for women: Pat Heim
Same game, different rules: Gail Evans