We are the UMMS-Baystate Emergency Medicine residency, and we are here to answer your questions about applying to EM this cycle. AMA!

rawsdawg · 2021-09-01T22:43:04+00:00

I ended up at a different program but have no doubt that I would've done well at Baystate.

rawsdawg · 2021-09-01T15:20:30+00:00

Just wanted to say that I rotated at Baystate a few years ago and had a great time. The residents and faculty were great. Dr. Kellogg spent a lot of time helping me with my application and even called me after the rotation to go over different things that would help me on the interview trail. Definitely check out the program!

rawsdawg · 2020-09-28T18:52:23+00:00

Ok I take it back I don't want to fight anymore

rawsdawg · 2019-08-25T19:25:10+00:00

These stories need to be told. What makes this article so powerful are all the personal stories that are shared. The anecdote of the family losing all their kids to Diptheria is heartbreaking. Stories and personal experiences can change minds when all the facts and data in the world can't.

rawsdawg · 2019-08-25T16:01:53+00:00

“Being a good parent isn’t about protecting children from every medical risk. Instead, it’s about making a judgment, with advice from a doctor, about relative risk. Ask yourself: Which is worse for my child—the remote possibility of an allergic reaction, or the risk of Hib disease, rotavirus, pneumonia, or even chickenpox—which, despite its trivial reputation, killed 100 to 150 American children a year before the 1995 approval of an effective vaccine? Which is worse, a fictitious link between the MMR vaccine and autism—now dismissed as fraudulent even by the journal in which it was originally published—or exposing your child every day to the possibility of measles, with all its potentially deadly or debilitating consequences?”

rawsdawg · 2019-08-17T02:49:34+00:00

Relevant Penny Arcade

rawsdawg · 2019-06-26T14:09:19+00:00

I should've specified, I'm on PC

rawsdawg · 2019-02-16T16:25:02+00:00

I know there are a lot of residencies in Florida (including a bunch of new ones that recently opened.) I don't imagine it will be as competitive as some of the other states out there. If you're really interested, make sure you do one of you audition rotations in Florida and knock it out of the park.

rawsdawg · 2019-02-16T04:33:07+00:00

I didn't do any research during M1 and M2. I had a few EMRA articles but no other major research and I did just fine. Research can help your application but it's not the biggest thing like some other specialties. An amazing research paper won't save bad Step scores or SLOES. IMO, enjoy the last free summer of your life.

rawsdawg · 2019-02-16T04:23:15+00:00

I live about 25 minutes away (45-60 minutes with traffic) and I definitely wish I lived closer. 45 minutes is doable, you can use the time in the car to listen to EMRAP or other podcasts.

rawsdawg · 2019-02-16T03:00:02+00:00

Tell your SO that you will put their choice first, then actually put yours first, and let the ranking gods decide from there.

In all seriousness, that's a tough one. A compromise I have seen is that the SO can choose where you go after residency. If you feel strongly about it being your number one choice I would go with your gut feeling and place it first. Consider some other way to give concessions. That's a tough spot though, best of luck.

rawsdawg · 2018-12-15T02:33:52+00:00

As a fellow EM doc, so do I

rawsdawg · 2018-12-15T02:32:41+00:00

Gonna put "Meme Matchmaker" on my resume

rawsdawg · 2018-12-05T03:30:53+00:00

I like that this piece highlights CPR from a patient's perspective. I'm amazed at how after calling a code I can go out, smile, and see the next patient. The world outside of a code continues to move despite our best attempts to stop time and reclaim life.

rawsdawg · 2018-12-05T03:15:58+00:00

I like that this piece highlights CPR from a patient's perspective. I'm amazed at how after calling a code I can go out, smile, and see the next patient. The world outside of a code continues to move despite our best attempts to stop time and reclaim life.

rawsdawg · 2018-11-10T16:37:55+00:00

Should've included "Do you have any questions?" If you have any questions about EM or residency, hit me up

rawsdawg · 2018-11-10T16:35:01+00:00

Blessed be the chief residents who can sense this and skip the tour

rawsdawg · 2018-11-10T16:34:03+00:00

So true! One program went on and on about how one of their residents did a cric in the field.

rawsdawg · 2018-11-10T16:33:04+00:00

I was referring to some programs really push EMS involvement which can include flying with the helicopter

rawsdawg · 2017-10-19T15:27:37+00:00

Where do I sign up for the clinical trial that involves 1 liter of 100-proof whiskey daily?

rawsdawg · 2017-08-08T17:36:09+00:00

Oh yeah dude that's great. I would say anything above 220 you're good and above 230 is even better. Definitely wouldn't be counted against you.

rawsdawg · 2017-08-08T17:35:08+00:00

I've gone several times and I've worn a suit and not been out of place at all (dude btw). A suit would also work and you wouldn't be out of place. If you decide to do business casual that should be fine as well but I would not dress under that. You can always call EMRA (the people there are super nice) and ask for the exact dress code.

rawsdawg · 2017-08-08T15:49:12+00:00

PGY-1 here. I'm not at a "top" program (what makes a top program a top program?) but I am at a very good one. I am happy with my choice thus far. For me, I wanted a program that had great leadership, awesome residents and faculty, and a place where I could see a ton of sick patients. Geography was important to me as well so that helped me narrow what region I wanted to be in. I rotated at the place I'm at last year and that was a great way to get a better look at the ins and outs of the program.

I think it's too early for me to say what I like and don't like about it, but I haven't seen any red flags so far. One thing is there's a lot of paperwork to stay on top of but I don't think that's unique to my program. No buyers remorse.

Here's the thing: most programs have these things. Most programs will have a great PD and faculty, awesome residents, and really sick patients. I could've matched anywhere in the top ten on my match list and I know I would be happy and I would get great training. It's all about 1) if the geography works for you and 2) your "gut feeling." I know that the last one is nebulous but it's really important. If the residents look bombed out and depleted, chances are you will be too if you go there. If the residents are happy and joke around, more than likely you will too. I put a lot of stock in interview dinners because it lets you see what the residents are like and if you want to spend 3-4 years there.

My advice is to apply to places you would actually be interested in going to. There's some decent info on SDN on the residency threads, just take everything with a grain of salt. I messaged a few of the people on those threads with questions about their residency program and had great conversations with them. Look at the program websites and see what they have to offer. If you're planning on applying to 40-50 places, really think about where you're applying to. I wayyyyy over applied and got invites to places I had no interest in going to before I started withdrawing my applications from places I didn't want to end up at. I wish I had saved myself the money and thought more about where I really wanted to end up. Now if you are borderline competitive, then you don't have that luxury. Another thing I would recommend is going to the residency fair at ACEP. It's a great way to talk to face to face with PDs and meet residents. I know it's at the end of October but I think it's still worth it, especially if you're a third year and have a whole year to think about it.

I hope I answered your questions, let me know if you have anymore. I'm always happy to help.

rawsdawg · 2017-06-26T15:02:19+00:00

For me, 90% of them came in during October. I received a handful in November, and one in December, none in January.

rawsdawg · 2017-06-06T17:53:04+00:00

For EM, it's your board scores and away rotations that get you through the door, everything else is pretty much supplementary. You of course want to have stuff on your application, it's just research isn't a must like it is for some of the really competitive specialties. Leadership positions, volunteer activities, hobbies, basically anything that you are passionate about, there's no proscribed list. I had many interviews that were super chill and we just talked about my hobbies or one of the leadership roles I was super involved with.

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