Dr. Brent Kobashi, Dr. Neeti Parikh and Dr. Jessie Werner are available for 1:1 office hours for general career advising questions and career planning guidance.
For the 2024-2025 year:
Please note that appointments are for current and graduated UCSF Medical Students only
Dr. Brent Kobashi
Faculty Director of Career Advising
Dr. Neeti Parikh
Faculty Assistant Director of Career Advising - San Francisco
Jessie Werner, MD
Faculty Assistant Director of Career Advising - Fresno
Specialty residency advisors are selected by their departments to support students with the best career advice for their respective specialties. There are confidential and main specialty residency advisors for each specialty.
Confidential advisors:
Main advisors (not confidential):
The main specialty residency advisor is connected to the residency selection process at UCSF and knows the most about it. Both the main and confidential specialty residency advisors can provide guidance regarding:
MANUEL
PARDO
Heather Hervey-Jumper
JOYCE CHANG
STEPHANIE LIM
Paul Su
Statistics on UCSF students in 2020-2022 who were matched into Anesthesia residency programs:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT A CAREER IN ANESTHESIOLOGY, CRITICAL CARE & PAIN MEDICINE
What are some common variations in career path in this specialty?
Physicians who pursue a residency in anesthesiology have many career options available to them. Clinically, they may concentrate their practice in general operating room anesthesia or pursue subspecialized clinical practice in procedural pain management, hospice & palliative medicine, critical care medicine, pediatric anesthesia, cardiac anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, acute pain medicine, regional anesthesia, transplant anesthesia, or neuroanesthesia. Some other specialties include sleep medicine and hyperbaric medicine.
Clinical settings include academic medical centers, such as UCSF, or p rivate practice venues including large hospitals, small hospitals, outpatient units, and even office settings. Clinical practice may include working alone, with residents, CRNAs, anesthesia assistants or a combination of perioperative care extenders.
Anesthesiologists are often medical directors of surgical centers and operating rooms, quality improvement officers, and other health care administrative roles. There is a great need for anesthesiologists interested in global health and anesthesiologists are often leading the way in helping to develop sustainable systems for quality care care delivery for surgical, trauma, critical care and obstetric patients in resource-poor settings. Anesthesiologists are also public health officers and advocates (our current Surgeon General is an anesthesiologist). Additionally there are many anesthesiologists who serve as medical officers for technology companies, are involved in research, and do consulting work.
What is a typical workday like?
This varies significantly depending on what area of specialization anesthesiologists pursue (see above). For the anesthesiologist in private practice, a typical clinical day is 10 to 12 hours long, plus overnight call 2+ nights each month. The average number of hours per week depends on the group and its call structure, but typically 40-60 hours per week including call. In an academic setting (the minority of anesthesiologists), there is great variability depending on additional responsibilities outside the clinical setting.
What is the culture of this specialty?
Many find the OR and ICU environments interesting and fun. Anesthesia is often challenging and always humbling. Many like concentrating on one or two patients at a time. This is a very hands-on specialty with many procedures and acute interventions. Many find patient contact to be the most satisfying part of the profession. Overall, there is a high degree of satisfaction with anesthesiology as a career choice.
What are how this career path may support or challenge having a family?
There is a lot of variation in anesthesiologists' practices. For example, an anesthesiologist who primarily practice pain medicine (clinic-based) is going to have a very different career than someone specializing in transplant anesthesia (operating room based, cases all hours). Therefore generalizations are difficult. After residency (which has set requirements across ACGME-certified programs), you are very much in control of the type of work environment and practice you have.
In general, if you are considering an operating room based focus, it is important to know that OR days start early (before childcare centers open) and do not always end at predictable times. Someone needs to be there to see the patient safely to the recovery room. When surgeries have to go in the middle of the night, an anesthesiologist needs to be there to take care of the patient. When a woman needs an emergency cesarean section, an anesthesiologist must be there. Anesthesiologists frequently work 12+ hour days and are on in-house call for 24+ hour shifts. In general, partners in your practice (academic or private) will split call requirements. The family-friendly aspect is that these calls will be prescheduled, your work starts when you arrive and most often ends when you leave. Most aren’t expected to be accessible on their days off.
The other family-friendly aspect is that in most cases you are paid for the amount you work, and practices/partners are okay with individuals working less (and being paid less) during times when they need more time at home. There are also different practice settings that allow even more flexibility (e.g. outpatient/office-based anesthesia) and predictable work hours (e.g. pain clinic).
Overall, the most important thing is that you enjoy your specialty, work environment, and what you do day to day. No lifestyle is pleasant if you are doing something you don’t enjoy.
What are how this specialty encourages and supports inclusiveness and diversity?
The American Society of Anesthesiologists has a national diversity committee that encourages mentorship, sponsorship and coaching of women and underrepresented minorities in our field. The ASA facilitates networking and actively recruits diverse speakers, panels, and committees. That said, there is still significant work that needs to be done to bring diversity, inclusiveness and equity to our field.
What are the most important qualities or character traits for a person in this field?
Valuable traits include the following: honesty, strong work ethic, leadership abilities, emotional intelligence, empathy, vigilance, ability to think and communicate in fast-paced settings, appropriate humility, attention to detail.
HOW CAN STUDENTS BEST EXPLORE AND PREPARE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ANESTHESIOLOGY
What can students do during F1 to explore and/or prepare for this career?
Planning considerations for F2?
At UCSF all medical students complete an Anesthesiology rotation at Parnassus, Mission Bay or the VA.
Planning considerations for Career Launch?
What resources (e.g., websites, books, professional groups) would you recommend for students interested in learning more about this field?
The UCSF Anesthesia Interest Group is the best resource for UCSF students because the advice and information is tailored to UCSF students. Other sources include the ASA medical student section, the Society for Education in Anesthesia and the ACGME.
How competitive are the residency programs in this specialty?
Over the years, residency in anesthesia has waxed and waned in competitiveness and desirability. Currently, anesthesiology is considered quite competitive. An average resident applicant from a US allopathic medical school applies to 18 programs.
When should students contact the specialty residency advisor? The confidential advisor?
You may contact confidential or main anesthesiology specialty residency advisors at any time, and are encouraged to do so! We are happy to chat on the phone or set up a meeting to discuss any aspect of your career exploration and help answer questions you may have.
How important are each of the following for admission to a competitive program?
Extracurricular leadership efforts
Demonstration of leadership qualities
USMLE Step 1 and 2 Scores
Top Tier Medical School
*F2 Honors grades only relevant to Class of 2020 (or students who did F2 before fall 2018). Grades in core clerkships have been very important to anesthesiology residency programs. Without honors in core clerkships, sub-internship grades and USMLE scores will likely become more important.
How can students best find mentors?
During your F1 Anesthesiology rotation you will have the opportunity to meet and work closely with many anesthesiology residents and faculty members. These clinical preceptors often end up becoming great career mentors. You may also set up an appointment with a designated Anesthesiology career advisor at any time: these faculty members have experience mentoring students through the residency application process. Additionally, scholarly project mentors are also great resources for advice and information.
How can students evaluate their chances of matching?
Please set a meeting with a confidential or main anesthesiology specialty residency advisor to go over all aspects of your application. Grades, exam scores, evaluation comments, research, extracurricular activities, awards and recognition, flexibility with geographic location and couples matching are all considerations. Every UCSF student can match in Anesthesiology! Independently you can review data published by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) including the yearly Program Director’s Surveys and Charting Outcomes in the Match. But UCSF advisors will make sure you are set up for success going into the process.
How competitive is the job market after residency?
The competitiveness of the job market fluctuates year to year and depends on the anesthesiologist’s degree of specialization. However, in general there are many anesthesiology jobs that need to be filled every year and almost everyone is able to find a spot in a practice location and type they desire.
RESIDENCY APPLICATION IN ANESTHESIOLOGY
How many letters of recommendation are required and from which types of specialties?
You should secure 3 letters of recommendation from clinical preceptors. We recommend 1-2 letters of recommendation from anesthesiologists who can speak to your clinical performance well. 1-2 additional letters are often from intensivists, medicine internists or surgeons. If you have a significant research or extracurricular mentor, they may write a fourth letter.
Does the department write a letter of recommendation for the student?
You may request a departmental letter of recommendation from your rotation course director or site director.
Advice on writing personal statements?
This is your chance to write a short narrative that tells program directors and admissions committees something about who you are as a person that is unique, compelling and/or demonstrative of grit and resilience. It is not important to tell anesthesiologists what they do, but more important to tell us what makes you a compelling candidate. Also, it is important to show acceptable writing skills and attention to detail. Do not make spelling or grammatical errors. Do not use run-on sentences. Do not recite your CV. This is an excellent place to explain a leave of absence or any interruption in your training as well as any potential application deficiencies.
How many programs do students typically apply to?
We recommend most UCSF students apply to at least 20 programs and rank at least 10 programs. This advice may vary depending on factors such as grades, exam scores, flexibility with geographic location and couples matching.
What types of variations in training programs are there (eg, different tracks, different lengths)?
Internship can be in medicine, transitional, surgery, pediatrics or OB/GYN, but more programs are integrating the internship into the residency (called “categorical” tracks). After the Intern year, the anesthesia residency is 3 years long. If desired there is fellowship training in a variety of areas that are each one year long and include:
What programs have been popular among UCSF applicants, or how should applicants go about considering programs?
UCSF medical students are considered strong candidates for many excellent programs, including UCSF, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MGH, Johns Hopkins, University of Washington, Stanford, Columbia, UCLA, UCSD, Duke, Oregon, Wash U, and others. Career goals, philosophy of training program, structure and location are often considered more important to many applicants than the so-called “tier” of the program.
Is this Match through the NRMP or another matching service?
The anesthesiology match is through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and most programs use the AAMC’s common Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application.
What are the important topics or themes to include in a personal statement?
This is your chance to write a short narrative that tells program directors and admissions committees something about who you are as a person that is unique, compelling and/or demonstrative of grit and resilience. It is not important to tell anesthesiologists what they do, but more important to tell us what makes you a compelling candidate. Also, it is important to show acceptable writing skills and attention to detail. Do not make spelling or grammatical errors. Do not use run-on sentences. Do not recite your CV.
How can applicants best prepare for interviews?
Have an authentic “elevator pitch” about who you are. Know the details of your application well and be able to have engaging conversation about these things. Stay engaged and interested throughout your interview day and ask appropriate questions about the programs. Read up on the program and identify a talking point or two about the specific program. Show interest in the interests of your interviewers.
What is the etiquette for contact with residency programs after interviews have been completed?
The NRMP provides strict regulations regarding the content of post-interview communications. Its official policy states, “Both applicants and programs may express their interest in each other; however, they shall not solicit verbal or written statements implying a commitment.” Additionally, neither party can suggest that his or her own rank order is contingent on promises from the other party. Unfortunately, post-interview communications are common, a source of stress, and frequently misleading. You should not make false or ambiguous statements in order to garner some perceived benefit. And you should be cautious about overinterpreting ambiguous statements made by residency programs. Almost all programs report that post-interview communication does not impact their rank lists.
Grimm LJ, Avery CS, Maxfield CM. Residency Postinterview Communications: More Harm Than Good?. J Grad Med Educ. 2016;8(1):7–9. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-15-00062.1
We recommend sending a single simple short email to the residency program leadership letting them know that you enjoyed your interview day. Do not write an essay. You may share your interest with programs but do not tell multiple programs you are ranking them number 1. Also, telling a program you are ranking them near the top of your list simply means you are not ranking them first. Do not bother with this detail.
How many programs do students typically rank?
We recommend UCSF students to rank at least 10 anesthesiology programs. This advice may vary depending on factors such as grades, exam scores, flexibility with geographic location and couples matching.
FINDING A MENTOR
What advice would you give to students interested in your field to help them establish effective mentors?
Our department has regular meeting of the Anesthesia Interest Group that will include faculty who are confidential and non-confidential advisors, as well as current residents in the program. Please email Vasilis Tabakis to get on the AIG email list, and attend the meetings. Based on those, decide who to meet with as an advisor/mentor. It is useful to get the perspective of a resident in addition to faculty.
Who can students talk with when they want to find mentors?
AIG meetings, UCSF SOM list of confidential and non-confidential advisors.
Are there specific faculty or staff in your department who have an interest in supporting students underrepresented in medicine (URM)?
Our vice chair for diversity is Dr. Odi Ehie
Specialty content reviewed and updated in 2019
Michael Waul
Ryan
Arakaki
Statistics on UCSF students in 2020-2022 who were matched into Dermatology residency programs:
What can students do in the 1st and 2nd years to explore and/or prepare for this career?
Since exposure to dermatology is rare during the 1 st and 2 nd years of medical school, the key is getting involved:
What common variations exist in the length/content of residency programs for this career?
What common variations exist in this career after training?
There are four post-residency fellowship opportunities:
What is a typical workday for someone in this field?
Depends on chosen subspecialty. The typical dermatologist will see 30-50 patients a day with a mix of procedures, cosmetics, medical dermatology visits. Almost all dermatologists do quite a bit of surgery: dermatologists do a number of surgical procedures (biopsies, cancer excisions) as well as cosmetic procedures (botulinum toxin, filler, chemical peels, lasers, liposuction, vein sclerotherapy). Most dermatologists have nights and weekends off though the high clinical volume requires a significant amount of pager call (i.e. answering phone calls). Since the specialty is primarily outpatient, the typical workday starts at 8am and ends at 6pm. Some dermatologists that are affiliated with large hospitals may be part of inpatient dermatology consult services (typically seen after the clinic day ends).
What is the culture of this career?
How compatible is this career with raising a family? How is this different for men and women?
Most dermatologists enjoy excellent work-life balance due to a largely outpatient practice, no inpatient/ overnight call, and flexible days worked.
What are the most important qualities or character traits for a person in this field?
How competitive are the residency programs in this field?
This is a relatively competitive residency program process. The typical applicant applies to 60-80 programs, will be invited to 5-15 interviews. Each interview will entail 1-2 days visiting a program and having approximately 8-10 individual or panel interviews typically lasting ~10-20 minutes each during that visit. The 2014 AAMC data for outcomes from the match for dermatology are:
Students at UCSF typically do very well with the residency match process. The key is to have good mentorship throughout the application process, including an individual or two (typically academic faculty) who will mentor you and advocate on your behalf through writing you a highly individualized letter of recommendation and calling programs to support your application.
How competitive is the job market after residency?
Depends on the type of practice and geographic location. Job opportunities for dermatopathologists and dermatologic surgeons are rare in the big cities but there is a great need for these specialists in more suburban/rural locations. Pediatric and medical dermatologists are highly sought after, though some cities are saturated (NYC, LA, SF). There is a tremendous need for general dermatologists (individuals who do all types of dermatology) in rural areas.
The average starting salary of a general dermatologist who works 4-5 days a week in an urban setting (2016) is approximately $325,000.
What programs have been popular among UCSF applicants, or how should applicants go about considering programs?
The top dermatology programs in the country include UCSF, UCLA, U Penn, NYU, Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, Northwestern.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply broadly across the United States. The typical applicant will apply to 60-80 programs though an extremely strong candidate could successfully match with 30-40 applications. Research-oriented applicants to the 2+2 program would likely apply to 30-40 programs as there are fewer programs nationwide that support such research-oriented trainees.
Key considerations include: opportunity to see a broad variety of diseases, types of patients, opportunity to work in different clinical settings (VA, county system, upscale practice, community practice, inpatient hospital), availability of experts in different specialties (ie pediatric dermatology, hospital dermatology, dermatologic surgery, dermatopathology), the size of a program (ranges from 3-21 residents), clinical teaching faculty, didactic curriculum (is it resident-led or faculty-taught?), research opportunities (if desired), track record with developing academic careers/mentorship. Cost of living is also an important consideration for individuals applying to residency.
Please note that there can be a disconnect between the reputation of a medical school and the dermatology residency training (i.e. there are SUPERB dermatology residency programs at medical schools that you may have never heard of (and vice versa). It is important to review the list of programs with a mentor.
What resources (eg, websites, books, professional groups) would you recommend for students interested in learning more about this field?
How important is each the following for admission to a competitive program?
Extracurricular/
volunteer work
Recommend more significant involvement in a few organizations rather than superficial involvement in many; leadership positions are notable.
Recommend research in dermatology >> other specialties. Original research papers are more highly regarded over case reports (500 words).
If an applicant has strong research background in another field (such as PhD in basic science or in another medical specialty), it is still recommended that they do some research in dermatology.
Honors in third year
Strong candidates have honors in >50% 3 rd -year clerkships. At the most competitive programs, honors in all clerkships is typical of the applicants who are ranked highly. Honors in core rotations such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics is especially important.
May consider an away elective on the east coast or mid-west if the student is “born, raised, and schooled” entirely in California. There is significant geographic bias in the residency selection process whereby individuals who have done all of their schooling in California typically do not leave the west coast and thus are disadvantaged when applying to mid-west or East coast programs. Consider doing an away elective at NYU, U Penn, Harvard, Columbia. This should be discussed with a mentor.
Other: experience in dermatology (clinical, research, or otherwise)
It is virtually impossible for a student to match in dermatology if they have never done a clinical rotation, research project, or volunteer experience in dermatology.
Letters of recommendation
Need 2-3 VERY STRONG letters of recommendation from dermatologists, ideally well-known (senior) academic dermatologists.
Timing: The letters (and ERAS application) are due October 1 st of 4 th year so please give your letter writers at least 4 weeks to write your letter. It is important to note that if you are scheduled to do a dermatology elective in September, it will likely not be possible to get a letter of recommendation from that elective as there will not be enough time for the letter-writer to get to know you well enough to write a high quality letter.
Goals: An ideal application includes 3 strong dermatology references and an excellent letter of support from internal medicine. Your letter writers should speak about your clinical skills, your research excellence, your personal attributes (not every letter writer needs to address all points but they should be covered somewhere and you can direct letter writers to cover a particular topic if you do not think it will be covered by other writers.)
Please note: if you have a dermatology research mentor at another institution (ie from a summer experience), it is still very important to get a letter from your home school (ie UCSF) to demonstrate that you have connected with your home department; because you are a UCSF student, it is highly likely that faculty at other schools will call faculty at UCSF to inquire about you.
What are my chances of matching? Is it too late to consider dermatology as a specialty?
We highly recommend that you meet with your mentor AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to review your board scores, clinical grades, CV, and discuss your career goals. You advisor can help you estimate your chances of matching and areas of your application that you may wish to strengthen, and whether you need to take a year off to develop your commitment to dermatology. If you have any areas of grave concern (i.e. very low board score, failed a clerkship), please discuss with one of the residency program directors or the confidential dermatology advisor as they have more experience in strategies for dealing with this.
Is it too late? It is generally not recommended to try to apply in dermatology if you have not had any clinical or research experience in dermatology by the summer of 4 th year. Why: you will not have enough experience in dermatology or connections to get strong support for your application. In these cases, it may be worth taking time off, or applying to internship only, and pursuing a clinical or research fellowship in dermatology after internship, then applying later.
Once you apply, you'll know a lot based on the number of interviews you get. The magic number of interviews that suggests a high likelihood of matching is around 7. If you have fewer than 4, you may want to consider a backup plan. Not matching is not a disaster; the match rate for second round applicants is still high. Most of the individuals who match on the second try do so with a notably improved application with new publications, fellowship experiences, etc – i.e. do not submit the same application as in 4 th year. Third and fourth attempts to match are generally not successful.
What should I do if my board scores are low?
• Electives and research experiences for students with scores lower than 225 can be key.
Some programs do screen applicants based on scores and if they know you, they are more likely to pull your file for an interview anyway. Some options for students with lower board scores include: taking a year off and doing a productive research project, doing a research fellowship (after internship) in clinical research, cutaneous oncology, psoriasis, hair/nail, etc.
• A word on taking a year off between 3 rd and 4 th year: It is not essential but may be recommended if other components of your application are weak. However, please note that a research year must be productive and highly mentored. A year without publication or some other tangible result may hurt rather than help.
• If you are planning to take a year off, you should contact the program director(s) of the Pathway relevant to your interests (e.g., Clinical and Translational Research, Molecular Medicine, Global Health) < http://meded.ucsf.edu/pathways/five-pathways > so that you can find out options for funding and important application deadlines. In addition to the general intramural funding within UCSF, students may be able to apply simultaneously for funding through specific programs depending on their interests. For example, students with basic science projects can apply for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Research Fellows Program (this award is highly competitive). Students with global health projects can apply for Doris Duke International Clinical Research Fellowship. Students from underrepresented in medicine backgrounds and students interested in health disparities research (regardless of background) can apply for funding through PROF-PATH (Promoting Research Opportunities Fully – Prospective Academics Transforming Health). Deadlines for these applications are relatively early. Students must meet with advisory college mentors, program directors, and mentors before submitting a letter of intent to pursue a yearlong project in October of MS3. Project proposals are initially reviewed in December, and final submissions (including multiple letters of recommendation) are due in January. The process requires significant planning, so it is advisable to identify a mentor and project as early as possible. Overall, about 70% of students applying for Pathways are funded. Additional derm-specific funding sources may be available through the American Dermatology Association, American Skin Association, North American Contact Dermatitis Society, and American Acne and Rosacea Society.
Advice on personal statements?
What do I do if I am asked to draft my own letter of recommendation?
Should I apply in something else as a back-up plan?
• This should be discussed with your mentor or with the confidential dermatology advisor. First, it is logistically very difficult to interview for dermatology, internship, and a 2 nd specialty at the same time, unless the internship program (ie internal medicine) is the same as the 2 nd specialty. You do not want to create such a hectic interview schedule that you show up to your dermatology interview(s) exhausted!
• If you have been counseled that your chances of matching in dermatology are very low, but you still wish to apply: consider applying broadly in dermatology (plus internship) and your 2 nd specialty and see where you get interviews. If you get only 1-2 dermatology interviews, then it will likely be possible to interview in both specialties, and then list dermatology at the top of your rank list. However, if you decide to rank the 2 nd specialty, do so with caution. If you are even remotely a good candidate for dermatology, you will likely be a very strong candidate for a 2 nd specialty and may match in that specialty. Because matching is a binding agreement, it will be very difficult to switch later. Bottom line: it is important to decide whether your priority is to match in dermatology (and risk not matching, then apply again later) or whether your priority is to match in something (then okay to rank both specialties). Please seek advice and mentorship if you are considering this.
How do I find a research mentor? What type of research should I do?
• Join the DIG mentoring program: there is individualized pairing of mentees/ mentors. This person will be your main career mentor. It’s okay if their research interest isn’t exactly aligned with yours – they will be a very valuable resource to help you find research mentors/ projects either here at UCSF or at another institution.
• Look at the UCSF Department of Dermatology website for research interests of faculty and contact a mentor directly. After establishing a mentorship relationship, it is advisable to notify the current career advisors for dermatology. The advisors play an important role in the application process (including responding to outside programs’ inquiries about students), so it is best if they are familiar with your derm-related projects/activities.
• It is strongly recommended that you limit the number of mentors to focus on deeper relationships rather than talking with/ doing research with many mentors. There are limited mentors in the department so consider switching mentors if you feel that a mentoring relationship isn’t working rather than accumulating multiple mentors. It is also strongly recommended that your primary mentor is somebody other than the residency program director or the confidential derm advisor.
• Consider what types of projects you have time for. Remember that any clinical research will likely entail writing an IRB or recruiting patients and will require time – a summer at the very least but more likely a year off. Though first year seems very busy, it is one of the least busy years of medical school and possibly the best time to engage in a research project if you are managing the academic load well. The summer between 1 st and 2 nd year, 2 nd year, and 4 th year are other good times to pursue ongoing research. It is very difficult to do research during 3 rd year. Be transparent with your mentors about what types of obligations you have with school or clerkships to ensure that your timeline meets theirs. In general, it is recommended to consider some type of clinical case series or clinical review (which is almost guaranteed publication) in addition to an original research project (which are typically more time consuming and not guaranteed to be published).
• Aim to submit your research publications by the summer of 4 th year at the latest. The ERAS application will require you to list submitted manuscripts separate from works that are published; in general submitted manuscripts are not as highly regarded because there was a study that demonstrated that very few manuscripts listed as submitted were ultimately published (this study was done specifically on dermatology applicants).
• Please note: it is not necessary to do multiple research projects with different faculty (in fact this is strongly discouraged).
• It is imperative to make every attempt to FINISH any projects that you start, and to complete them according to your research mentor’s expected timeline; failure to fulfill a project commitment or to meet a deadline may result in losing your research mentor’s support and possibly even their willingness to write you a letter of support.
• There are several opportunities to engage in research during residency and in fellowships. A 2+2 program or a year off are not the last opportunity and are not required to have an academic career.
• Think about funding options – some are general funding, while others are more relevant depending on the research project. Do your homework and ask your mentor if any of these funding options make sense: Dean’s research award, grants through CTSI RAP program, American Dermatology Association grant, American Skin Association, North American Contact Dermatitis Society.
What 3 rd year clerkship program should I do? (Traditional, VALOR, MODEL SFGH, PISCES, KLIC, LIFE, etc)
Planning considerations for 3 rd year:
Consider doing the 140.01 elective (2 week basic dermatology elective), if available/ feasible. It is strongly recommended to do this in the second half of the year, after you have more clinical experience under your belt, as you would want to perform strongly in this rotation. However, a benefit of taking it earlier (in the first half of the year) would be if you are torn between two potential future specialties and want to make a decision sooner rather than later. This would be an important point to discuss with your mentor.
Planning considerations for 4 th year: remember, ERAS application must be completed by October 1 st , which is when the dean’s letter (aka MSPE) is uploaded. Oct 1 is the deadline for a majority of dermatology programs. Keep in mind that ERAS application opens September 15 th which is often when a majority students submit their internal medicine application (relevant if you are applying into an internal medicine preliminary/transitional year). Thus it may be worthwhile to submit your application by September 15 th . Some preliminary internal medicine programs do send out interview invitations in the time between Sept 15 th and Oct 1 st .
• Try to do dermatology as early as possible. Take the 140.01 basic 2 week elective back-to-back with the 2 week 140.08 advanced elective. You will choose the focus of your 140.08 elective when you arrive for the 140.01 (as faculty schedules/ availability changes). Consider doing a 150.01 research elective during the late spring or early summer to finish up writing any manuscripts you have been working on so that you can submit them as early in the summer as possible.
• Do your medicine sub-I in the beginning of your 4 th year - late spring/early summer. It is preferable to have your medicine sub-I grade before your application is due, and this is often where some students choose to get one of their Medicine letters of recommendation.
• Take USMLE Step 2 CK at a time so that your score will be reported on your ERAS application (ideally before September 1)
• Plan for any away electives to be during the summer (ideally before September 1 st ) if you are planning to get a letter of recommendation from that rotation (see above table on letters of recommendation).
• Do you need to do an away elective? Consider it if: you are “born, raised, schooled” exclusively in California (see #12 table above), if you have a particular program that you would like to match in (consider this an “audition” rotation), or if you have nothing to lose (i.e. you are not a strong candidate because of grades, board scores, but you would really like to try to match because you feel that your personality/clinical skills shine best in person). If you “look perfect” on paper, there are potential risks to doing an away elective and it may be in your best interest to not rotate outside of UCSF. However, doing an away elective is by no means a guarantee that you will get a letter of recommendation or an interview from that institution.
• You do not need to do multiple away electives. Presumably, you will be a dermatologist in the future so you should instead take the necessary electives to prepare yourself for internship (i.e. how to read an EKG, radiology, procedures courses, cardiology, ID, rheumatology elective, etc).
• Plan to take the entire month of January and possibly also December (if possible) for interviews. As it may be difficult to navigate with limited vacation time, you may consider doing a more flexible research month. Most dermatology interviews are in January and are only offered on 1 day so it is imperative that your schedule is as flexible as possible.
• An overview of highlights of the 4 th year are:
- June-mid-August: peak season for doing dermatology electives, derm research, one sub-I (preferably medicine unless you are pursuing pediatric internship year – in that case, then a pediatric sub-I is more relevant), taking Step 2 CK, and writing your personal statement
- mid-August: recommend to take Step 2 CK before this date, as it will require approximately 4-6 weeks to get your scores posted to your ERAS file. It is strongly recommended, though not essential, to have your Step 2 CK score included on your ERAS file; it is an important data point for many programs. If you have a weak Step 1 score, it is IMPERATIVE to have your Step 2 CK score included on your ERAS file (hopefully improved). Please take Step 2 CS according to the SOM guidelines (not an important consideration for dermatology residency)
- ERAS application opens in mid-August or early September so you can begin to work on your application online (without officially sending it to programs yet)
- September 1: last day to ask faculty to write a letter of recommendation. This is not a firm deadline but more of a suggestion of courtesy – giving a faculty member 4 weeks to write a letter is standard and the letter is due in final form by October 1 st . This means that it may be important to do any dermatology elective with a faculty member from whom you are hoping to get a letter at the latest in August.
- September 15 th – First possible day to submit your application on ERAS. This is often when a majority of internal medicine applicants submit their application. This is relevant if you are doing a preliminary/transitional internal medicine year. Some prelim programs send out interview invitations between Sept 15 th and Oct 1 st .
- October 1 st : MSPE (aka Dean’s letter) is posted. Most programs download their apps on this day so it is essential that all of your application and letters are submitted before this date.
- October/ November/December: preliminary year interviews
- January >>> December: dermatology interviews
- mid-February: rank lists are due
What’s the most important piece of advice for a student applying in dermatology?
• MENTORSHIP is the key to successfully matching in dermatology. If you are considering a career in dermatology, it would be worthwhile to (a) join the DIG and (b) establish a relationship with a dermatology mentor, and to do these as early as possible. Please note that it is not necessary to meet with multiple mentors (and in fact is strongly recommended against). You should have a key career mentor (which you can get through the DIG mentorship program) and perhaps also a research mentor (if you are doing research in an area outside of your career mentor). It would be worthwhile to meet with ONE of the residency program directors (currently Kanade Shinkai and Erin Mathes) or the confidential dermatology advisor (Amanda “Mandy” Raymond) at some point when you have officially decided to apply in dermatology; please note it is only necessary to meet with ONE of them, not all three.
• Attend as many DIG workshops/panel discussions as possible. These are HIGH-YIELD sessions and can make your mentorship meetings more individualized to discussions re: your specific career goals, needs.
• Please consult your mentor frequently to help you navigate the residency application process. Key decisions:
What advice would you give to students interested in your field to help them establish effective mentors?
Join the Dermatology Interest Group (DIG), students will be paired with a mentor via DIG membership.
Who can students talk with when they want to find mentors?
The DIG website and joining the DIG.
Are there specific faculty or staff in your department who have an interest in supporting students underrepresented in medicine (URM)?
Kanade Shinkai and Haley Naik
Specialty content reviewed and updated in 2020
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Maya Vella
Statistics on UCSF students in 2020-2022 who were matched into Diagnostic Radiology residency programs:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT A CAREER IN DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY
What are some common variations in a career path in this specialty?
Trainees typically complete a fellowship after residency in a radiologic subspecialty of their choice. Fellowships last one to two years (most are one). Examples include cardiopulmonary, abdominal, neuro, pediatrics, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, breast, and musculoskeletal. After fellowship, the three most common practice settings are academics, private practice, or teleradiology (remote reading from a centralized locale, which is less common than the other two). Some people focus on only a small subfield of radiology, some remain generalists, and some focus on procedures. There are a variety of ways to practice depending on what niche you find most appealing.
What is a typical workday like?
Typical work hours are 8am to 5pm. However, radiology services are offered 24 hours a day in many centers. Call schedules vary widely based on the type of practice environment one chooses.
What is the culture of this specialty?
Radiologists are often calm, personable, and have varied interests, given the relatively controlled practice setting. Particularly in busier subfields and in many private practice settings, the work load does require a great deal of focused attention and intensity. Radiologists are almost always intellectually curious and enjoy problem-solving. Radiologists tend to be respectful towards one another, and there is an overall acknowledgment of the importance of a work-life balance.
What are the ways in which this career path may support or challenge having a family?
A career in radiology is very compatible with raising a family. One benefit is that the job is essentially shift work, so hours are predictable and regular. Many trainees have children during residency.
What are the ways in which this specialty encourages and supports inclusiveness and diversity?
Radiologists come from many backgrounds and provide care for a wide breath of patients.
Radiologists are spending more time with patients, performing image-guided procedures and discussing imaging studies. Diverse experiences and perspectives promote cultural competency, which creates a positive experience for patients during these interactions.
A diverse healthcare workforce in radiology, as in other medical services, will help expand healthcare access for diverse communities we serve, including those who are traditionally underserved. Additionally, fostering research among these populations will enrich the pool of managers and policymakers to meet the needs of a diverse populace (Cohen et al. 2002. Health Affairs).
What are the most important qualities or character traits for a person in this field ?
Academic curiosity, problem-solving ability, ability to focus when multiple distractions may be present
HOW CAN STUDENTS BEST EXPLORE AND PREPARE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY
What can students do during F1 to explore and/or prepare for this career?
Planning considerations for F2?
Consider a ClEx elective in Diagnostic or Interventional Radiology. A required radiology curriculum is presented during IDS 113.
Planning considerations for Career Launch?
Plan to take an elective rotation in radiology before applications are due in September. We generally recommend that students applying in radiology take either Rad 140.19 or an IR elective. If you have any questions as to which elective is most appropriate you can visit the following website for descriptions or contact us for advising: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/education/medical-students
What resources (e.g., websites, books, professional groups) would you recommend for students interested in learning more about this field?
How competitive are the residency programs in this specialty?
Very competitive
When should students contact the specialty residency advisor? The confidential advisor?
Contact the confidential advisor as soon as you think you might have an interest in radiology. It’s never too early!
How important is each the following for admission to a competitive program?
