Family Medicine Residency Applicant Academy

Critical Training for International Medical School Graduates Applying To A Family Medicine Residency

More than 40% of current family medicine residents are International Medical Graduates (IMGs), and this proportion is increasing. While these physicians bring a wealth of diversity in cross-cultural backgrounds, IMG residents and family medicine residency programs both report that some IMGs struggle with adjusting to the US medical system and meeting training requirements due to issues with cultural competency, communication skills, and medical decision-making skills. Many family medicine programs lack the resources to develop high-level programs to orient residents to the US health care system and prepare them to enter residency.

Family Medicine Residency Applicant Academy

To address this critical educational gap, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine has created two different training programs targeted to the needs of IMGs who want to train as family physicians. These programs are an initiative of STFM in response to the Future of Family Medicine recommendation related to workforce. The first program, the STFM Entering Resident Academy, was successfully launched in May 2007. This fall, STFM will launch a new offering in its Family Medicine Residency Applicant Academy for individuals who are preparing for interviews in family medicine residency programs.

This Academy is intended to maximize IMGs potential as entering residents and prepare them for interviews in family medicine residency programs. The workshop will (a) inform participants what family medicine is and its value to the healthcare system, (b) help participants frame their knowledge and skills in ways that directly relate to family medicine residency programs, (c) enhance the participants’ knowledge of the US health care system so they can express their experiences in ways that relate to that system, and (d) refine the participants’ interpersonal and communication skills that they will use in residency interviews.

Each participant will work with partners/groups to practice communications skills, such as responding to interview questions, and will receive faculty and peer feedback that will help them prepare for a successful career in family medicine.

Faculty: The Academy will be led by a core group of family medicine residency faculty who are knowledgeable about the structure of family medicine education in various settings and the issues IMGs face as part of the interview process. For a list of faculty, click here.

Dates and Eligibility: STFM will offer the Residency Applicant Academy in Chicago from September 16-18, 2007 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center (phone: 630-719-8000).

Features: This program will address the needs of IMGs who have passed the US Medical Licensing Examinations Steps 1 and 2. These individuals possess significant medical knowledge but may struggle with (a) defining family medicine as a specialty, (b) showing how they can apply their medical knowledge and patient care skills in the US health care system, and (c) performing well in interviews in family medicine residency programs.

The training session will cover the following topics:

• The specialty of family medicine: its value and contribution to American and global health care
• Family medicine residency programs: core requirements, variations, and settings
• What patients and families expect from the family physician
• Residency education and the ACGME competencies. How the competencies will be assessed and why they are important to you, your patients, and your professional development.
• Applying to residency training programs: how to identify programs that will fit your needs
• How to present yourself as the strongest candidate possible: What programs are seeking in trainees. How you can prepare yourself for the interview process. How to respond to difficult questions or case examples.
• Rules, regulations and the role of the resident: duty hours, employment contracts, status changes, evaluation processes, and expectations
• Documentation: using EMRs, dictation systems, and guidance about how to record patient data. HIPAA compliance
• Cross-cultural aspects of patient care in the United States
• Health care systems and teams

Prerequisites for Course:

No more than 5 years since med school graduation or clinical work as a physician

Completion of all ECFMG requirements and examinations

Applicants must have passing scores within three attempts on each of the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 (CK and CS).

Willingness to engage in peer feedback and coaching

Schedule: You will need to arrive at the hotel, ready to begin by 4 pm on Day 1. The conference will end at noon on Day 3.

Fees: The fee for the Residency Applicant Academy is $899. The registration price includes some meals, Academy materials, networking opportunities, and more. Participants are responsible for their own travel costs.

Dress: Business casual

More Information: Contact Stacy Brungardt, CAE, STFM, 800-274-2237, ext. 5406, sbrungardt@stfm.org, with questions about the program.