Rational and Objectives:



Choosing your Specialty - Thinking Outside the Box

For Consideration at the 2011 Fall SOMA Convention

Presented by Joshua Coren, DO, MBA and Christopher Zipp, DO, M.S.

Please see rational, objectives, references, and bios below.

Rational:

From the first days of medical school, students continuously asked what specialty they are most interested in pursuing as a future career. Most medical students struggle to answer this question. The eventual decision making process by a medical student is complicated and linked to multiple variables.1-3 Despite the importance and necessity of this decision that every student must make, there exists a paucity of formal education for medical students on the subject of choosing a specialty.

To that end, medical students educate themselves regarding specialty choice. The typical self-education begins with speaking to fellow students, friends and relatives regarding specialty choice. The self-education then typically turns to the internet, where the student seeks salary information and blogs for anecdotal information about specialty and residency choices. Studies have shown that, unfortunately, various financial factors do have an impact on a medical student’s career selection.4-7

Given the lack of experience of the medical students, it is a daunting task to consider all of the aspects of practicing medicine in a chosen specialty. Many students have a fundamental understanding of what specialties have to offer, but do not understand the range of options they have in practicing medicine. Further, once the student chooses a specialty, they often have difficulty understanding the important considerations when trying to choose a residency program

Given the decline in students seeking primary care residencies, and the lack of education that the medical schools provide on choosing a residency, Dr. Joshua Coren, Associate Professor of Family Medicine - UMDNJ-SOM and Dr. Christopher Zipp, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine - UMDNJ-SOM developed “Choosing your Specialty- Thinking outside the box” a one hour interactive lecture that discusses specialty and residency choices without bias. The hour will be an approximately 50 minute interactive Powerpoint presentation with a 10 minute open question and answer period.

During this hour myths about specialties and residencies are dispelled and participants are taught to focus on key self- examination questions to prepare them for choosing a career path. The lecturers will focus on essential skills needed to formally select a career by examining specialty impact on lifestyle, training, scope of practice, demand, and setting. Participants will be encouraged to pose questions and comments throughout the lecture to allow for an interactive discussion.

Objectives:

By the end of this presentation students will:

• Learn to consider the role scope of practice, practice venue and practice location when choosing a specialty.

• Learn to consider the different demands placed on physicians working in various settings such as academia, solo practice, partner practice and hospitals.

• Learn to consider to what extent continuity of care and lifestyle play in choosing a specialty.

• Understand key considerations when choosing a residency

References:

1) Bland CJ, Meurer LN, Maldonado G. Determinants of primary care specialty choice: a non-statistical meta-analysis of the literature. Acad Med 1995;70:620-41.

2) Osborn EH. Factors influencing students’ choices of primary care or other specialties. Acad Med 1993;68:572-4.

3) Wright B, Scott I, Woloschuk W, Brenneis F, Bradley J. Career choice of new medical students at three Canadian universities: family medicine versus specialty medicine. CMAJ 2004;170:1920-4.

4) Marci CD, Roberts TG. The increasing debt of medical students: how much is too much? JAMA 1998;280:1879-80.

5) Pugno PA, McPherson DS, Schmittling GT, Kahn NB Jr. Results of the 2001 National Resident Matching Program: family practice. Fam Med 2001;33(8):594-601.

6) Rosenblatt RA, Andrilla CHA. The impact of US medical students’ debt on their choice of primary care careers: an analysis of data from the 2002 Medical School Graduation Questionnaire Report. Acad Med 2005;80:815-9.

7) Thornton J, Esposto F. How important are economic factors in choice of medical specialty? Health Econ 2003;12:67-73.

Bios:

Joshua S. Coren, D.O., MBA, is a board certified osteopathic family physician that received his master of business administration from Saint Joseph's University in 2000, was awarded his doctorate of osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002, and completed his internship and residency as chief family medicine resident at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM) in 2005. At UMDNJ-SOM, he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Medical Director of the University Doctors Hainesport Office, and Course Director for the 3rd Year Family Medicine Clerkship. Dr. Coren is also the Chair for the New Physician's and Resident's Program Committee of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and actively participates as a leader within ACOFP at both the committee level and as a past Resident Academic Member of the Board of Governors. Dr. Coren published in multiple peer reviewed journals such as Family Practice Management, Consultant, JAOA, and Journal of Addiction Medicine in areas such as Moonlighting, Practice Marketing, and other Clinical Topics. Dr. Coren was awarded the 2005 Emerging Leader Award in Teaching from the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine, the 2008 American Osteopathic Foundation Emerging Leader Award, and the 2010 ACOFP Young Physician of the Year Award. Dr. Coren lectures nationally on various business, clinical, and cultural competency topics.

Christopher Zipp, D.O., M.S., is a board certified osteopathic family physician that received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Seton Hall University and Masters of Science in Biology from Rutgers University. A lifelong New Jersey native, Dr. Zipp worked as a research scientist for many years prior to attending medical school at The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM). Upon graduation from medical school, he completed an internship and residency in Family Medicine at Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where he also served as Chief Resident. After two years in private practice in Morristown, New Jersey, Dr. Zipp rejoined his medical school alma mater as clinical faculty. Dr. Zipp currently serves as the medical director of the Washington Township Medical Office Building for Family Medicine. Additionally, he is the Program Director for the UMDNJ-SOM Family Medicine Residency and serves as the Professionalism Director for the UMDNJ-SOM Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Zipp also serves as the Chair for the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) In Service Exam Committee and most recently received the 2011 ACOFP Young Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year Award and 2010 American Osteopathic Foundation Emerging Leader Award.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download