FIT Update

FIT Update: Life After Fellowship, Finding the Right Job for You

Aaron Martin, MD

@amartin187

ost fellowship curricula are M focused on training fellows to manage disease and perform procedures with little guidance regarding career development. After a decade of centralized applications and match algorithms many fellows are lost when it comes to their first job search. I created this guide to provide an action plan and timeline for gastroenterology fellows at all levels preparing for their future careers.

First Year of Fellowship Find a mentor. You have heard this countless times during your medical training, but when it comes to career planning finding a mentor is a necessity. A career development mentor will help you set goals, form a timeline, make connections, and, not only expose you to various career paths, but also help you identify the best fit for you. Finding a mentor can be challenging, but the inpatient heavy first year allows the opportunity to work side-by-side with multiple faculty members. Identify someone who has experience navigating tough career decisions and with whom you enjoy spending time. This will allow for comfortable, open communication as your mentor assists you in choosing the career path that is right for you.

Second Year of Fellowship Do some soul searching. While some trainees enter fellowship with predefined career goals, many fellows are unsure which career path best fits them. Take the time to evaluate and prioritize your personal and professional goals. Be honest with yourself. You have worked hard to get to this point; your job search should be focused on what you want and what makes you happy. Here are some questions to get the process started:

1. What do you enjoy most

about your job? Seeing complex cases in the hospital, developing long-term patient relationships, performing procedures?

2. What motivates you

professionally? Patient care, education, research?

3. How much financial and professional success are you willing to sacrifice to have more personal time or more time with family/friends?

Use these questions to identify your ideal practice setting and envision a work-life balance that works for you. If you are primarily motivated by patient care, private practice may be a good fit. If you want to make teaching or research part of your career, an academic affiliation is a must. Talk to your mentor who can provide experience and knowledge regarding career expectations to assist you.

Prepare a professional curriculum vitae (CV). A strong CV will be your most effective marketing tool when searching for jobs. Tailor your CV to highlight your strengths, interests, and future aspirations. For example, if you want to make teaching part of your career, make sure to highlight any teaching experiences, awards, or lectures you have given. Ideally, this should be completed in the spring of your second year. Before long, faculty and practices will start to approach you about your plans after fellowship. It is important to have your CV prepared for when the time comes so you do not feel rushed and do not miss any potential opportunities.

Third Year of Fellowship Gather contacts. Unlike the residency or fellowship match there is no centralized directory containing information and contacts for potential employers in your area of interest. You need to create one. Talk to your mentor, faculty members, and recently graduated fellows to compile a list of practices and institutions. Identify a contact person and contact information for each potential employer. Once you have exhausted the process of making connections through mentors and colleagues, you can explore other channels such as advertisements in medical journals, job fairs at national meetings, or physician recruiters.

Write a cover letter. A cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself to potential employers and present your future aspirations. You will send this letter, along with your CV, to all