I recall my first time at a national physicians conference. Moving from room to room amongst a sea of medical professionals from across the nation, I felt a bit lost. Which sessions should I attend? How could I maximize learning in my limited time there? Should I enter the cavernous hall for the plenary session?
There were so many offerings, and who knew what might be relevant for me at that early stage of training? (I remember thinking, what the heck is an “RVU”?)
Fear not, future and early career hospitalists: SHM has created a dedicated track and special sessions at HM15 with your issues and concerns in mind.
For the first time, SHM’s annual meeting is offering an educational track specifically tailored to medical students, residents, and early career hospitalists. The “Young Hospitalist” track will be delivered by speakers from the Physicians in Training Committee and will be enhanced by a special luncheon for students and residents, followed by the afternoon Research, Innovations, and Clinical Vignettes abstract presentations.
This month’s “Future Hospitalist” column provides a sneak peek at all of the content in this track. All sessions will be on Monday, March 30, at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Md. (www.hospitalmedicine2015.org).
“Career Pathways in Hospital Medicine: Getting Your Ideal Job–One Job at a Time”
10:35 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
This session will explore the many avenues a hospitalist’s career may take, including clinical medicine, administration, hospital leadership, and academic hospital medicine. It will highlight the value of being open to different opportunities and explain how such opportunities can ignite and shape one’s career over the long term.
Through the stories and career trajectories of real hospitalists, the faculty will demonstrate how teaching students and residents, getting involved in patient-related projects, and joining local or national committees can open the door to further opportunities.
Discussion will highlight the ways in which incorporating any one or more of these hospital medicine “extras” into your ongoing responsibilities might be the crucial ingredient to help you find, achieve, and/or create your ideal job.
“How to Stand Out: Being the Best Applicant You Can Be”
11:20 a.m. to noon
This session will focus on the practical skills and information needed to embark on a fulfilling career in hospital medicine. Topics covered in this session will include effective ways to search for a job and maximize the impression you make on potential employers. We will help you identify which mentors can guide you through this process. You will learn how to leverage what you’ve done in training, or just out of training, to make yourself an attractive applicant. We will cover the do’s and don’ts of correspondence with prospective employers and essential questions to ask during interviews.
“Getting to the Top of the Pile: How to Write the Best CV”
1:10 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.
A good CV can be a gateway to a great career in hospital medicine, but a poorly formatted CV can underrepresent a strong future hospitalist, limiting opportunities. This session will provide detailed information about what hospitalist leaders look for in a CV, and dissect good and bad CVs. You will hear strategies for ensuring that your CV will be both attention grabbing and effective.