Hey everyone. I've been heavily considering dual applying neurosurgery/IM or Rads, but am wondering if this is a good idea.

Goal is to maximize for geographic preference if possible (certain east coast region). Unfortunately am worried that I'm not a great applicant so wanted to see how things would play out on my end. I don't want to go unmatched obviously, but I also don't want to end up in the middle of nowhere for 7 years. I come from a top 30 school.

Step 1: 235
Honored surgery/psych
40 papers on CV (neurosurgery related)
3 surgery device patents
Worked for a few surgical device companies (think spinal cord regeneration) during med school. Personally secured over $2M in NIH grant funding for said companies.

https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neuro...211063.xml

Resident here, this sentiment is widely shared. We need some sort of objective measure of medical knowledge and ability to master it. My advice, take Step 2CK and have it ready for your application next cycle if you won’t have a numerically graded Step 1.

Besides MSK are there any other places that offer a spinal oncology fellowship?

What is the point of papers like these: https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neuro...211600.xml


Thank you, captains obvious, for pointing out the obvious? I think a ten year old not even in neurosurgery could predict this?

Is USF not interviewing this year, interview tracker still has them at zero sent out

How can you identify who would be a good mentor to start a longitudinal relationship with that can eventually help you match? I know 99% of the time it's an [unpaid] research fellowship that lasts about 3-5 years, then they write you a strong LOR and make phone calls on your behalf. But how can you identify those faculty?


I've heard of a different types of faculty that have used all their resources to successfully match past IMG students -- some are junior faculty, some are PDs, some are seniors. It just seems like there isn't that strong of a pattern to easily identify a mentor. And I'd hate to spend 3 years slaving away with someone to find out the politics don't work in my favor in the end.

Would it be a good idea during a sub-I to ask for a joint letter from 2 faculty members (non-PD, non-chair, but senior and highly regarded faculty) if you feel like a letter from just 1 of them would be too bland? Reason for not asking PD or chair is that just didn't click with them as much as with the 2 mentioned faculty, feel like their letter wouldn't be as strong in substance.

Has anyone who's done a sub-I here able to compare it to other sub-I's? What your experience has been, what you were looking for, how it matches up to your experience, etc.?

I’m a chief and my PGY3 sucks. How do I get him fired?

Thoughts on VCU? Seems like a hidden gem, residents genuinely appeared happy