During a recent conversation with RUSM alumnus Jason Chen, he shared his perspective on what it takes to become a chief resident and what's expected to maintain the position.
RUSM: What attracted you to RUSM?
CHEN: I went into medical school with Pathology in mind after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Medical Technology degree. At the time, I'd heard of Ross University School of Medicine through friends who had been accepted to RUSM and had explained the basic science and clinical years of the school to me. After some research, I saw the success of previous alumni. I was convinced RUSM had all the resources I needed to achieve a successful career in medicine. I was in the graduating class of May 2013 and now currently in my third year of anatomic pathology and clinical pathology residency training at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.
RUSM: How did you prepare for the National Resident Matching Program® Match?
CHEN: To prepare for the match, I took some time to research for the prospective programs that were fitting with what I wanted to get out of a residency program. The areas in which I focused on were a combination of university and academic setting, case volume and complexity, and most of all, the faculty and general atmosphere of the program by assessing its residents’ attitude toward their professional and personal wellness at the program.
RUSM: What are the top two or three ways in which RUSM helped prepare you for your residency position?
CHEN: The OSPD Career Advisors counsel students on how to prepare to enter The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and/or specialty matches and provide helpful resources to assist students in preparing successful applications. OSPD also provides information that can be helpful in determining the specialties that best suit a student’s academic interest and performance and advises on interview skills and the residency application process. I had the good fortune of meeting some brilliant minds in the field of pathology during my clinical years. I established a network with many practicing pathologist in New York who helped me with both a better understanding in pathology as well as provided me the excellent references I needed to secure my own residency position.
RUSM: What additional responsibilities have you assumed after becoming a chief resident?
CHEN: Becoming chief resident this year has been a great experience and has helped me develop a tremendous amount of personal and professional growth.
The faculty's selection of chief resident is a compliment and a sign of their faith in your abilities in medical knowledge, professionalism, and leadership. Keeping an organized and balanced work style is essential to act as a trustworthy liaison between your colleagues and your attending physicians. Chief residents also interact with residents from other programs, coordinate lectures, and are deeply involved in discussions regarding the training program's goal and objectives to help design an effective curriculum and implement improvements.
RUSM: What’s next for you?
CHEN: I will finish my residency training in Knoxville in June 2017 and starting my Surgical Pathology Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
