How to look for a bright future in
ER
M. H. Moustafa, MD, FACEP
Associate Clinical Professor
David Geffen School of Medicine
At UCLA
Joke of the day !
Bright future in ER
•
•
•
•
•
•
A- Tips for medical students
B- Recommendations for postgraduates
C- How to get your dream job
D- How to change failure to success
E- Dealing with burnout
F- Other: Finance, family and your wellness
A- Tips for Medical Students
• 1- Attend your didactics; lectures, labs, and
all other presentations
• 2- Do not be afraid to ask questions
• 3- Get a standard text book
• 4- Get clinical exposure
A- Tips for Medical Students
•
•
•
•
5- Clinical Shadowing
6- Get a mentor!
7- Attend Local and National Conferences
8- Join EM Interest Group
A-Tips for Medical Students
•
•
•
•
•
The INTERNET!!
Lectures
Very updated
Pictorials
Educational videos and Power Point
presentations
• Useful links
B-Recommendations for the
Postgraduates
• 1- Enroll in EM residency program
• 2- Read about your daily clinical encounters
• 3- Get a standard Text Book ( Tintinalli or
Peter Rosen)
• 4- Shadow with your senior
• 5- Get a mentor
B- Recommendations for the
Postgraduates
• 6- Read one EM topic and teach it to the
new interns the next day ( Mini Talk)
• 7- Read about procedures. Learn and teach!
• 8- Join EM Interest Groups
EM Organizations
• ACEP
• SAEM
• EMRA
• AAEM
• ABEM
B- Recommendations for the
postgraduates
• 9- Subscribe to EM peer review journals.
Bring articles to your Journal Club
• 10-With your peers: Build up your ER
Library; books, journals, CD and DVD
Emergency Medicine Journals
B- Recommendations for the
Postgraduates
• 11- Invite outside speakers
• 12- attend local and international
conferences
• 13- Consider overseas rotation in EM
• 14- ATLS, ACLS, PALS and neonatal
resusciation
Acquire a New Skill!
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ultrasound
Mechanical ventilation
Noninvasive ventilation
Management of the difficult airway
Wound management
Splint and cast
Acquire a New Skill
•
•
•
•
•
Research
Teaching
Clinical photography
Publishing
Consider a subspecialty ; peds, tox,
hyperbaric medicine, observation medicine,
sports medicine etc.
Find someone who is successful
and ask yourself why he/she is
successful?
Successful?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nice character
Helpful
Compassionate
Down to earth
Creative
Knowledgeable
• Has unique skills
• Uses Technology
• His/her clinic is very
well kept
• Professional
• Has more
qualifications
C- How to get Your Dream Job?
Case:You have sent your resume’
with a cover letter to employer and
you have been rejected!
What went wrong?
What to do ?
D- How to Change Failure to
Success
Sit down and write down the main
reasons you think your application
has been rejected and correct your
deficiencies
Some known deficiencies
• C.V. not professionally written
• Lack of information in the “Personal
statement”
• I do not have the required experience
(Example: USA local experience)
• I am under qualified
• I am over qualified
Some known deficiencies
• I do not have a good letter of
recommendation
• My referees are not known to the Selecting
Committee
• My referee cannot be reached
• I am not proficient in English Language
Interview problems
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Arriving late
Arriving too early
Attire
Language
Did not show interest and enthusiasm
Did not ask good questions
Did not answer to the questions
Remember the interview is about
you, NOT your C.V.!
E-Dealing with Burnout
Causes:
•
•
•
•
Patient overload
Same job for years
Long hours
Night shifts
• No time off
• Politics
• Other causes
Solution?
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!
Consider the following
•
•
•
•
•
Urgent Care Medicine
Administration
Research
Teaching
Publishing
• Offering a consulting
service
• Acquire new skill; US,
Mechanical
ventilation, peds, tox
etc
Ask yourself, “what are my
weaknesses and strengths ? “
Example:
Weaknesses: nights shifts, politics,
administration
Strengths: Teaching, publishing,
clinical photography
Solution
• Take clinical pictures, XR, CT etc.
• Design your lecture series using the
pictorials
• Submit some to Peer Review Journals
• Publish your own book
• Publish on the Internet
Finance
•
•
•
•
•
•
Secure your future!
Retirement plan
Real Estate
Set up a business
Be a partner in a business
Convert a hobby into business
Family
• Consider your family’s desire when you
make a career decisions
• Involve them in the thinking process
Your Wellness
•
•
•
•
•
Get a physical
Check your cholesterol and your BP
Quit smoking
Exercise
Take time off with family and friends !!
I wish you all good luck in life
and career!
Please send your questions to:
[email protected]
Visit my Web Site:
www.EMquiz.com