Phase 3 - Decision Making
Goal of Phase 3:
- To utilize the self-knowledge from Phase 1, the survey from Phase 2, and any additional research needed to narrow the specialty interest down to one or two options.
Keys to success:
- Utilize as many resources as possible to find out extensive details about specialties and sub-specialties of most likely fit.
- Use the Clerkship Evaluation forms in the Pathways course to help you gain the most career selection benefit from the clerkships.
- Approach the task with a sense of urgency, but don't rush to judgement.
UASOM programs:
Transition Course At the Transition to the Clerkships Orientation you will attend a training session on specialty decision making. The tools and resources shared in this course are crucial to the MedCAREERS program at UASOM.
Third Year Clerkships Perhaps the best way to learn about a particular field is to complete a clinical rotation with that faculty. Utilize the House Staff, Attendings, and other allied health care professionals to learn more than the medicine. Ask about the hours, the challenges, the perks, the personalities of physicians in this field. Learn the medicine, but also learn how the specialty might fit with your personality and career goals.
Lister Hill Library - UAB's Medical Library has current subscriptions to the journals of many specialties. The AAMC Careers in Medicine Specialty Pages Lists many details about specialties including the journals practicioners read. These journals provide you with a glimpse of the cutting edge technologies, research, methods, and challenges of each specialty.
Student Organizations and Activities- Student Organizations, especially the specialty interest groups provide multiple opportunities to learn about specialties and make contacts with practicing professionals in those specialties. Some students forget about these opportunities in the third year. Don't miss this helpful tool.
Mentor Program- While these meetings were useful in Phase one, and Phase twothey continue to be valuable in this phase. Meetings with the mentor and student members of your group give you opportunities to hear the personal values, priorities, and considerations that have and are affecting the decisions of others.
On-Line Resources - The web offers a multitude of tools. Some of the most pertinent are linked directly to the Career Exploration section of the Careers In Medicine web site. Other on-line resources include CareerMD, FREIDA, NRMP, and ACGME.
We strongly recommend that you make notes on all your observations about specialties and keep a copy in your Careers In Medicine notebook, for future reference.
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