How to Optimize your Pain Fellowship Application, Interviews, and Fellowship Training: A Panel Discussion with Recent Graduates and Program Directors-How to Optimize your Pain Fellowship Application, Interviews, and Fellowship Training

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session was aimed at helping attendees navigate the process of applying to pain medicine fellowships. Opening remarks highlighted the importance of diverse backgrounds in pain medicine and the promising future of the field. The session covered topics such as going beyond the CV, making applications stand out, and preparing for fellowship training.<br /><br />Dr. Scott Pritzloff, Dr. Kohan, Dr. Shi, and others shared insights into what program directors look for in candidates, emphasizing qualities like commitment to the specialty, interview performance, and professionalism over technical skills. They advised candidates to understand the field and its challenges, showing genuine interest and commitment.<br /><br />Dr. Shi and Dr. Kohan discussed interview preparation, highlighting the importance of understanding your own values and having a clear, rehearsed “why pain” pitch. Practical tips for virtual interviews were shared, such as maintaining eye contact via camera placement and creating a distraction-free environment.<br /><br />Recommendations for preparing for fellowship included improving clinical and procedural skills and gaining surgical knowledge. The panelists emphasized the value of networking, mentorship, and honest communication during the application process.<br /><br />In the Q&A, participants raised questions about program selection criteria, the impact of signaling in applications, and preparing for fellowship with limited exposure to pain medicine in residency. Panelists encouraged honesty, genuine interest, and utilizing mentorship and networking to understand and prepare for fellowship in pain medicine.

Keywords

pain medicine fellowships

application process

diverse backgrounds

interview preparation

networking

mentorship

program directors

clinical skills

virtual interviews