Tips for Starting Pathology Residency
Written by Clarissa E. Jordan, MD
Having matched as an anatomic and clinical pathology resident two years ago, I’m really passionate about helping others and wanted to share what I learned, in the hopes that it might be useful. First a couple of disclaimers: these are my personal opinions and experiences and may not be representative of all residents, nor do they reflect the opinions of my employer.
Congratulations on matching into the best specialty there is! First and foremost, take the time between the fourth year of medical school and the start of residency to relax and recharge. You absolutely do not need to study! Instead, recuperate a little from the stresses of medical school and the match, and get ready to hit the ground running on day one.
Keep in mind this list doesn’t include a lot of those very important logistical tasks (like getting your car registered, or figuring out where your kids will go to school), but rather, some general tips and things to do as you start your pathology residency.
Establish yourself in your new city
Even if you are staying in the same place for residency, take the time to explore the city. Find out which restaurants are going to be your brunch spot, late-night takeout, or date night. Figure out where the closest grocery store and gym are. Get yourself a library card. If you can, meet up with your new co-residents before residency starts and you all go off on separate rotations and get busy.
Now is also the time to establish good routines for yourself, like meal prepping on the weekends, or going to the gym regularly. If you get used to them now, you’re more likely to keep up with it when things get busier with residency.
Something else to do before July 1 (but probably after you get your badge): practice driving to work, parking, and walking into your building. Many hospitals and medical centers are big and not necessarily easy to get around, so you’ll thank yourself on day one!
Logistics at work
If you’re like me and absolutely rely on your calendar to tell you what to do, sync your work calendar and email to your phone. You will likely need to install one or more apps to do this -- call the IT department if you need help. Your organization may have certain requirements to do this (like a longer phone passcode, or specific security apps).
Decide how you’ll take notes during residency, or otherwise keep up with the material you’re learning. You could use an old-fashioned pen and paper, or if you prefer a computer/iPad, investigate which software you’ll use. Set up folders and a file structure before you start work to keep things organized. This is also useful to set up for articles you’ll be reading.
Especially for pathology residents, take STEP3 as early as you can, before you forget medication names and how to read an EKG. You can ask your upper levels about what’s the best rotation to take STEP3 during — hopefully something a little less busy!
Learning how to be a resident
Ask your upper-level residents for tips on how to succeed in your first rotation. They will be your best resource, and may be able to help you with study strategies, the best books to read, etc.
In addition, pay special attention during your first couple of journal clubs and interesting case conferences, and take note of how other residents present. This will you a basic outline to follow when it comes time to put together your first conference.
Many programs will have a formalized mentoring program. If not, try to find a faculty mentor in an area of pathology of interest to you. They can be very helpful in terms of getting research projects, discussing career paths, and just generally getting your name out there in the department.
