Fall is here and that means residency programs across the country are preparing for recruiting season, and Duke Family Medicine is ready! This year we received qualified applications from 34 states, one territory and 103 medical and osteopathic schools.
At Duke we welcome our applicants with a dinner hosted by one of our residents. This is purely a social time where applicants, significant others and current residents can visit. Applicants spend the night at a local hotel and after breakfast early the next morning arrive at the Duke Family Medicine Center for a full day of activities.
We begin with a welcome presentation by a faculty member, followed by a presentation on resident life by one of our upper-level residents. After a short break, interviews begin.
Interviews at Duke Family Medicine are low key, are conducted by both faculty and residents and are designed to allow the program to really “get to know” the applicant and vice versa. We are eager to hear more of the applicant’s story and welcome any and all questions.
After a full morning of interviews, everyone relaxes over lunch. This provides an opportunity to meet other member of the Duke Family Medicine “family” who might not have conducted an interview. A brief walking tour pointing out some Duke University Hospital highlights follows. The afternoon then concludes with a group exercise on population health.
At the end of interview season each applicant will rank their choice of program, and similarly each program will rank the applicants. These lists are then submitted to the National Residency Match Program. This is a binding commitment and results are computer generated and announced in mid-March.
There are many and diverse family medicine residencies across the country. Each has something special and unique to offer their trainees. It is our goal at Duke Family Medicine to share with applicants our vision and model of training so that each applicant might then decide if our program is their perfect “match.” Stay tuneda for our match results in March!
Donna M. Tuccero is assistant program director of the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program. Email donna.tuccero@dm.duke.eduwith questions.
Editor’s note: A member of the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program leadership team guest blogs every month.