Specialty Exploration
Choosing a medical specialty is an important part of the journey through medical school, and it is an essential component of applying to residency programs. Below are specialty-specific resources to provide students with information on life as a physician in different specialties, as well as information on being a competitive applicant for those specialties. If you would like to discuss any of this information in more detail, please schedule a residency advising meeting using the online appointment system.
Specialty Resources
- American Society of Anesthesiologists - Resources for Medical Students
- Careers in Medicine - Anesthesiology Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Anesthesiology with Dr. Daniel Lee
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Susan Martinelli, a program director, and Dr. Emily Teeter, an assistant program director.
- Child Neurology Society - List of Residency Programs
- Careers in Medicine - Child Neurology Specialty Profile
- Journal Article - Residency Training: A Practical Guide for Medical Students who are Planning a Future in Child Neurology
- (Gupta M, Nordli III DR, Hur MH, Phitsanuwong C, Sheth R, Galan F. Residency Training: A Practical Guide for Medical Students who are Planning a Future in Child Neurology. Child Neurology Open. 2023;10:2329048X231210620.)
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Child Neurology with Dr. Max Wiznitzer
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Rana Said, a child neurology program director
- The DO - A DO dermatology program director shares tips & advice for acing the Match process
- Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA) - Website
- Journal Article - Applying to dermatology residency without a home program: Advice to medical students in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
- Rehman R, Shareef SJ, Mohammad TF, Potts G, Fahs F. Applying to dermatology residency without a home program: Advice to medical students in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Clin Dermatol. Sep-Oct 2022;40(5):513-515. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.01.003
- Careers in Medicine - Dermatology Specialty Profile
- DIGA Podcast - Rural Dermatology & Matching as a DO with Dr. Jordan Lane
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Adena Rosenblatt, a dermatology program director
- American College of Radiology - Medical Student Guide to the Radiology Profession
- The DO - Diagnostic radiology program director shares his best Match tips
- Careers in Medicine - Diagnostic Radiology Specialty Profile
- Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology (AMSER) - Resources for Applying to Residency
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Diagnostic Radiology with Dr. James Lieberman
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Gomez-Cintron, a radiology program director
- Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (EMRA) - Advising Resources
- Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine - Medical Student and Advisor Resources
- Careers in Medicine - Emergency Medicine Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Emergency Medicine with Dr. Christopher Wyatt
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Cassandra Bradby, an emergency medicine program director
- American Academy of Family Physicians - Medical Student Resources
- Careers in Medicine - Family Medicine Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Family Medicine with Dr. Steve Brown
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Steve Brown, a family medicine program director
- American College of Osteopathic Surgeons - Resources for Medical Students
- American College of Surgeons - Medical Student Resources
- Careers in Medicine - General Surgery Specialty Profile
- Journal Article - Characteristics Associated with Successful Residency Match in General Surgery
- Collins RA, Nimmer K, Sheriff SA, et al. Characteristics Associated with Successful Residency Match in General Surgery. Ann Surg Open. Sep 2024;5(3):e469. doi:10.1097/as9.0000000000000469
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - General Surgery with Dr. Jeffrey Hardacre
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Kareem Abdelfattah, a general surgery program director
- American College of Physicians - Medical Student Career Path
- Careers in Medicine - Internal Medicine Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Internal Medicine with Dr. Bryan Hambley
- Inside the Match - Tips from Dr. John McPherson, an internal medicine program director
- National Med-Peds Residents' Association - Medical Student Resources
- The DO - Med-peds: What medical students should know
- Careers in Medicine - Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Med-Peds with Dr. Nathan Stehouwer
- Inside the Match - Tips from Dr. Thomas Davis, a med-peds program director
- Careers in Medicine - Interventional Radiology Specialty Profile
- Journal Article - Medical student challenges in the wake of integrated interventional radiology residency: A review
- Caviasco C, Jain NK, Lamparello NA. Medical student challenges in the wake of integrated interventional radiology residency: A review. Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology. 2024/09/01/ 2024;53(5):596-599. doi:https://doi.org/10.1067/j.cpradiol.2024.05.010
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student - Interventional Radiology with Dr. Michael Schacht
- Inside the Match - Tips from Dr. Neil Jain, an interventional radiology resident
- American Academy of Neurology - Resources for Medical Students
- The DO - How I matched into neurology
- Careers in Medicine - Neurology Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Neurology with Dr. Donald Mann
- Inside the Match - Tips from Dr. Erica Schuyler, a program director
- Neurosurgery Match - Medical Student Resources
- The DO - How to specialize in neurosurgery
- Journal Article - Trends in successfully matched neurosurgery residency applicants
- Yu N, Hoch JS, Martin AR, Shahlaie K. Trends in successfully matched neurosurgery residency applicants. Journal of Neurosurgery. 01 Nov. 2023 2023;139(5):1456-1462. doi:https://doi.org/10.3171/2023.3.JNS222397
- Careers in Medicine - Neurological Surgery Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Neurosurgery with Dr. Jennifer Sweet
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Lola Chambless, a neurosurgery program director
- Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) - Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One: Applicant Resources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Medical Student Tool Kit
- American Medical Association - What to know about the new ob-gyn physician residency application
- Careers in Medicine - Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student - Ob/Gyn with Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
- Inside the Match - Tips from Dr. Susan Gerber, an OB/GYN program director
- American Academy of Ophthalmology - Medical Student Resources
- San Francisco Match - Resources for Medical Students
- The DO - What future ophthalmologists need to know about the SF Match
- Careers in Medicine - Ophthalmology Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Ophthalmology with Dr. Tamar Shafran
- Inside the Match - Tips from Dr. Andrew Hendershot, an ophthalmology program director
- American Orthopaedic Association - Residency Application Resource Center
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - How to Obtain an Orthopaedic Residency
- The DO - How this DO matched into orthopedic surgery
- Careers in Medicine - Orthopaedic Surgery Specialty Profile
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Duretti Fufa, an orthopedic surgery program director
- American Academy of Osteopathy - Residency Training
- Careers in Medicine - Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Specialty Profile
- The Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Podcast - Dr. Mandy Robinson, PGY-2, shares her journey to a career in OMM
- American Academy of Otolaryngology - How Do I Know if I am Competitive for ENT Residency? A Program Director’s Point of View
- University of California San Francisco Otolaryngology - The Evolution of the Otolaryngology Residency Application Process
- Journal Article - A Comparison of Otolaryngology Residency Applicants Over Time and to Other Surgical Applicants
- Lin ME, Kharidia K, Choe D, Bagrodia N, Luu NN, Chambers T. A Comparison of Otolaryngology Residency Applicants Over Time and to Other Surgical Applicants. OTO Open. Jan-Mar 2024;8(1):e115. doi:10.1002/oto2.115
- Careers in Medicine - Otolaryngology Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Otolaryngology with Dr. Nicole Maronian
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Gina Jefferson, an associate program director
- College of American Pathologists - Pathology 101: A Specialty Review for Medical Students
- Match to Path - Resource Blogs
- Careers in Medicine - Pathology Specialty Profile
- PathPod Stories - The Wild and Wonderful World of Pathology
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Kamran Mirza, a pathology associate program director
- American Academy of Pediatrics - Medical Student Resources
- American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians - VSLO, Audition Rotations and Surviving OMS Year 4
- Careers in Medicine - Pediatrics Specialty Profile
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Andy White, a pediatrics program director
- American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Medical Student Resources
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine - I Chose DO, PM&R Chose Me
- Careers in Medicine - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with Dr. Miguel Escalón
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Nikola Dragojlovic, a PM&R program director
- American Psychiatric Association - Medical Student Resources
- Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry - Psychiatry Residency Personal Statement
- Careers in Medicine - Psychiatry Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Psychiatry with Dr. Jeanne Lackamp
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Daniel Gih, a psychiatry program director
- American Urological Association - Urology Match Overview
- Journal Article - What Allopathic Urologists May Not Know About Osteopathic Urology Applications
- Soogoor A, McCormick M, Bresler L. What Allopathic Urologists May Not Know About Osteopathic Urology Applications. JU Open Plus. 2024;2(9):e00093. doi:10.1097/ju9.0000000000000186
- Alvarez-Suarez A, Shain S, Rodriguez-Alvarez JS, Munoz-Lopez C, Miranda AF, Hudak SJ, et al. Exploring Recent Changes to the New Urology Residency Match.
- Careers in Medicine - Urology Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Urology with Dr. Ami Kilchevsky
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Jay Simhan, a urology program director
- Society for Vascular Surgery - Trainee & Student Resources
- Journal Article - Characteristics of the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Match: US Match Results From 2017 to 2022
- Patel R, Ilyas S, Crowner J, Tullos A, Sheahan M. Characteristics of the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Match: US Match Results From 2017 to 2022. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2023;77(6):e349. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.483
- Journal Article - Vascular surgery integrated resident selection criteria in the pass or fail era
- Sorour AA, Kirksey L, Caputo FJ, et al. Vascular surgery integrated resident selection criteria in the pass or fail era. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2023/02/01/ 2023;77(2):625-631.e8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.012
- Careers in Medicine - Vascular Surgery Specialty Profile
- The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast - Vascular Surgery with Dr. Venita Chandra
- Inside the Match Podcast - Tips from Dr. Blake Murphy, a vascular surgery resident