Bo Zhao, MD, PhD, 2011-2012 ACAP SRF Chair

Congratulations to Dr. Bo Zhao!

Dr. Jianjun Zhang has significantly expanded the ACAP SRF observership programs. Under his leadership, ACAP SRF hosted several CMG events including overwhelmingly welcomed mocker interview session, new intern coaching party/session, CMG forum in junction with ACAP annual convention, and more. We thank Dr. Jianjun Zhang for his dedication to promoting CMG career development.

Jianjun Zhang, MD, PhD 2010-2011 ACAP SRF Chair

Congratulations to Dr. Jianjun Zhang!

Dear President Zhang,

With strong support from Dr. Eng, our attending interviewers and ACAP administrative staff, the ACAP Student, Resident and Fellow Committee (SRF) successfully held the 2009 mock interview on Sat. Sept 26, 2009, for 22 Chinese Medical Graduates (CMGs). Some of them came from California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The session started at 8:15am and was followed by 2 and half hours of group discussion led by me. Our attending interviewers ably covered Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anesthesiology, and Pathology. Each CMG has been interviewed and consulted by 3 or more interviewers in the specialty(ies) of his or her interest.

On behalf of the SRF of ACAP and participating CMGs, I would like to thank Drs. Wlody, Alchiyib, Chambers, Comrie, Gu, Ma, Siguenza, and Tan for their unconditional support! We are also grateful to our administrative staff, Alex and Jackie, and volunteering CMGs, Drs. Yijun Li, Xin Wang and Shuang Fu.

Many of the CMGs also expressed their great appreciation to the devoted resources and efforts of ACAP and participating parties. They felt the program significantly improved, or changed, their interview skills.

I found, and took full responsibility of, the problem of communication between various parties, which was exemplified by scheduling grids. In the future, this will be improved by earlier and complete communication with interviewers. I also apology to participating interviewers for not providing minimal hospitality, such as some snacks and coffee. It’ll be better next time!

Thank you all for your constant support!

Yours

Lanjing Zhang, MD, MS
Chairman,
Student, Resident and Fellow Committee
Association of Chinese American Physicians

Lanjing Zhang, MD, MS
Department of Pathology
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1194
New York, New York 10029 USA
Email: lanjing.zhang@mssm.edu

The session started with a round of interview by Dr. Wlody and Chambers at 8:15. It was concluded by my group discussion with 15 CMGs, who were able to stay, at 3:15.

Most of the CMG had a mock interview with 3 or more attendings of their desired specialty. Dr. Gu of internal medicine is one of the most popular interviewers! He extended his stay to accommodate more CMG, so did Dr. Tan. We really appreciate their efforts.

–Interview day
1. Keep eye contact, but not staring at interviewer.
2. Gesture. You own the chair. Do NOT hold the purse, rather place it on floor.
3. body langurage, hand shake, not too firm, neither light.
4. body buildup, exercise, and high spirit
5. Interview the program, asking about resident placement, the
strength and weakness of program
6. Do NOT ask faculty, but residents, about call schedule, work load,
book fund, and vacation time (usually standard 4wk/yr)

BE YOURSELF!

–Post interview
1. Thank you Card for program director and coordinator, possible chief resident
2. Thank you email to remaining faculty. However, it’s not overdone if
you send each attending a nice card
3. write down your evaluation about the program. A table/spreadsheet will help.

Practice, practice and practice.
================================
Dr. Eng’s advice to lady applicants:
“Skirt or pants is not important, just make sure clean and neat, clean neat
shoes, pantyhose. Dark brown, Navy Blue and Black are all appropriate.

Lanjing is correct, do not take off your jacket during the interview. If it
is too warm, usually the chair will say “you can take off your jacket” if
you like. Or follow the lead of others. Sweating profusely is not good
either, underarm deodorant is important if you are prone to sweating. Too
often my foreign medical graduates do not realize how important smelling
clean, having clean hair, neat nails etc. is. Body odor is definitely a
turn-off.”
—————–
From Dr. Eng:

Ladies can sit with knees crossed, or feet together and down. But at
all times, knees together no matter what the position. Never sit like
a man.

Everybody should sit up, straight, and if they are short, towards the
edge of the seat to be able to keep their feet on the floor. Eyes
directly at the interviewer, nod from time to time, appear engaged.
No sweaty hands, no wimpy handshakes. Never just hand your hand to
the other limply. no gum.

arrive early, bring an extra set of paperwork in case anything is
missing from their package. smiling with teeth showing is nice.
confident, not cocky. Hair neat. Shirt tucked in, no white socks.

if wearing a skirt, always wear pantyhose. Shoes clean. Shirts
buttoned, no cleavage (one open button is ok)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (R) 2009
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS PIECE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER.

It was assisted by Dr. Fu.

She is a graduate of Beijing Medical University, and has several publications in peer reviewed journals.

Student, resident and fellow committee,
Association of Chinese American Physicians