The Fighter Attitude
If you where dismissed from your medical school and then failed step 1 would you give up? Not if you have the figher attitude....
Hi Dr. Barone,
Here goes my story :)
- US citizen, IMG
- Step 1: 205 (Second attempt)
- Step 2 CK: 221 (First attempt)
- Step 2 CS: Pass (First attempt)
- Graduated Caribbean medical school in 2017
I started my medical journey in one of the bigger Caribbean medical schools. I finished my two years of Basic Sciences on the island, passed successfully all classes and got very stuck on passing a comprehensive exam that’s given at the end of two years in order to be certified for Step 1 exam. I had a difficult time with this exam, given the timeline and lack of preparation and ultimately, I ended up failing this exam by falling short one point. Thus, the school decided to dismiss me!!! I thought that my lifelong dream is over, and I will never be able to practice medicine. I was devastated but I also knew that there has to be a solution to all my hard work that I endured throughout this time. My family always encouraged me and instilled in me the fighter attitude. I started researching other Caribbean medical schools willing to accept transfers and take over my file. Shortly after being dismissed, I successfully transferred to a different Caribbean medical school into their clinical semesters. I was certified immediately to take Step 1 exam. After 4 months of preparing for Step 1 and dealing with transferring medical schools, I failed Step 1 getting 191, AGAIN falling short by one point (192 was passing score at that time). I couldn’t believe what had happened and felt immensely disappointed and embarrassed for my failure. With God’s help and my family’s unconditional support, I pushed through and took another 6 months to prepare thoroughly for Step 1. The result came, and I passed the exam with 205, which was not remarkable at all for residency. I decided that I have to redeem myself one way or another so that I can prove to my family, and the program directors that I am academically and clinically competent to take on residency and beat all the odds.
Therefore, in my clinicals, I enrolled in an online master program and graduated Summa Cum Laude last year. I took Step 2 CK and CS and passed them on my first attempt. Every core clerkship and elective rotation I completed with High Honors and received outstanding letters of evaluation. I attended every networking event and all the primary care conferences I heard about. I ended up presenting a poster at one of the FM conferences and conducted various research projects in different hospitals that have manuscripts pending to be published.
The first ERAS cycle I participated in was for 2018 residency start and I’ve applied to 80 programs (40 FM and 40 IM). I received 1 IM interview at that time (through connections I’ve established) but unfortunately the sad news of not matching came in March 2018. From March until September 2018, when I reapplied to residency, I’ve engaged in every available externship. I volunteered in various research projects and I’ve continued to attend FM and IM conferences to make my name stand out and connect with more healthcare professionals. On my second round of applying to residency, I’ve applied broadly this time, 240 programs (140 FM and 100 IM), and received 10 interviews (7 FM and 3 IM). During one of my FM interviews I fell in love with the program, curriculum, and its people. The feeling was mutual because shortly after, I was shocked to hear from the PD that he would like to extend me an offer to be part of 2019 intern class. I had pre-matched!!!!!!! I accepted the offer in a heartbeat and felt that all the pieces of the puzzle set finally in place. Life works in unpredictable ways and there’s no doubt hard work, motivation, and dedication pay off in the end.
Advise for medical students and graduates:
NEVER lose hope and make connections everywhere you go!!! Improve your application, strengthen LORs, engage in externships, take Step 3, and be kind to every person you meet, never know how this may impact your journey.
Best of luck,
O.N. March 19, 2019