Medical Student Career Development

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (UCCOM) offers a four-year comprehensive career development program to guide and support our students through the process of finding a specialty and residency program that is right for them.

Features of the UCCOM Career Development Program:

• Our program begins early … starting Orientation Week!
• Our program has career activities integrated into the curriculum, in addition to extra-curricular activities.
• Our program utilizes multiple formats to ensure that students receive the key information they need, as well as personalized support. 

At UCCOM, we follow the model established by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Careers in Medicine program This model reflects a 4-step career planning process: (1) Understanding Yourself, (2) Exploring Options, (3) Choosing a Specialty and (4) Preparing for Residency. 

Below are just some of our exciting career activities…

Years 1 & 2:  Understanding Yourself and Exploring Options

• Self-Assessments:  Introduction to the AAMC Medical Specialties Preference Inventory and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator during M1 Orientation Week to help you understand yourself and begin to consider your interests in medicine.
• Career Panels: Fall series of career panels during your M1 Physician & Society course to introduce you to a range of specialties.
• Curriculum Vitae Workshop:  Workshop during your M1 Learning Communities to help you prepare your curriculum vitae before applying to summer programs.
• Summer Opportunities Week: Class meeting, lunch talks and poster symposium where you will learn about different summer opportunities.
• Specialty Open House:  Interactive session during your M2 Learning Communities where you will meet in small groups with physicians from different specialties.
• Planning M3 Class Meeting:  Class meeting to discuss the M3 clinical rotations and different scheduling options for the core clerkships.  

Years 3 & 4:  Exploring Options, Choosing Your Specialty and Preparing for Residency

• Individual Advising with your Career Advisor:  We have Career Advisors in the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD).  During Years 1 and 2, if desired, you are welcome to meet with a Career Advisor to discuss your summer plans, specialty interests, or long-term career goals.  Then during Year 3, you will be assigned to a M3/M4 Career Advisor who will guide you as you continue to explore specialties, choose a specialty and prepare for residency.
• Individual Advising with Department Specialty Advisors:  We have Department Specialty Advisors who will meet with you to discuss careers in their specialty and matching in that particular specialty.  The Career Advisors and Department Specialty Advisors work together to support our students.    
• Class Meetings to Prepare for Year 4 and the Match
  • Planning M4 Class Meeting (scheduling, specialty decision-making)
  • Match I Class Meeting (residency applications, letters of recommendation)
  • Match II Class Meeting (residency interviews, rank lists for the Match)
• Additional Match Preparation
  • Program Director Panels
  • Small Groups with M4 Students
  • Couples Match Meeting
  • Residency Mock Interviews
  • Monthly Match Tips (email newsletter)

Available All Years

• Department Specialty Meetings:  Annual meetings sponsored by UC clinical departments where you can learn about different specialties and ask questions.
• Student-Led Specialty Interest Groups:  Through the UCCOM Medical Student Association, there are student-led organizations for many different specialties. Activities may include lunch talks, workshops, service projects, and shadowing opportunities.

UCCOM Excellence in Mentoring Award

The UCCOM Office of Student Affairs created the "Excellence in Mentoring Award" in recognition of the value of quality mentoring on the career development of our medical students, including their transition to residency. UCCOM students submit nominations and a committee from the Office of Student Affairs and Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion selects the final winners.

• 2017
  Robbie Paulsen, MD (Emergency Medicine)
  Jeffrey Schlaudecker, MD, MEd (Family & Community Medicine)
• 2018
  Andrew Beck, MD, MPH (Pediatrics)
  Alberto Espay, MD, MSc (Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine)
• 2019
  Stacey Ishman, MD, MPH (Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)
  Lisa Kelly, MD, MEd (Ophthalmology)
• 2020
  Timothy Pritts, MD (Surgery)
  Alice Tang, MD (Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)
• 2021
  Bi Awosika, MD (Internal Medicine)
  Matthew Kelleher, MD, MEd (Internal Medicine-Pediatrics)
• 2022
  LeAnn Coberly, MD (Internal Medicine)
  Anisa Shomo, MD (Family & Community Medicine)
• 2023
  Jason Nagle, MD, MPH (Emergency Medicine)
  John Crowe, MD (Anesthesiology)
• 2024
  Sarah Pickle, MD, MPH (Family & Community Medicine)
  Ahmad Sedaghat, MD, PhD (Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)

AAMC Careers in Medicine “Excellence in Medical Student Career Advising - Program Award 2017