Journal of Digestive Cancer Research

Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Cancer Research (대한소화기암연구학회)
권호 표지

How to Get into a Good Fellowship?

  • Ser Yee Lee (Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital) ;
  • Shu Ming, Chai (Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School) ;
  • Chung Yip Chan (Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital)
  • Received : 2017.02.24
  • Accepted : 2017.06.19
  • Published : 2017.06.30
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Abstract

A specialist in the medical field is probably one of the most time-consuming professions to train for before one is considered an expert. Inclusive of medical school, it can take as long as 20 or more years of structured training before one graduates as a new specialist in a particular surgical subspecialty or medical field. A fellowship is often the last official phase in this professional marathon, typically defined as a 1 to 2-year full-on clinical subspecialty experience. One would expect this important "finishing school" to be well researched and written about, however, as compared to other professionals and fields, there is scanty literature on how one can get into a good fellowship program. This is a perspective piece on the intricacies of securing a position in a good fellowship program, drawn from the collective experience of the authors, their colleagues and friends. There are several ways to achieve this and many processes one will encounter. A variety of factors one will need to consider, decide and works towards in this effort of optimizing of their chances of success in getting into their fellowship program of choice. The thought processes, suggestions and solutions at each phase may be helpful. In conclusion, obtaining a choice fellowship position is as much an art as a science, and maybe some luck. Many factors, some more obvious and objective, some softer and more subtle, can all influence the outcome in one way or another.

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