Family Medicine

Students meet with a Career Goal Advisor for an initial discussion of career trajectory and together they decide on a faculty advisor that can meet their needs.

Use Individualization phase to either improve upon an area you feel you need more training in to prepare for residency or to pursue an area of passion. Do an Acting Internship in Family Medicine and consider some ERMD and MEDI electives, too! They will prepare you for Family Medicine.

Recommended Courses:

AI/Acting Internship
FMME 417 and FMME 421

CC/Critical Care
MEDI 404 and MEDI 551

ACS/Advanced Clinical Selective
FMME 430, 454, 457, 460

Electives
FMME 474, 479, 485, and MEDI 421

No! Family Medicine is so versatile and has such a broad scope, that rotations in pediatrics, global health, emergency medicine, and medicine will also prepare you for Family Medicine residency.

If you have your heart set on a particular very competitive residency, doing an away rotation there makes a lot of sense. Away rotations don’t need to be AIs only, any away rotation can help you get perspective on that program or location.

Yes, especially if you are interested in applying to UNC residency.

Plan on at least FOUR meetings with your career advisor: (1) in April to review fourth year electives and materials you prepare for your Dean’s letter; (2) in July/August to discuss residency programs, personal statements, and letters of recommendation; (3) in September to finalize residency program selection; (4) in December/January to review ranking of programs for your Match list.

Most programs require 3 letters and only one needs to be from a Family Physician.

Ask for letters during the rotation or at the end of a rotation. Do not wait until ERAS deadline approaches and time is limited. Faculty will need time to craft a letter. You can provide them with some breadcrumbs for a letter such as examples of interactions you have had over your rotation and moments you exhibited characteristics worthy of a LOR. It is important to make sure that your letter writer knows what specialty you are choosing, and addresses that in the letter.

Use the searchable database at AAFP.org and talk to recent graduates. Dr. Nailah Adams Morancie can also provide a list of programs in the US where UNC alumni went for residency. Another great opportunity to liaise directly with program representatives is at meetings such as the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians AHEC Family Medicine Day or the AAFP National Conference.

Yes! We want to know anything that is not in your application that may help you. Induction to AOA, a certain scholarship or recognition, national publications, etc. Email any updates to the residency director and residency coordinator. Feel free to include anyone else that you connected with during your interview.

Request letters early!!! Follow up with your letter writers. Materials uploaded to ERAS won’t be visible to residency programs until Sept. 15, so you still have time for them to be added. As long as someone has at least 2, I will review their application. Anything less gets put on hold, and I may or may not get around to checking back to their application.

It is always worth trying to set up a one on one meeting with a resident in that program who may be able to gauge your interest and whether your missions and goals align.

It’s always worth an email, just don’t be pushy. The coordinator will let you know whether or not you are still being considered. It is important to recognize that programs receive hundreds, if not more than a thousand applications and the process takes time.

Yes, handwritten notes are best but an email to each of the interviewers or the contact person who organized the logistics of the interview to distribute will suffice.

It’s not required to specify what number you are ranking a program, but you can reiterate what you liked about their program and why you would fit there in your thank you note or a separate letter.

This is rare, but feel open to ask/answer questions if this happens.

Many Family Medicine programs take a holistic approach to applications. Programs like to see demonstration of passion for family medicine as well as commitment to service, leadership, and unique experiences. These carry more weight than any single test score. Listed below are some components that make a well-rounded, strong applicant.

• Strong Letters of Recommendation, including:
  • A strong letter from a Family Medicine physician
  • A strong letter from a mentor, faculty, or clinician who knows your work style
  • One additional LOR highlighting clinical or research ability
• Leadership & Service
  • Well-rounded extracurricular involvement, such as volunteer work, research, or other impactful projects. Ensure you can speak about the experiences with depth rather than just listing a number of clubs and one-time events.
  • Leadership roles (i.e.., not just going to SHAC, but having a leadership role)
• Additional Strengths
  • “Distance Traveled” experiences (e.g., first-generation college student)
  • Additional language proficiency (e.g., Spanish—CAMPOS program)
  • GHHS (Gold Humanism Honor Society)
  • Additional degree: MPH, PhD, MBA