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Advice for Students Interested in Matching in Family Medicine

Advice for Students Interested in Matching in Family Medicine

  • Excellent Family Medicine residency programs can be found in all 50 states.
  • All students interested in Family Medicine should contact Patti Zahnhausen (zahnhausenpe@upmc.edu) about FM department activities to help students makes residency choices and prepare for the Match. These activities usually take place in August.  Patti can also facilitate mentoring meetings with Dr. Maier or Dr. Conti.
  • Most Pitt students get their first or second choice when matching in Family Medicine
  • Applying to about 15 programs and interviewing at about 10 programs is sufficient for the usual student. Students with atypical academic records or entering the couple’s Match will need a more individualized plan that can be discussed with FM mentors.
  • Certain geographic locations are highly competitive due to high demand for those locations:  these include the Pacific Northwest, Coastal California, Denver, New England and Alaska. 
  • All students are encouraged, and students interested in matching in highly competitive areas are highly encouraged to consider getting a letter of recommendation from the Chair of the Family Medicine Department.  Students should contact Terri Lyn Greene (greenetl@upmc.edu, or 412-383-2378) to set up a meeting with Dr. Tracey Conti.
  • Students who are interested in matching in competitive residency programs need to strongly consider doing an away rotation in that area.  Often this doesn’t need to be in a specific residency program, but rather in one of the locally known programs.  The away rotation would ideally culminate in a supportive letter from a locally known and respected faculty member. 

Regarding Acting Internships

  • In Family Medicine, we view the Acting Internship as primarily an educational experience.  It is most important for students to have an experience that will help them replicate their future training or practice environment.  Students who have questions regarding where to do a Family Medicine AI are welcome to contact Dr. Maier . 
  • An Acting Internship in Family Medicine is strongly advised especially for those hoping to train in competitive locations.

Loan Repayment is Available!!!

  • There is no reason that student loans should keep you from choosing  primary care . Many programs are available both for scholarships while in medical school and for loan repayment after graduation.  A good place to start your search is on the AAFP loan repayment resource website: 
    Medical School Debt - Loan Forgiveness Programs | AAFP
  • The Family Medicine Department at the University of Pittsburgh is committed to supporting and celebrating students who have the courage and the conviction to pursue training in our challenging, fulfilling and vital field of practice.   

Professional Organizations Students Should Know

  • Every medical student in the US can have a free membership to the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians):  Free Medical Student Membership | AAFP
  • You can find lots of advising information on the AAFP website: Students and Residents | AAFP
  • Every year the AAFP runs a Conference for Residents and Medical Students in Kansas City—this is a great opportunity to meet with representatives from residency programs from all over the country: National Conference 2023 | AAFP
  • The PAFP (Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians) has a number of student opportunities:  Students (pafp.com)
  • Students interested in academic family medicine should check out STFM (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine) opportunities:  Resources for Students (stfm.org)

Funding is Available

  • If you are traveling to a conference to present on research or quality improvement that you have been doing with a Family Medicine preceptor, some department funding is available.  Please send inquiries to Patti Zahnhausen.