99. IMG Roadmap Series #96: Dr. Enaka Ye...

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Have you ever wondered what exactly program directors are looking for from your residency application?  Our guest for this episode Dr. Enaka Yembe, in an interview we conducted some time ago, is here to provide you with all the practical tips you can employ to make your application stand out. Having both been through the application process herself and also having served as a faculty member, she offers a unique perspective to IMG’s like you!

Board certified in the field of family medicine, Cameroonian-born Dr. Enaka Yembe completed a Bachelor (Honors) Degree in Biochemistry in Nigeria and medical school in The University of Milan, Italy. She did an internship in Transitional Medicine in Howard University Hospital in Washington DC and then her Family Medicine Residency training at LSU Conway Hospital in Monroe, Louisiana and was nominated Resident of the Year in 2005.

Here is some of the advice she offers for the residency application and interview process:

• Focus on your strengths and use them to show that you are a capable candidate. 
• Try not to come across as if you are asking for help or begging for a position. Be confident!
• Don’t overthink the process, but be very deliberate.
• Know your CV! Be prepared to answer any possible questions.
• Do research on the program you’re interviewing into, in order to anticipate what kinds of questions they may ask.
• If you don’t know the answer, don’t be afraid to admit it. Offer to get back to the interviewer when you find the correct response.
• Your personal statement should be a brief biography, where mentioning relevant clinical experience in the US is an asset.
• Do not include too many personal stories and anecdotes. The personal statement should be concise.
• Review your personal statement professionally for grammar and spelling errors.
• For your residency, consider rural areas. They can offer you opportunities that may not be available in more urban ones.

Finally, here are some inspirational tidbits to guide you along your journey:

• Do not be discouraged. Anything can be accomplished with persistence.
• Do not give yourself a plan B, focus on your goal and do the work to achieve it.
• Be committed to preparing for the USMLE exam. Make the investment in time and resources. Focus also on test-taking strategies.

You can reach out to Dr. Yembe on her website, facebook and instagram.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts