This web site allows you to explore medical career options based on an ongoing personal assessment of temperament, personality, values, work environment and financial needs.

Careers in Medicine (CiM) is a four-phase, web based program designed to assist medical students in understanding specialty choice options. This program was developed and is coordinated by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Individual registration & login: Using the access code, login to the website and register as a new user. Registration allows for confidential personal tracking of interests and career plans throughout medical school.

• Student access code: 11STU150 (case sensitive)
• Faculty access code: 22FAC150 (case sensitive)

Features on the site include:

• Self-assessment information & activities on values, interests, skills, and personality.
• Confidential Personal Profile, accessible for updates.
• Medical specialties: descriptions containing extensive career information about major and sub-specialties.
• Decision-making tools provide a logical framework for thinking about career options.
• Guidelines for preparing the residency application includes application process, CV preparation, interviewing, the Match, and making the transition to residency training.

Guide to Careers in Medicine

The four parts of the CiM program are intended to help you organize your preferences in a coordinated effort using a timeline that compliments the medical school curriculum.

Part 1 Self-Assessment

Identifying your own interests, values, personality, and skills. Goal: Achieve a greater understanding of yourself & address the question: “What do I want to do in my medical career?”

Begin the assessment during Phase I of medical school, then put the compiled information to use as you move through the clinical rotations of Phase II. Self-assessments will be more helpful if given some thought and process time; assessments are available on the CiM web-site, which you can access from any internet linked computer at your convenience. The data is saved for future review, and is completely confidential.

• Personal Review---How did you choose medicine as a career?
• Interests---What do you enjoy doing?
• Values---What is important to you?
• Environmental Factors & Practice Needs---Where do you want to work?
• Personality Type, Learning Style---How do you approach the world, how do you learn?

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, article with more information on type & learning style from Georgia State University.
Reminder: The office of Program Evaluation, Education & Research (PEAR), BMSB B65G, 272-8069, has your Myers-Briggs Type, you completed this instrument at the beginning of medical school. You can also schedule to take the Indicator again by contacting Cheri Koinis, M.Ed., 272-8028, ckoinis@salud.unm.edu.

Keirsey Temperament Sorter, can take free instrument on-line.

Self-Directed Search, on-line at Psychological Assessment Resources, $8.95 for 8-12 page personal report

• Skills---What can you do?
• Financial Situation---How much money do you need to make?
• Educational Experiences---What were your best learning experiences, how do you learn best?

After completing the assessments in Part I, moving into the Career Exploration sections of Part II should be helpful and productive.

Part 2 Career Exploration

Explore the specialties & other career options in medicine. Goal: learn about the different medical specialties—meet and talk with physicians who work in the practice areas & specialties.

Part 3 Decision-Making

Compare information on career options & different practice environments with your personal interests & values. Goal: Find the practice setting that best matches your personal assessment.

Part 4 Implementation

Apply to the residency programs that reflect your interests & values, interview carefully and choose the most suitable graduate training program. Goal: Complete the transition from medical school to residency training.