Top 10 stories from 2015 every resident should read

The past year proved lively for residents as they broke records for the highest number of fellowship applicants, charted creative burnout solutions and discovered new ways to thrive in the profession. Look back at some of the top resident moments and headlines of 2015. 

Physician network Doximity and U.S. News & World Report asked physicians to rate residency programs based on work hours and schedule flexibility. This resulted in more than 90,000 physician comments, which were used to create a peer-ranked list of the best—and worst—specialties for work-life balance. Wonder where your field ranks on the list? Don’t miss this must-read post.

Physicians s over age 60 shared life lessons, wisdom and personal advice on finance they wished they had learned as residents. Now, you can learn from their advice.

Nearly 40 percent of physicians are likely to marry another physician or health care professional, according to a special report AMA Insurance released earlier this year. Find out why a fellow health care professional may be the best person to meet under the mistletoe this month.

While many factors influence what specialty medical students and residents choose, data released from the Association of American Medical Colleges revealed that gender may also impact where future physicians practice. AMA Wire® examined the data to note which specialties attract the highest percentages of male and female physicians.

Everyone knows that physicians generally work long hours. But just how many hours are in the typical physician workweek? A special report from AMA Insurance documented the average number of hours physicians work each week and found that age has a surprising impact on the amount of time spent at work.

Don’t let fatigue, cynicism or depression weigh you down as you progress through training. Get a dose of wellness advice from your peers and find out how to fight burnout. 

The 2015 appointment year marked the largest in the history of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Specialties Matching Service®, featuring 3,674 programs within 56 subspecialties, according to national data from the NRMP. AMA Wire took a closer look at the data and determined which specialties attracted the most fellowship applicants. The piece also offers a helpful graphic for internal medicine residents.

Journal of Graduate Medical Education editor-in-chief Gail M. Sullivan, MD, rounded up her favorite articles to boost physicians’ medical education abilities and prepare them to tackle versatile subjects in academic medicine. If you’re planning a career in med ed, then this must-read list is for you.

Targeting the appropriate journal for your research submission is half the battle to successfully publishing. If you’d like to see your clinical study or exciting pilot project in print, this is one resource from 2015 you don’t want to miss. AMA Wire highlighted the top journals that accept research from physicians in training, with a special list of publications that are especially ripe for resident submissions.

Burnout expert Lotte Dyrbye, MD, shared her informative “two-bucket” approach for helping physicians avoid burnout in their personal lives and practice. Here’s why she said real wellness solutions will always require a collaborative approach.