The experience of being a chief resident can shape a physician’s career and guide their professional trajectory. But the way that chief residents function in their roles can differ dramatically—from specialty to specialty, certainly, but even from program to program.
So, while no one can tell you whether being a chief resident is right for you, there are signposts that might indicate when and how physicians thrive in the position—and recent research shows where opportunities exist for improving training for chief residents.
“The niche I found within it through my chief year and giving back to the program in general has been one of the best things ever,” said Robert Vargas, MD, a hospitalist with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago who recently completed a year as chief resident. “Stepping into that role, there are so many things you learn.”
Rush University Medical Center is part of the Rush University System for Health, which is a member of the AMA Health System Program that provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
When it comes to physicians’ personal experience in the role, Dr. Vargas said his time as a chief resident helped mold his career path.
“I liked the idea of inpatient medicine and getting involved, and my chief [year] actually led me to an interest in quality and patient safety,” he recalled. “I was able to participate in those committees as a chief. And that kind of led me to fostering that interest now as a hospitalist. So, it really shifted, I think, my subspecialty and what I decided to do with my career.”
And though many chief residents would recommend the role to others, a recent study in the Journal of Graduate Medical Education found that some chief residents in so-called “embedded” roles felt unprepared for the role.
In this AMA news article, readers will learn:
- How the chief resident role can shape career direction and build leadership skills.
- Why the experience varies widely by specialty and residency program.
- What recent research found about embedded chief residents’ workload and responsibilities.
- Where training gaps exist in embedded chief roles.
- Practical advice for succeeding as a chief resident.
