FELLOW’S CORNER Tips for Fellows Starting the Neurointensivist Job Search By Saef Izzy, MD As the next recruitment season for Dr. Andrew Naidech, Director of neurointensivists is approaching, learning Northwestern University Neurocritical about the recruitment process, the best time Care Unit to submit job applications, and how to get in touch with Neuro ICU directors are all “I found out about job availabilities key questions in the mind of many of my co- through the NCS website, fellows who are applying this year. To find communicating with faculty at other more answers, I reached out to and interviewed institutions, and emailing the ICU Neuro ICU directors who recently interviewed directors. All of these are good options, fellows for faculty positions to present their but be sure to use your faculty not only perspectives regarding the recruitment process. I also interviewed for their knowledge, but their connections two senior fellows who already signed their contracts to share and their advice on which programs are their experiences. the best fit for your career. This is still a field with two degrees of separation, and most everyone knows (or I hope this article assists neurocritical care fellow in learning about knows of) nearly everyone else. the recruitment process. My take home points are that now is about the time to start thinking about what path you would like You should start thinking during the spring at the end of your first to pursue (academia or private practice). In the next few months, year. Offers are often finalized by the winter. The ICU director start communicating with ICU directors. Remember everything is often isn’t the person who makes hiring decisions, rather, the head negotiable, the job is partly about what is described by the chair or of a department or a center, so find out whom to approach. ICU director but also about what we want to make of our career. Chairs will often have specific agendas for grant funding or productivity, and will hire accordingly. If you fill an uncovered Dr. Halinder Mangat, Director of Cornell clinical niche, be sure to highlight how you can help their Neurocritical Care Unit program. If you have a specific research interest or track record, show how it will help that program grow. Finally, whatever “One of the toughest tasks after a happens, keep your chin up and smile. Your life is likely to get rigorous two-year fellowship is to land better in a hurry come July next year.” a ‘fantastic job’, which can be a bit of a challenge. I recommend fellows identify Dr. Kiwon Lee, Director of the the most important determinants in their Neuroscience ICU at University of Texas careers and personal lives (being close Health Science Center in Houston to a spouse, getting an early investigator NIH grant, etc.). Based on this most “ICU faculty positions are often in important criterion, one should contact flux – some people get irresitable offers as many directors as possible (in the elsewhere, some people cannot stand region or academic area of interest) at their boss, etc. People leave. There may least one year ahead of the fellowship completion date. The be an opening even in centers that are NCS Annual Meeting offers a perfect venue and timing for known to be “full.” Even if they are preliminary discussions. “full,” if you are such a strong candidate, they may even create a position. The tip It is critical to understand the needs of the group in addition to is to keep an eye on the centers that are identifying one’s own needs and desires. Increasingly, academic expanding aggressively and increasing centers are trying to groom junior faculty for research careers their beds. Even if they are not posting a job, believe me they with the aim of successfully getting extramural funding. need more people. Therefore, protected time can (and must) be provided. While research tops the list in most academic centers, education, global Research acheivements always help but, in most centers, it is health, quality improvement, etc. are other available not the most important factor. Even in the research oriented opportunities. Finally, the interview process should not be a institutions, you are not expected to have independent funding stressful and intimidating process, considering that the group yet. We care about the potential. Will this person ever get a grant? members will shortly be colleagues. Is this person saying he or she wants to do research just to impress us? As such, if you are an amazing researcher but incompetent clinically, your chance is close to zero except maybe for very few centers looking strictly for a lab person. You do not want to look or sound like a lazy person. This is a red flag for the employers. Yes, you want to have some protected time to do certain academic activities, but try not to give the impression of reluctance to work hard. Often times, the ICU directors may not be able to give you exactly how many weeks of clinical duty. The moment you care about 40% versus 45%, it is again a red flag for the employers. So be flexible.” 14
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