Medical Student

What Can You Do to Set Yourself Up for Success as an M1-M2?

• Foundational Knowledge: Students that are interested in undersea and hyperbaric medicine (UHM) are encouraged to focus on their foundational knowledge, such as anatomy and physiology, as well as participating in relevant extracurriculars.
• Hyperbaric Resources: Those looking to incorporate resources more specific to UHM in their studies can start with textbooks, such as Physiology and Medicine of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Diving & Subaquatic Medicine. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society (UHMS) also has a free handbook called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications. Links to all these books can be found in the Resources section.
• Extracurriculars: Get involved! There is no shortage of helpful medical school organizations, clubs, or interest groups that can get you started, such as emergency medicine (EM), sports medicine, critical care, or wound care. These are all helpful to connect students with peers with similar interests, gain insight into these respective fields, and can lead to opportunities for networking with, and shadowing, faculty. Other helpful opportunities to pursue include doing work with a nearby hyperbaric chamber, local EMS, wound care centers, or rescue swimming or diving expeditions.

What Can You Do as an M3-M4 to Set Yourself Up for the Right Residency?

• Electives: Elective rotations are available for medical students to gain exposure to UHM and wound care as well as show their early interest. Think outside the box, or even your own institution, and do not be afraid to reach out to the places you want to go to.
• Think About Residency Specialties: As medical students are contemplating residencies geared more toward UHM, appropriate choices are very broad and include EM, family medicine, anesthesiology, pulmonology, critical care, and surgery. Residents in these specialties receive much exposure to treating critical and complex patients as well as addressing environmental injuries and illnesses.
• Think About Residency Location: It is important to keep in mind where UHM fellowships are located as this may influence where students apply for residency (see Fellowship section). It is extremely helpful to aim to match into a residency where the fellowship is also located as the resident can display their skills, work ethic, and interest in the field early on and develop rapport with faculty and other staff.