Specialty Resources

Welcome to the Clinical Specialty Advising page!

We're excited to introduce this important part of your advising support system. Clinical Specialty Advisors (CSAs) provide focused guidance, mentorship, and expertise in specific fields to help you explore and pursue the specialties you’re considering.

Each CSA serves as a content matter expert in their specialty, offering support through all stages of your journey—from early interest to Match. They collaborate with student interest groups and lead sessions for MS1s and MS2s on key specialty topics, while also helping students make connections for deeper insight and research opportunities.

As you progress as an MS3 and MS4, your CSA will work closely with you to develop a personalized strategy for electives, away rotations, your Match application, residency program selection, signaling, and even backup planning.

The CSAs form a powerful team together with the House Advisors/CAMP to ensure you feel supported—professionally and personally—as you prepare for the career you’re passionate about.

To contact a CSA, please click on the Clinical Specialty Advisor Contacts link below.

Clinical Specialty Advisor Contacts

For detailed information about the specialty, click on the specialty of your interest. Each specialty category page below has been updated -- or will be soon—with:

General specialty information
What it’s like to work in the specialty
Training and preparation are needed for the specialty
Residency application considerations for the specialty
Additional application and general specialty resources
Recorded session(s) by the CSA.

Feel free to review the information and reach out to the CSA directly and/or Dr. Lisa R. Shah-Patel, Director of Clinical Specialty Advising, (lshahpatel@arizona.edu) for any suggestions/questions.

Note: You must be a current student with an active account to access the Contact sheet.

Explore the following links to learn more about these specialty areas.

Radiology
Thoracic Surgery
Urology
Vascular Surgery

Feedback

As we continue to update our program, your feedback is invaluable. After meeting with your CSA, please share about your experience. Responses are anonymous. We appreciate your partnership as we all work together! Provide CSA feedback through this link!

Advice on Residency Selection and Application

Step I & Step II scores are an important part of your residency application. Doing well on preclinical blocks correlates with a higher likelihood of passing Step I. Your advisor will review the mean Step II scores for the student's preferred specialty, and will discuss how to be the most competitive applicant based on the student's performance.

Letters of recommendation are important for all specialties. Typically, 3-4 letters will be required, usually specific to the individual specialty. While not essential in all specialties, letters from chairs or section chiefs may be especially beneficial if the person knows the student well. If the student is interested in pursuing a residency in a home or away site, a strong letter from that site is extremely valuable.

Some residency programs, depending on specialty, may be influenced by, or require, research. Research in the specific specialty of choice can be preferable, although all research is helpful for the candidate’s application. Your Scholarly Project will allow you the opportunity to submit a thesis and final poster presentation near the end of the fourth year. Quality of the project, not just the quantity of projects, is paramount. The student should expect to be asked about their project(s) during interviews.

In deciding on a specialty, shadowing is extremely valuable and highly influential. Shadowing in various venues is also important, as it helps students decide between academics and private practice, as well as hospital versus outpatient medicine. Students will have many opportunities to shadow, including during PAL Block and Capstone experiences during the first and second years. Shadowing in the third year can help students solidify their specialty selection as they prepare for the fourth year and residency applications.

Please get in touch with our Registrar's Office for shadowing policies and forms: comphx-registrar@email.arizona.edu

Additional Resources

Many students have found The Undifferentiated Medical Student podcast a helpful resource.
Check out the podcast's homepage now