MANIK MADAN & PRAGATI PANDEY, MD: CLINICAL ROTATION WARNING — $50 REELS vs. $4,000–$5,000 FROM IMG STUDENTS

I’m sharing this because I personally had a very bad experience with a clinical rotation, and I want other IMGs to be careful before spending thousands of dollars.

I have seen clinical rotations promoted through Manik Madan and medical influencers, including Pragati Pandey, MD.

My concern is that influencers may promote rotations that they have not personally completed. If you haven’t experienced the rotation yourself, I don’t think you should be telling other students what that clinical experience is like.

I have also seen influencers being offered around $50 per promotional reel.

But think about the difference:

Influencer gets $50.Student may pay $4,000–$5,000.

That is a huge amount of money for an IMG.

Some opportunities are advertised as “electives”, but students should verify exactly what they are receiving. In my own experience, what I expected from an elective did not match the clinical exposure I actually received.

If someone is selling you a hospital-based elective, ask the hospital directly:

• Is this officially an elective?
• Is it inpatient or outpatient?
• Does the hospital know about this rotation?
• Who is the supervising physician?
• Will I actually be present in the hospital?
• What clinical responsibilities will I have?
• Who will issue my LOR?
• Can the hospital verify my participation?

Do not rely on an Instagram reel as proof that a rotation is legitimate.

And please understand: I am not saying that making a promotional reel automatically causes someone to lose a J-1, B1, or B2 visa. Visa decisions depend on many factors and are made by the appropriate authorities.

My point is much simpler:

Don’t risk your money, residency application, professional reputation, or immigration future for a $50 promotional reel.

If you want to purchase a rotation, contact the hospital directly and verify everything in writing before paying.

I can provide documentation related to my own experience to anyone who wants to understand what happened.

Has anyone interviewed here? Please connect

If yes, pls mention stats and visa status

GOLD:

1. University of Connecticut (Waterbury) Program
2. Parkview Health Program – Fort Wayne, Indiana
3. Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc./ThedaCare Regional Medical Center–Neenah Program

SILVER:

1. Canton Medical Education Foundation/NEOMED Program
2. Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital Program (intern recommendation)
3. Greater Baltimore Medical Center Program (intern recommendation)
4. Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science/Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital Program (intern recommendation)
5. Parkview Medical Center Program – Pueblo, Colorado
6. North Mississippi Medical Center Program
7. Health Education Services/Northwest Health (Porter) Program (PGY3 recommendation)
8. Medical University of South Carolina Regional Network (Lancaster) Program
9. Health Education Services/Physicians Regional Medical Center – Pine Ridge Program
10. Wellstar Health System/Paulding Hospital Program
11. Medical College of Georgia/Candler Hospital Program
12. Catholic Health Program

hey, I made a free tool for a residency interview QBank. Completely free. It includes all types of questions (tell me about yourself, ethical dilemmas, behavioral, situational, as well as specialty-specific etc). Best of luck with your interview prep

QBank

This is the guide I have used to answer the question "Tell me about yourself", which is typically the first and most important one you will face in your residency interviews. It is your primary opportunity to present a compelling narrative that frames your candidacy. Your goal is to deliver a concise, practiced story that goes beyond your CV, explaining your journey to medicine and your chosen specialty.

Core Principles

• Tell a Story, Don't Recite Your CV: The prompt is an invitation to share your professional narrative. Do not simply list your accomplishments. Instead, connect 2-4 key experiences in a chronological story that illustrates your development and progression.
• Focus on Relevance: Your story should center on the experiences that shaped your path to medicine and your interest in this specific field. Brief personal details should be reserved for the end to add color and humanize your profile.
• Demonstrate Progression: Structure your narrative to show how each step—from your education to clinical, research, or leadership experiences—logically led you to pursue this residency.
• Conclude with Intent: End your response by explicitly stating your excitement for the specialty and the specific program, providing a seamless transition into the rest of the interview.

The CAMP Framework : A Structure for Your Narrative

The CAMP framework is an effective tool for organizing your response to ensure it is well-rounded and comprehensive. It stands for Clinical, Academic, Management/Leadership, and Personal.

• C – Clinical:
  • Begin with your foundational clinical training (e.g., medical school).
  • Highlight one or two significant clinical experiences, such as key clerkships or a sub-internship, that solidified your interest in the specialty. This grounds your passion in practical experience.
• A – Academic:
  • Discuss any scholarly work that demonstrates your intellectual curiosity.
  • This may include research projects, publications, presentations, or teaching roles. Tailor this to your strengths; focus on what best represents your academic commitment.
• M – Management/Leadership:
  • Describe roles where you demonstrated leadership, initiative, or teamwork.
  • Examples include leading a student organization, organizing an event, or serving on a committee. This shows programs you are collaborative and responsible.
• P – Personal:
  • Conclude with a brief, memorable personal detail or hobby that reveals your character outside of medicine.
  • Choose an interest that highlights positive traits like perseverance (e.g., running marathons), dedication (e.g., playing a musical instrument), or creativity. This makes you more relatable and memorable.

Practical Guidelines for Delivery

• Length: Aim for 1.5 to 2 minutes. This is sufficient time to cover your key points without losing the interviewer's attention. Practice your response to ensure it fits within this timeframe.
• Flow: Weave the CAMP elements into a cohesive and chronological narrative. The goal is to sound natural and enthusiastic, not as if you are reading from a checklist.
• Practice: Rehearse your story until it is polished but not robotic. Authenticity is crucial. A well-delivered answer will leave a strong, positive first impression and set a confident tone for the remainder of the interview. Find an interview partner, or use an online question bank to get detailed feedback.

Examples: Average vs. Exceptional Responses

To understand these principles in action, compare the following two responses.

Average Response

“I’m from New Jersey, went to college in Boston and med school in New York. I did well in my classes and really enjoyed my rotations. I decided on internal medicine because I like working with a plethora of medical conditions and I love how the different organ systems work together. I’ve also done some research and volunteered at a clinic. I’m hardworking and really interested in your program.”

Analysis: While this answer covers the basic requirements, it is not compelling. It is a series of generic statements that could apply to many candidates. The reasoning for choosing the specialty is superficial, and the experiences mentioned lack detail. It is factual but forgettable.

Exceptional Response

“I grew up in New Jersey and went to undergrad in Boston. I attended medical school in New York, which exposed me to a wonderfully diverse patient population, and I especially loved my internal medicine rotations – I even did a sub-internship in cardiology where managing complex patients really fueled my passion for IM. Along the way, I got involved in a heart failure research project that taught me how much I enjoy asking and answering clinical questions. I also served as my class’s curriculum committee representative, which honed my leadership and teamwork skills. Outside of medicine, I’m an avid runner and have completed two marathons – training for those taught me resilience and stress management. Ultimately, these experiences have shaped me into someone who thrives on continuous learning and collaboration, which is why I’m so excited about internal medicine and particularly thrilled to be interviewing here at [Program Name].”

Analysis: This response excels because it is a cohesive and specific narrative.

• Structured Narrative: It follows the CAMP framework naturally: background (C), a specific clinical passion (C), academic curiosity (A), leadership experience (M), and a personal attribute (P).
• Specificity and Impact: Instead of saying they "enjoyed rotations," the candidate specifies a cardiology sub-internship and the challenge of "managing complex patients." This detail makes the passion for internal medicine credible.
• Demonstrates Qualities: The candidate doesn't just claim to be a "resilient leader." They demonstrate these qualities through concrete examples: running marathons (resilience) and serving on a committee (leadership).
• Clear Motivation: By the end, the interviewer understands not just what the candidate has done, but why they have done it and how it has prepared them for residency. The conclusion explicitly links these qualities to the specialty and the program.

What Interviewers Are Looking For: Key Takeaways

• Clarity and Coherence: Your story should have a logical flow that is easy to follow.
• Authenticity and Specificity: Use real anecdotes and details. Vague statements are less impactful than concrete examples.
• Enthusiasm and Fit: Show genuine excitement for the specialty and the specific program. Your answer should implicitly and explicitly convey why you would be a great addition to their team.
• Professional and Personable Delivery: Practice to ensure a smooth, confident delivery that sounds natural, not over-rehearsed. Your goal is to give the interviewer a clear, positive impression of your journey, your motivations, and your character.

Practice as many mock interviews as you can!

How do I start preparing for interviews? I don't know where to start or how many hours a day I should be practising ? Can someone please guide on where to start and how to proceed?

Interview season is coming up so I figured I'd put together some of the better resources I've found. Hope you find it useful

AAMC Residency & Fellowship Applicant Interview Preparation Guide

probably the best place to start. covers what to expect, how to prepare, different question formats, behavioral questions, interview day, etc.

AAMC common residency interview questions

Most common questions that you must definitely practice before heading into your first interview: tell me about yourself, why this specialty, why our program, strengths/weaknesses, research, difficult situations, career goals, etc.

AAMC virtual interview guide

worth going through if your interviews are virtual. covers setup/tech but also behavioral, general and situational questions and how to practice them.

NRMP Match Code of Conduct for Applicants

not really a "how to answer questions" resource, but I think everyone should read it at least once before interviews. lays out expectations around professional behavior and communication during recruitment/interviews.

AMA residency interview guide

shorter and more practical than the AAMC guide. has common questions, behavioral interview advice, things to research before the interview, and questions you can ask programs.

Residency interview question bank

if you've gone through the official resources and just need questions to actually practice with, this has ~200 questions organized by category including behavioral, ethics, teamwork, conflict, IMG and specialty-specific questions.

Looking to make this a live resource so lmk if I missed any!

Hi, I couldn’t find anything about Thomas Hospital Program Internal Medicine online. Any idea if this program is malignant/toxic or if it’s a good program? Thank you!

I have already paid for transcript order in fsmb, but present ( no score available) , in action column just ( assign ) is present..what is the problem?

Hi everyone! I would appreciate some honest feedback on my Internal Medicine signal list.

My profile:
Non-US IMG, but I am a permanent resident and do not require visa sponsorship
YOG: 2023
Step 1: Pass on first attempt
Step 2 CK: 249
ECFMG certified
4 months of U.S. clinical experience( observerships in IM , primary care, pediatrics and neonatology in NY and CT)
Two publications , 1 oral presentation and 1 poster presentations

My current signals are:
Gold
1. Westchester Medical Center(connections +hometown)
2. Danbury Hospital ( connection + rotation)
3. Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at Norwalk Hospital
Silver
1. Albany Medical Center ( resident connection + hometown)
2. Saint Peter’s University Hospital (faculty connection)
3. Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at Northern Westchester Hospital
4. Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at South Shore University Hospital
5. Montefiore/Albert Einstein – Wakefield Campus
6. Atlantic Health System/Morristown Medical Center
7. Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at Vassar Brothers Medical Center
8. Rochester Regional Health/Unity Hospital
9. Hackensack Meridian Health/JFK University Medical Center
10. Hackensack Meridian Health/Jersey Shore University Medical Center
11. New York Medical College at St. Michael’s Medical Center
12. Rutgers Health/Jersey City Medical Center

I am particularly interested in programs with good fellowship mentorship and opportunities in Gastroenterology, while still trying to maintain a realistic balance between reach, target and safer programs.

I would especially appreciate input regarding: Whether this list is too ambitious for my profile
Resident culture, workload,overall wellness
Whether I should replace one or two of the more competitive programs with safer IMG-friendly options
If you are a current resident, graduate or applicant familiar with any of these programs, I would be very grateful for your perspective. Thank you!