In just a few months, a new cohort of MD and MD-PhD students will begin the final phase of their Yale School of Medicine (YSM) education, known as the Advanced Training Period (ATP).
During the ATP, students engage in individualized training to clarify their career choices, gain additional clinical experience through electives and sub-internships, pursue research, complete their thesis, prepare for boards, and apply for residency.
Planning for this final phase begins early. To help students map out the next 12 months of their education, the Offices of Student Affairs and the MD Curriculum hosted an interactive ATP Planning Night.
The session opened with remarks from Jessica Illuzzi, MD, MS, deputy dean for education, who outlined ATP expectations and requirements. Students then rotated through two to three 20-minute conversations with specialty-specific advisors.
Students received guidance on topics such as the most useful electives for that specialty, valuable skills and activities, and who to contact in each department.
The evening closed with a walkthrough on the logistics of scheduling clerkships and sub-internships in MedHub, ensuring that each student left prepared for the next phase of their education.