When considering a new practice locale, I recommend a hefty dose of introspection first. Your likes/dislikes and interests are all serious factors to consider before taping up those moving boxes and relocating across the country. Do you like larger cities, smaller cities, or something in between? While big cities often offer a more diverse patient population, they can be overwhelming for some physicians. These doctors would rather work in a close-knit community, the kind where you walk down the street and Johnny the postman calls out your name as he waves. Of course, there is a middle ground here: You could always live in the suburbs and commute to your practice in the city.

Now, consider your interests and determine if a particular city will cater toward those interests. For example, are you a physician who enjoys international travel or has family overseas? If so, then proximity to an international airport is crucial. Also, living on the east coast often makes traveling to international destinations much easier. It’s also a good idea to assess what you like to do during your free time. (Okay, if you’re fresh out of residency/fellowship you might have forgotten what you like to do during this elusive “free time.” Don’t worry. It will come back to you.) If you enjoy going to the theatre then you should research what sort of performing arts venues a city offers. If grilling out before the big game is your idea of a good time, then finding a locale with a sports pocket might be a good fit.

While serious introspection should definitely play a role in your decision making process, the two most common factors physicians should consider when moving are career and family—and rightly so. While every city needs doctors, some cities might be a better fit for your career in medicine based on your specialty. For example, if you’re a neurologist who is looking to study a rare, degenerative disease, a certain research-oriented institution might be the best choice for your neurological career. Or, you might be drawn to a city due to work alongside a renowned physician in your field of practice. Sacrificing sunny weather or living on the coast might be a worthwhile price to pay when compared to the knowledge/experience you’ll gain while working in the right clinical or academic environment.

And let’s not forget about the family. Perhaps the single largest reason doctors relocate is in order to be closer to family. (Sure, they can drive you crazy but few motivators are as strong as family ties). If you have young children, it’s particularly nice to be closer to grandma and grandpa—also known as free, eager, top-notch babysitters. If the same city is a bit too close, consider finding a nearby metro area within a quick drive, or plane ride, to the folks.

Only after considering family, career goals, and your personal preferences, is it time to get that cover letter and resume ready. Bring on the boxes!

Okay, future doctors, keep that image in mind as you sit down to write your own personal statement, staring at the blank Word document on your computer screen. You are just one of many hopeful applicants with a hefty research background, great clinical skills, and a solid foundation of medical knowledge. You need something that separates you from all the other over-achievers (probably lovely people, but competition nonetheless) vying for your slot. Do not fear. You have something they do not, something that separates you from the rest: Your story. The time your little brother, Joey, fell of his bike and you nursed him back to health, the time you brought a stethoscope to Mrs. Anderson’s class for show and tell, the time ___________ (fill in the blank).

Personal anecdotes like this are diamonds to the tired residency program director. They shine in the heap of other personal statements, many dull and lifeless. Sure, it’s crucial to include the generic yet important information: Research experience and interests, brief overview of schooling, why you’re drawn to this particular specialty/program, future goals, etc. But there are plenty of empty crannies throughout your personal statement just waiting to be filled with personality. For example, when talking about research experience, can you recall a particular study that stood out from the others? Did it leave an impression on you? Affect the type of doctor you want to become? Why? Elaborate.

A great way for a medical student or foreign medical graduate to add a dash of personality into his or her personal statement is to choose an overall focus directly related to a personal anecdote. Like a ribbon gliding down the page, this overall focus should smoothly connect the different sections of the personal statement. For example, let’s use the show and tell stethoscope. This statement could start in the classroom with a vivid description of the pride you felt in showing the stethoscope to your classmates. Translated, this show and tell item represents your interest in medicine and your desire to share that interest with others. Throughout your personal statement, describe how your interest and desire to practice medicine continuously grew throughout your life. This affords you a structure to discuss medical school, medically related volunteer programs, research experience/interests, grand round experiences, precept activities, and future goals.

While this idea may seem obvious, many medical students and foreign medical graduates chose formality over personality, not understanding the potential that results in your personal statement from connecting the two. Such residency applicants fear that a personal story might appear unprofessional, thus decreasing the likelihood of admittance into their desired residency program. In actuality, quite the opposite is true. The busy (potentially exhausted) residence/fellowship program director wants to be engaged by a well-written, personal personal statement. Wouldn’t you?