Simón Betancourt-Escobar, MD

@HuberPadilla1 Me puede mandar DM por aquí

@simonbetamd @PIMGlatino Dr. un amigo está interesado, donde podría enviar su aplicación?

👏👏👏

I’m screaming! No words can explain how I feel right now! 🥹😭

“Healthy mentorship is not an opportunistic or transactional relationship, but a mutually beneficial and fulfilling experience for the mentee and the mentor” - Thomas R. Vetter, MD, MPH, MFA @ASAMonitor @ASALifeline

H-1B visa–sponsored physicians are twice as prevalent in rural counties and nearly 4 times as common in high-poverty areas, highlighting the potential harm of rising visa costs to health care access. ja.ma/47xKm6F

Finally! ECFMG CERTIFIED! 🥳 #Match2026 #ECFMGCertified #ECFMG #USMLE #Anesthesiology #IMG #IMGJourney

2025-2026 Residency Interview Strategy Session Date: October 16, 2025 Host: Dr. Christopher Bray Experience: Interviewed ~2,000 residency applicants LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/docbray/ Target Audience: Residency program candidates Key Reality Check • 50-60% of IMGs will match, meaning 40-50% won't match • If you get an interview, there's a 90% chance you'll be on their rank list—the interview determines WHERE on that list • Goal: Make people want to have another conversation with you after the interview ends • Programs interview 16-40 applicants per day—you need to stand out without being weird Essential Pre-Interview Preparation • Complete 2-3 practice interviews with someone who's been on both sides of the process • Get honest, critical feedback—not just supportive comments • Don't go into important interviews without having practiced first • Study the program's mission, curriculum, community, and unique tracks BEFORE the interview • Use Residency Explorer and Doximity to research programs—compare match rates, demographics, fellowship placement • Know specific details you can't easily find on their website "Tell Me About Yourself" - The Critical Opening • Structure your answer around 3 main points: (1) Where you're from / your heritage, (2) How you got to the US / your unique journey, (3) Why internal medicine and why THIS program • Keep it to these core points—each will be naturally unique to you • Optional: Add 2 standout accomplishments from your application OR one memorable non-medical achievement (must be appropriate, not weird) • Example of good unique detail: "I won the world championship Lego building competition" • Example of weird detail: "Yesterday I climbed the tallest tree in my neighborhood" • Keep answers between 30 seconds and 3 minutes—never longer • The goal: be memorable but appropriate in a sea of similar applications Avoiding Robotic Answers While Being Prepared • Spontaneity gets you bonus points; robotic answers lose you points • Think of it like a grandmother cooking—she's spontaneous because she has 40 years of practice, not because she took a "spontaneity course" • Sticky notes on your computer are OK to remind you of key points • BUT: Your eyes are laser-visible on camera—residents watch where you look • Practice looking DIRECTLY at the camera, not at notes or the screen image • The camera may not be where the image is—requires lots of practice The STAR Method for Behavioral Questions • S - Situation: What was the background? (Patient upset with care, team conflict, etc.) • T - Task: What conflict needed resolving? What was your job? • A - Action: What specifically did YOU do? How did you approach it? • R - Result: What happened? (Patient sent thank you note, accepted treatment, etc.) • MOST IMPORTANT: Add the lesson learned—what did you take away that prevents repeating mistakes or makes hard things easier? • Spend MORE time on the lesson learned than on describing the situation 6 Situational Stories You MUST Prepare • Story #1: Teamwork—describe working in a high-functioning team OR overcoming team breakdown, what you learned about collaboration • Story #2: Handling Conflict—with a peer, supervisor, attending, or patient; how you resolved it and grew from it • Story #3: Demonstrating Leadership—volunteer work, school, home situation where you stepped into leadership and handled challenges • Story #4: Overcoming a Challenge—family illness, failed step exam, difficult publication, major obstacle you conquered • Story #5: Making a Mistake—critical for residency readiness; show you can learn from imperfection and accept feedback • Story #6: Impactful Patient Experience—a moment that reminded you why you're in medicine, when you made a real difference • Have these 6 stories as note cards or sticky notes near your computer during interviews • Programs need residents who can learn from feedback and grow from imperfections "Why Should We Choose You?" Strategy • Don't rely on scores, publications, or grades—most applicants are similar on paper • A 270 isn't more competitive than a 250 for most programs • Most applicants have 3-5 publications, decent clerkship grades—that's baseline, not differentiating • INSTEAD: Focus on values, passions, and drive that align with THEIR specific program • Research the program's mission, special tracks (primary care, procedures, international medicine), community, curriculum • Find genuine synergy between your values and their program characteristics • Example: "I'm passionate about primary care in rural communities, and your program's track places 50% of residents in high-need Pennsylvania communities—that aligns perfectly with my goals" • Do this homework for EVERY program, even ones you don't think you match with—find something you genuinely connect with Questions to Ask Programs • Ask questions that show you've done research—not things easily found on their website • Use questions to probe areas of concern you found while researching • Examples of good probing questions: Fellowship match rates (if low), resident wellness initiatives (if burnout seems high), specific curriculum details • Never ask questions you could answer by looking at Residency Explorer or their website Handling Poker-Faced Interviewers • Some interviewers maintain neutral expressions—don't let it throw you off • They may be testing how you handle pressure or difficult interactions • Stay confident, maintain your energy, keep engaging • Don't interpret neutral faces as disinterest—it might be their interview style Eye Contact and Virtual Interview Tips • Residents are LASER-FOCUSED on watching your eyeballs during interviews • Common resident complaint: "This person never looked at us" • On virtual interviews, look directly at the camera, not the screen • Practice extensively—looking at the camera when the image is elsewhere takes significant practice • This is critical for connecting with resident groups during virtual interviews Post-Interview Process (Within 24 Hours) • Write down your gut feelings immediately—both narrative and objective scores • Create a criteria matrix with factors important to YOU (location, prestige, resident happiness, fellowship match rate, curriculum, etc.) • Score each program objectively on your criteria • Keep narrative notes about how you felt walking out—you'll forget details later • Don't rank based on prestige alone—burned out, zombified residents matter more than rankings Creating Your Rank List • DO NOT try to "game" the system by ranking programs you're "more likely to match at" higher • Rank programs strictly based on YOUR criteria—where you'd actually want to go • Use objective scores to create initial ranking, then manually adjust 1-3 slots based on narrative gut feelings • Aim for at least 7 programs on your rank list for decent match odds • It's OK not to rank 10% of programs (1-2 out of 10) if they were truly bad fits • Include "reach" programs AND programs that consistently accept applicants like you (scores, background, medical school) • Don't remove programs just because of prestige concerns—good applicants often don't match because they overreach Step Score Reality • Average Step 2 CK: ~251 • Most programs accept down to 240; some go to 230-235 • Scores in the 230s may exclude you from certain programs automatically • People posting 272, 275, 280+ scores on social media don't have a huge advantage over 250-252 • Programs care that you'll pass boards and can learn medical material—beyond that threshold, FIT matters more • Once you get the interview, scores no longer matter—it's all about interactions Every Interaction Matters • NEVER underestimate the program administrator (coordinator)—program directors ask their opinion • Being rude to a program administrator is "the kiss of death" and will likely remove you from the rank list • Even automated systems (Thalamus) sometimes require direct communication—use it as an opportunity to connect • Be respectful, helpful, and caring in EVERY email and interaction • How you interact with residents, faculty, program director, AND administrators determines your ranking Thank You Letters • Send within 24-48 hours after interview unless program explicitly forbids it • Don't worry if you get no response—programs face strict match violation rules • Programs can't make promises or give false hope, so many have policies against responding • Generic responses like "Thank you, good luck" are typical if they reply at all • Silence doesn't mean disinterest—it means they're following NRMP rules Letters of Interest • Send ONE program a "you're my #1" letter—can only help, won't hurt • ONLY send this to ONE program (programs talk to each other—you'll get caught) • Initial thank you: 24-48 hours post-interview • Strategic follow-up: Consider sending in February when programs finalize rank lists • Only if programs don't explicitly forbid follow-up communication Virtual vs In-Person • Virtual interviews are fairer and less expensive • However, visiting your top 3 programs is valuable if you have resources • Seeing the hospital, area, and environment matters for a 3-year commitment • New policy: Programs can lock rank lists early, then offer second looks • This allows for post-ranking visits without ethical concerns Selection Process Insights • Resident opinions count for 25-50% of final ranking decisions • Residents tend to favor extroverts in group settings—introverts must practice "extrovert mode" • Program directors undergo bias training to recognize their preferences • Medical school quality unfortunately still matters for getting applications reviewed • Gender of letter writers may be noticed (all male writers to female program director, etc.) • Once you're interviewed, none of that matters—only your interactions count Bottom Line Your goal is simple: Make every person you interact with think "I'd really like to have another conversation with that person." Be authentic, prepared, respectful, and strategic. Research programs deeply, prepare 6 situational stories, practice looking at the camera, and remember that fit matters more than scores once you're in the interview room.

@gabypeof Muchas gracias! Igualmente! ✨

@simonbetamd @AcevedoJessicaE @UTHealthHouston Mucho éxito!

Hello #MedTwitter! I’m Simon from Mexico 🇲🇽! (AAMC ID: 15913043) Postdoctoral Research Fellow at @UTHealthHouston, applying to #Anesthesiology for the #Match2026. Besides the hospital and lab, I enjoy hiking and a good movie/TV series. Happy to meet peers and programs!

@AgarwalTri1590 Thank you! For you too! 🤗

@simonbetamd Congratulations! Many more to come

That feeling of getting your first interview… 🎆🎇✨✨ #Match2026 #IMG

@DocAngelhf @UTHealthHouston Muchas gracias!

@simonbetamd @UTHealthHouston Mucho éxito!!!

@PIMGlatino @UTHealthHouston Muchas gracias!

@simonbetamd @UTHealthHouston Mucha suerte! La familia de PIMG Latino te apoya y estamos contigo en todo el camino! Tú puedes

@ProjectImg @projectimgnet

We highlight the complex interdisciplinary management and share our experience navigating conflicting strategies in these high-risk patients, offering practical considerations for perioperative care.

Our latest in JCA Advances (@JournalofClinAn @ELS_Anesthes) discusses a case of HOCM with right heart failure and severe pulmonary hypertension. Link ⬇️ #Anesthesia #HOCM #CVAnesthesia #PH

Calling all international medical graduates: Registration is now open for the ASA Medical Student Component 2025 IMG Panel! Reserve your spot by July 15. ow.ly/fAAW50WkmK9 #MSCGC #anesthesiology