Field Specific Advising Program

Role of FSAs

  • Faculty are well informed about their field, the demands of residency training programs and know the caliber of various programs around the country.
  • Faculty meet with their advisees and assist them with selecting and approving their 3rd and/or 4th year schedule.
  • Faculty assist their students with the selection of audition electives in their anticipated field of study, if appropriate.
  • The FSA helps the student realistically assess their own competitiveness within their prospective specialty
  • The FSA helps the student choose the most appropriate residency programs based on the student’s personal profile, board scores, academic performance, etc.

Field Specific Advisor-Checklist

Student Responsibility

Students are responsible for selecting an FSA, keeping track of who they’ve been assigned, and contacting their FSA to schedule appointments for advising. Additionally, students should inform their FSA of deadlines for approving/submitting their fourth-year schedules, as well as keep their FSA up-to-date on residency applications, interview schedules, etc.

Selecting an FSA

As you move through your 3rd year clerkships, keep in mind those physicians with whom you have worked well that may serve as a good FSA when it comes time for you to select one. Student Affairs maintains a list of physicians willing to serve as FSAs, which is updated regularly.

Third Year students will be able to request their FSA after their class meeting in the Spring. Students can only have one (1) FSA assigned at a time, but are able to change their FSA if they decide to change the specialty that they are applying into. It is perfectly okay to have an assigned FSA and meet with other physicians if you’re trying to decide between specialties. However, only your OFFICIALLY ASSIGNED FSA will be allowed to sign off on your schedule. Please contact the Student Affairs dean writing your Dean’s Letter to notify them of any FSA changes.

Note: The FSA Leaders are also available as a resource for students to learn more about a specific specialty and diverse career opportunities. If you are interested in a specialty that is not listed on the FSA Selection Form, please email Student Affairs Deans Vonzella Bryant, MD or Vivian Sanchez, MD who can connect you to a faculty member in your interested field.