Career Advising
Your Future. Our Focus.
At SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, your career journey starts on day one. The
Office of Career Advising is here to guide and empower you, every step of the way.
From choosing a specialty to applying for residency, our faculty and advisors are
committed to helping you shape a meaningful career in medicine.
We offer faculty advisors and a four-year calendar of events tailored to each phase of your medical education, including specialty info sessions, Alumni panels, and residency application workshops. Whether you’re exploring dual degrees or preparing for your ERAS application, our career advising team is your partner in success.
Building a future in medicine is a shared journey and we're here to walk it with you.
Contact Us
Jason Lazar, MD, PhD, MPH
Executive Vice Dean
Sophie Christoforou, MSEd
Associate Dean for Student and Curricular Affairs
Isaiah Marshall-Thomas, MPH
Coordinator for Special Programs and Career Services
Dionne Davis
Alumni Early Career Advising Coordinator
Email us at CareerAdvisingCOM@downstate.edu
Downstate Career Planning By Year
- Early Career Advisors - Students meet in small groups with their early career advisor to discuss academic,
research, specialty, and career exploration-related topics.
Students are encouraged complete the AAMC Careers in Medicine self-assessment tools. Students will discuss the results during the ECA sessions. - Alternative Careers in Medicine Night - Interactive presentations from physicians who are pursuing careers that extend beyond clinical medicine.
- Constructing a Medical Student Curriculum Vitae - Interactive online seminar conducted by one of the Clinical Advisory Deans (a role described below - Year 3) and the Director of Career Advising.
- AOA Specialty Forum - The AOA Medical Honor Society, in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs, hosts faculty from a variety of clinical specialties to meet in small groups with Year 1 and 2 students interested in hearing about their specialty.
- Activities Fair: Student Specialty Organization Presentations - The Office of Student Life hosts student organizations focused on a clinical specialty. Student Interest Groups host faculty and guest speakers to talk about their specialty, the types of patients they serve and the health care setting they practice in.
- Alumni Mentoring Night(s)- Alumni at various stages of their careers share their career journeys and offer guidance about navigating medical school.
- Alternative Careers in Medicine Night - Interactive presentations from physicians who are pursuing careers that extend beyond clinical medicine.
- Class Meeting on Third Year Scheduling - Presentation on lottery selection for core clerkship scheduling.
- AOA Specialty Forum - The AOA Medical Honor Society, in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs, hosts faculty from a variety of clinical specialties to meet in small groups with Year 1 and 2 students interested in hearing about their specialty.
- Activities Fair: Student Specialty Organization Presentations - The Office of Student Life hosts student organizations focused on a clinical specialty. Student Interest Groups host faculty and guest speakers to talk about their specialty, the types of patients they serve and the health care setting they practice in.
- Individual Meetings with Clinical Advisory Dean
- Specialty Information Residency Evenings (SIRE)
- Student-to-Student Residency Forum - Year 4 students who just matched organize information tables by specialty to give peer advice to Year 3 students on senior scheduling, away electives, and residency application tips.
- Seminar: Nuts and Bolts of Residency Application Process- Presentation on ERAS, the Match, Letters of Recommendation etc.
- Class Meeting on Senior Scheduling - Presentation on what criteria to consider when creating the senior schedule including students’ possible specialty interest, including choices of advanced electives
- Class Meeting on Visiting Electives
- Alternative Careers in Medicine Night - Interactive presentations from physicians who are pursuing careers that extend beyond clinical medicine.
- ERAS Completion Q&A Session -
- Individual Meetings with Clinical Advisory Dean
- Seminar: Do’s and Don’ts of Residency Interviewing - Residency program directors and program coordinators provide information on interviewing and respond to student questions
- One on One meetings with clinical department chairs
- Mock residency interviews - Department chairs and the Department of Career Advising arrange mock interviews by faculty members in the appropriate specialty
- Rank Order List Information Session - Presentation on how the match works and things to consider when compiling the residency rank list.
- Alternative Careers in Medicine Night - Interactive presentations from physicians who are pursuing careers that extend beyond clinical medicine.