A survival guide for generalist physicians in academic fellowships - Part 1: Getting started

Generalist physicians pursuing fellowship training should develop an early strategic plan to guide them through their fellowship years. Though each fellow's plan must be individualized, fellows should get started on independent projects early, decide how much time to allocate to various activities, strike an individualized balance between course work and independent projects, and learn how to choose and maintain relationships with mentors. Early decision making with regard to these aspects of fellowship will allow trainees to maximize their learning, development, and progress toward career goals.