Episode 2: Networking on Linkedin, at conferences and for the match – Our Perspective!

Episode Highlights:

1. Getting started with Linkedin
2. Networking at Conferences – Where to begin?
3. Networking with Residents and Attendings – Do’s and don’ts, and what to expect.

Just like The Otto Research Initiative, our aim with this podcast is to help the medical student community evolve and learn more about basic research methodology. Our straight up approach, combined with real-life suggestions based on our own first-hand experiences will provide you with a unique perspective to better navigate medical school and residency applications.

Join us, as we hope to make your time at medschool more productive and enjoyable at the same time.
Tip: 1.5x is the norm, iykyk 🙂

Check it out on Spotify by clicking the link below! This podcast is from our Instagram live with Inspire IMG on 03/03/23.

Introducing The Otter Side of Research podcast, a subsidiary of The Otto Research Initiative.

This podcast will feature audio recordings of various talks given by our founders, Dr Avanthika Chaithanya and Sharan Jhaveri 🦦.

Episode 1: Navigating Medical School- Research, Student organisations and Social Media.

Highlights of the first episode:
1. Your first research project- Where to start and whom to approach?
2. Student organisations- Legitimate or pyramid schemes?
3. Social media- A powerhouse of information or a sinkhole?

Just like The Otto Research Initiative, our aim with this podcast is to help the medical student community evolve and learn more about basic research methodology. Our straight up approach, combined with real-life suggestions based on our own first-hand experiences will provide you with a unique perspective to better navigate medical school and residency applications.

Join us, as we hope to make your time at med school more productive and enjoyable at the same time.

LISTEN TO THE FIRST EPISODE NOW! Tip: 1.5x is the norm, iykyk 🙂

Please go through this post in detail, if you’re waiting for an update on your application or if you are yet to apply to work with us.

– Avanthika & Sharan 🦦
Founders.

The OTTO Resident Network aims to connect incoming IMG residents amongst themselves and their seniors in order to promote research and collaboration. 🦦

Connections and networking don’t happen overnight. For someone to trust you enough to recommend you, a brief meeting over dinner isn’t enough. But working with each other on a research project will cultivate a team spirit, and you will end up finding friends, mentors or both 🙂

NOTE: This form is to filled only by residents currently in the US Healthcare system and by incoming residents of the 2022 match.

FORM LINK: https://forms.gle/j8TEcmJxZSicizmb8

With love,
Avanthika Chaithanya & Sharan Jhaveri 🦦

10th March marked the 6 month anniversary of The Otto Research Initiative! In celebration, we got customised otter T-shirts! 😄🦦

“Running Otto has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. It has made me more empathetic, patient and has given me perspective. 
When you’re mentoring people who are 5,-7-9-11 years older than you from all over the world, that is a responsibility that you cannot take for granted. Not only am I a better leader today, but Otto has made me a better team player. For that, I’m grateful.”

– Sharan Jhaveri 🦦

“6 months might not seem too long, but for us, it feels like an eternity. 
Being passionate IMGs and researchers, starting Otto and making a difference to the research journeys of other med students and grads, has given me a sense of gratitude and respect for this journey that we all are on. 
I am truly thankful to all the wonderful emails and messages we receive everyday, and we are trying our best to add on as many IMGs as possible every month. Thanks for all the love! :)”

– Avanthika Chaithanya

P.S.- The past few months, we’ve been working with a lot of teams at Otto. We can’t wait to share all the exciting research with all of you soon! 

With love,
The Otto Research Initiative

Hey everyone! As promised, we have something exciting lined up for you. 🙂 

This is especially for those who have freshly begun or about to start their USMLE journey. 

Being a non-profit organisation, we constantly seek avenues to provide value to our followers. We have all seen many people who provide “mentoring” or “guidance”, and charge exorbitantly for the same. We aim to change this status quo.

The USMLEs are tough, but the application process is just as complicated. There are so many forms, applications, emails to be sent that it took us a long while to get comfortable with the process. 

To simplify this ordeal, our mentor Dr Avanthika Chaithanya (an ECFMG certified physician) will be answering all of your queries on her instagram page on 5th and 6th of Feb, 2022. Link to her page: 

You can ask her about:
– how to begin the USMLE process
– what are the application forms to fill
– prerequisites for USCE or research 
– how to start preparing for the USMLE exams
– certification and pathways

You can post your queries on her page, and she will answer all of them in detail! 🙂

Here’s her instagram link for the free USMLE Q&A!
https://www.instagram.com/paneer__tikka/

• Instagram

P.S: If you do not have an Instagram account, you can post your questions on the google form! You can view your answers on her page without an account too, as it is set to public view 🙂

With love,

The Otto Research Initiative

To all the IMGs out there, Thank you so much for all the LOVE! 

The Otto Research Initiative has reached 1000 followers on LinkedIn today. 
What started as a tiny phone conversation in September ’21 has now turned into a global research movement. 

8 PubMed indexed publications and many more on the way.
A total of 120+ mentees trained/under training including:

-MBBS students
-Residents
-Fellows 
-Assistant Professors 

All from 15+ countries with a 100 percent publication rate!

We have met some truly amazing individuals in this journey, people from across the world, each bringing a unique perspective to the paper and the team.
We sincerely believe they have taught us more about life than we have taught them about research. 

We stand with our commitment to train our mentees for free, ensuring they walk away with a PubMed indexed publication. 

Yours sincerely,
Sharan Jhaveri and Avanthika Chaithanya
The Otto Research Initiative

P.S: To celebrate this milestone, we have something special for you, coming up tomorrow! Stay tuned 🙂

Thank you for all the love! We are now 1000+ IMGs strong, worldwide.

Ever wondered why The Otto Research Initiative is named so? Well, it’s our favourite animal! 🦦 The playful otter plays a very special role in both of our lives. To commemorate 100 days of our organisation, we decided to donate to The Sea Otter Foundation Trust (USA) to help conserve Sea Otters worldwide, and adopted an otter together! 

Presenting to you, our very own, Harry Otter! (Yes, we’re potterheads).

You can adopt an otter too and help with their survival and conservation, from the link below! 

https://seaotterfoundationtrust.org/

As always, feel free to contact us by clicking on the contact us option on our website menu! Ciao.