The Truth About Signaling, Letters of Intent, and The Match: A PD’s Unfiltered Guide

In this conversation, Dr. Brian Mahoney sits down to speak directly to the concerns and confusion many applicants experience during the residency match process. The discussion focuses on how the signaling system is evolving, practical strategies for allocating gold and silver signals, and why signaling should be based on thoughtful alignment rather than a sense of safety or prestige.

The episode also addresses a topic that creates anxiety every year: how to prepare for residency interviews and how much communication before and after interviews really matters. Dr. Mahoney offers clear guidance on when letters of interest or intent are appropriate, how to convey genuine enthusiasm without appearing performative, and why interview day is best understood as a search for a mutual fit rather than a test.

The conversation closes with advice for students who may not have strong local mentorship or a home anesthesia program, along with reflections on the value and limitations of networking at national meetings such as the ASA annual conference. Throughout, the emphasis remains steady: applicants should rank programs in the true order of their preference, trust the match algorithm, and focus on presenting themselves with sincerity, preparation, and humility.

This episode was originally published June 20, 2024 on YouTube