Hello Everyone,

I wanted to know if I can get any advice on how to best set myself up for success for reapplying to Ophtha residency after having resigned from a prior malignant military program. I am accredited with 9 months of PGY2 Ophthalmology credit and am currently serving a Combat tour in Baghdad for 15 months (only 6 months to go now..Yea!!!). I will only be applying to civilian programs and have not done so before.

Beyond gathering good LORs from those who have seen me practice Ophtha recently and in the past what else would you guys recommend I do to set myself apart? Attempt trying to match outside of SF?

Anyone know any programs which would seem partial to Military physicians?

Lastly, I will return to Germany after leaving Iraq. Would anyone recommend doing short 2-3 day rotations at personally favored programs before returning abroad or would it be best to save my money for potential inteviews?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
CombatDoc

First, thanks for serving our country! Also, welcome to the discussion forum.

In regard to applying after dropping a program, this is almost impossible in the civilian world as you're bound by a contract and dropping out of one program may prevent you from being accepted by another program.

On the other hand, I don't know about dropping a military program and then entering a civilian program. As you never entered the "match", you may not be bound by the same rules and regulations as the civilian applicants.

Nevertheless, you'll have to address these issues:

1) Why did you drop the military program? "A malignant program" is not a good enough answer as there are many "malignant programs" on the civilian side, much worse than your experiences in a military program.

2) What assurances will the program that accepts you have that you will not drop them later too?

Dr.Doan,
Thank you for your response and its an honor to care for my soldiers. I feel my case is rather complicated as for the multilpe reasons I had left residency. That is why I am wondering if meeting face to face with PDs or faculty, prior to applying, would benefit me since there will be big a big ? as for why did I leave.

I am not under restrictions with civilian programs in regards to applying because of the completely internal system we use for deciding applicants is closed to the civilian process.

There are three reasons why I primarily left my program, beyond its malignant behavior, and no matter how I phrase them it will lead to more questions.

1. I was continually told I will not meet "their" academic standard based on our internal written & Oral exams scores. (I avg 70-75% while my peers avg 80-85%). Not meeting the avg of peers led to being placed on Academic probation
2. A significant personality discord and feeling of inadequacy from the PD no matter how well I may perform or improve as PGY2.
3. No support from Staff or Chief Residents when Threatened with Termination for not attaing the similar scores of my peers.

Resignation on my part felt essentially forced because I wanted to protect myself from a unjustified termination.

It seems that getting supportive LORs from some of my prior staff will be helpful in getting a future program to believe my sincerity in my desire not to resign and committment to Ophthalmology.

Thanks again for your advice and its nice to know there is such a forum for these discussions.
Combat Doc

Dr.Doan,
Thank you for your response and its an honor to care for my soldiers. I feel my case is rather complicated as for the multilpe reasons I had left residency. That is why I am wondering if meeting face to face with PDs or faculty, prior to applying, would benefit me since there will be big a big ? as for why did I leave.

I am not under restrictions with civilian programs in regards to applying because of the completely internal system we use for deciding applicants is closed to the civilian process.

There are three reasons why I primarily left my program, beyond its malignant behavior, and no matter how I phrase them it will lead to more questions.

1. I was continually told I will not meet "their" academic standard based on our internal written & Oral exams scores. (I avg 70-75% while my peers avg 80-85%). Not meeting the avg of peers led to being placed on Academic probation
2. A significant personality discord and feeling of inadequacy from the PD no matter how well I may perform or improve as PGY2.
3. No support from Staff or Chief Residents when Threatened with Termination for not attaing the similar scores of my peers.

Resignation on my part felt essentially forced because I wanted to protect myself from a unjustified termination.

It seems that getting supportive LORs from some of my prior staff will be helpful in getting a future program to believe my sincerity in my desire not to resign and committment to Ophthalmology.

Thanks again for your advice and its nice to know there is such a forum for these discussions.
Combat Doc

Your best chances are to re-apply as a PGY-2 and essentially start over. More programs will be open to you and you will be able to interview much more broadly.

That being said, if a program you want will accept you at a PGY-3 level, I would say go for it. Those opportunities are rare and are typically available back-channel and on short notice. You really need someone on the inside of the applications circuit who can look out for you and call you if something becomes available. That ought to be your plan B.

Hmm, despite your reasons, it still may be tough to reapply for ophtho b/c PD's will feel that by accepting you they would be "taking a chance." Have you thought about doing a different specialty? Then you could just say that you resigned b/c realized you didn't like ophthalmology. PD's in other fields would probably be much more accepting of that rationale.

That said, if you really love ophtho, you'd be a fool not to try for it b/c of anonymous advice over the internet. Goodluck!

hello Everyone,
Thank you for all your advice. I guess the last two questions I have are:
1) Would setting up some face time with a few PD and residents at maybe 4 of my top choice programs around the nation, prior to SF match, would only benefit my case or backfire?

2) I currently have enough credit from my transitional year and Ophtha 9 months that I could complete a FP residency in just two years or less. Would having completed an FP residency, work for 1 year doing FP, then reapplying to Ophthalmology make me more competitive vs. 4th med students?
I have been essentially working as an FP for the last 2 years in Germany and Iraq so i'm thinking I might as well get accredited for the experience during my my remaining 24 months of committment to the Army.

Thank you again everyone,
Combat doc

first off, let me qualify this by saying I am only an applicant at this time...so my word is just an opinion based on what I've noticed on the trail

but I would imagine having completed a residency in FP might actually help you compared to 4th year medical students...a lot of the people I've run into along the trail at great programs come from medical schools and then either did another residency or got a 2nd degree...it's something I'm sure that makes them stand out compared to me, as I'm just a boring old 4th year

if anything it can help or do nothing...i doubt it could hurt...i guess it's up to you if you're willing to lose those years doing it

again, just my thoughts, certainly not to be taken as the consensus

GOOD LUCK and thanks for your dedication to our country

hello Everyone,
Thank you for all your advice. I guess the last two questions I have are:
1) Would setting up some face time with a few PD and residents at maybe 4 of my top choice programs around the nation, prior to SF match, would only benefit my case or backfire?

2) I currently have enough credit from my transitional year and Ophtha 9 months that I could complete a FP residency in just two years or less. Would having completed an FP residency, work for 1 year doing FP, then reapplying to Ophthalmology make me more competitive vs. 4th med students?
I have been essentially working as an FP for the last 2 years in Germany and Iraq so i'm thinking I might as well get accredited for the experience during my my remaining 24 months of committment to the Army.

Thank you again everyone,
Combat doc