Question

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Which palliative care programs have fellows from psychiatry or are receptive to non trad fields applying (i.e. not limited to IM and FM etc)?

I think, as a rule, most programs are open to applicants from all of the co-sponsoring specialties.

I am PM&R and/but spent 2 years in EM before switching (both a strength in terms of experience, but also a weakness in terms of being a quitter/damaged goods, if you will).

I know MGH is picky, I got a phone interview, and it was clear that it was doubted that was "mediciney" enough; upon request I sent a list of all my rotations, including my 2 years of EM with multiple ICU rotations. I was not invited to an in-person interview. I know that they took someone from Rad Onc. Dartmouth's one slot was filled very early in my cycle. Everywhere else I applied I got an interview, including University of Minnesota where it explicitly said on their website that they took only IM/FM, but I checked directly with the PD, who said I'd be fine and got an interview offer. I also even got an interview offer from the Cleveland Clinic, where I even got a fellowship offer, but which I ultimately turned down (probably the hardest educational/career decision I've ever had to make) in favor of the strong clinical and academic program with an MS in Med Ed option, where I start in 9 days

I think that if you come from a good medical school, do well in your core clerkships, have strong USMLE scores, take a strong medical internship (and perform like a physician there and not like some psychiatrist just trying to get by (sorry, I've seen this more than once and it is never appreciated or respected), and especially if you can get a letter from a supervising internist/intensivist/FM-type that you "get it") then you should not have a problem.

I would just say, be a physician first, and a specialist second, and it should all take care of itself.

Good Luck