Has anyone turn down a matched PGY-2 position?

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JinxRx

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Was wondering if anyone has turned down a matched PGY-2 position? I have been offered a specialist position in the area of practice I want (and that I matched into) at the hospital where I am a current resident. Does anyone have any experience with this on either end (director versus resident)? Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts on this at all. Thanks.

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I have no experience with that but speaking for myself and various friends if it's ID, critical care or oncology....go for it! :shifty:
 
Did you have a change of heart? I would think the rules of the match still apply for PGY-2. You're in a contract and obligated to start unless you have a huge reason why you can't.
 
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Well - I guess not a change of heart necessarily, but I just feel like the job is an opportunity I may not have in the future, knowing that just because I complete a PGY-2 does not guarantee that I will get a clinical position. This is a job in my ideal practice setting. I understand that the match is a contract, but I did see where there is a part of the rules saying the contract can be broken if both parties have a written agreement. I was really looking to see if anyone had any experience with this at all...especially from the director standpoint. I was curious to know how a residency director would feel about the situation. Any further thoughts?
 
No experience, but I would have to think the director isn't going to be too thrilled and they're going to have to find someone else to fill the position.
 
Did your current place just make this offer?

I would say it's a terrible move on their part. They should have made this offer before rankings were due. They did you and your PGY2 a huge disservice by making this offer now.
 
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If it's your dream job, go for it. Do what's best for you.
 
I'm with njac. It's kinda puts you in a tough spot since rank lists were due 3/7 and now 3 weeks later your PGY-1 is offering you a clinical job there. Especially since they KNEW you were applying for PGY-2 spots.

I can't imagine the program director at the PGY-2 would be happy about this. They are now left to try and scramble (a week after the scramble goes out) or have no resident at all.

It's obviously up to you but the PGY-2 program is probably not going to think highly of you and pharmacy is a small world.
 
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There is an article in AJHP addressing this, entitled: "Frequency of and reasons for pharmacy residents breaching the National Matching Services applicant agreement" by Cohen V, et al. (PMID: 20966149)

Obviously, it is not an ideal situation for anybody, and it certainly doesn't look good, but it has happened in the past (enough times to warrant writing an article). But if you can still have the career you want- then you have to do what is right for you. If you read the article you will see that really the only consequences to those who withdrew were either "nothing" or "banned from being hired" at that institution. Pharmacy is a small world though.

Something to consider: if your institution acted in this manner, and completely disregarded the entire match process (i.e. didn't offer the position to you before the rank list was due) what will they do in the future, that may once again screw you over?
 
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Pharmacy is a really small world. If you turn down the match, the program can report you and request you are never able to match again. This might also spread to other hospitals and it would be a long time before they would forget what you did. I wouldn't feel good about an institution that participates in the match trying the screw another program like this.
 
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This might also spread to other hospitals and it would be a long time before they would forget what you did. I wouldn't feel good about an institution that participates in the match trying the screw another program like this.

I always wonder when I read statements like these. In five years, when the poster has built up his resume in his new position and is looking to transition somewhere else, won't the people involved in this acute scenario have also moved? Will they really carry his/her name in a black book of bad pharmacists, or will they more likely just move on with their lives and forget?
 
I always wonder when I read statements like these. In five years, when the poster has built up his resume in his new position and is looking to transition somewhere else, won't the people involved in this acute scenario have also moved? Will they really carry his/her name in a black book of bad pharmacists, or will they more likely just move on with their lives and forget?

Depends how small the specialty is.
 
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I think it is poor form. You entered into the match and should fullfill your obligation.
 
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I would not back out of PGY2 especially if it's in a competitive specialty. You might not realize it now and this job might look very tempting but PGY2 would open a lot of doors. Yes, you might not get a job at current institution in one year, that's a risk. But think what if you get sick of the current job and want transition to a different role or institution eventually, having PGY2 would give you a competitive edge. Many institutions preferentially hire PGY2 trained pharmacists even over PGY1s with experience. My advice is to stick with PGY2 (since you already matched) and look for a job after it.
 
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I always wonder when I read statements like these. In five years, when the poster has built up his resume in his new position and is looking to transition somewhere else, won't the people involved in this acute scenario have also moved? Will they really carry his/her name in a black book of bad pharmacists, or will they more likely just move on with their lives and forget?

Some people might remember. I know I've had a couple of atrocious students who I remember well enough that even years later, I could give my DOP a good reason not to hire them. I wouldn't say that I hold a grudge against these individuals, though. I liked them as people and hope they find success in life; I just think they'd be lousy pharmacists.
 
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Did your current place just make this offer?

I would say it's a terrible move on their part. They should have made this offer before rankings were due. They did you and your PGY2 a huge disservice by making this offer now.

This also makes me wonder if maybe there's some sort of bait-and-switch going on here. "I know we said you'd be an ID specialist, but the job is actually just staffing. Sucker!" I'd stick with the PGY-2, OP. Something about this offer just doesn't seem right.
 
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Thanks for the input everyone. I was just curious to see what people's opinions were out there. I thought it over quite a lot and decided to go with the PGY-2. Thanks everyone!!
 
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Thanks for the input everyone. I was just curious to see what people's opinions were out there. I thought it over quite a lot and decided to go with the PGY-2. Thanks everyone!!

I don't usually post here but I stumbled upon this thread and feel obligated to comment. You are getting terrible advice and about to make a poor decision. Take the job. Yes - the residency program may be upset with you in the short-term, but you need to do what is in your best interest. They will understand the situation you are in. You may burn a bridge at the institution where you matched, but you will in no way be "blacklisted" beyond that. People will understand that you made a rationale decision. I am in contact with many PGY2 residents who are currently stressed as they look for jobs. Do you really want to go through this in a year? Look at it this way: the job you have been offered NOW would be the same job you would be looking for after a year of additional training. The job market is poor and getting worse. There is no guarantee that you will even find another specialist job following additional training. Why would you possibly do another residency? There is also not a valid argument to be made that it will be better for you long-term. If you have several years of experience as a clinic specialist in critical care, for example, a hiring manager considering you for future positions is not going to care that you don't have a PGY2 specialty -- you are already doing the job! Also consider the financial side. You want to give up ~80-100k to do a PGY2?
 
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