3 year MD program question

[A P]

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Recently received an II to MCW regional 3 year MD program that trains physicians for FM/ IM. I am happy with this as this is my main interest other than possibly EM, but nonetheless would be fine foregoing that possibility for this program. Was just curious on potential IM fellowship opportunities if I were to go this route, would I be pretty disadvantaged compared to traditional MD students with more research opportunities? I assume things like cardiology/ heme onc would be more challenging?
To clarify, I don’t have intentions currently of a fellowship but just want to be aware of potential implications of this path.

 

[sardinetoast]

Recently received an II to MCW regional 3 year MD program that trains physicians for FM/ IM. I am happy with this as this is my main interest other than possibly EM, but nonetheless would be fine foregoing that possibility for this program. Was just curious on potential IM fellowship opportunities if I were to go this route, would I be pretty disadvantaged compared to traditional MD students with more research opportunities? I assume things like cardiology/ heme onc would be more challenging?
To clarify, I don’t have intentions currently of a fellowship but just want to be aware of potential implications of this path.

I've applied to a lot of these types of programs this cycle. I think if you have even an inkling that you would want to specialize, these wouldn't be the programs for you, right? They are focused on training primary care physicians to help with our overwhelming shortage of PCPs, not specialists. I would think you wouldn't get the experience, research, rotations needed to further subspecialize later, but I could be wrong. I also think going into one of these programs without the intention of pursuing primary care is kind of the opposite of what they are hoping for, and a little dishonest...

 

[A P]

I've applied to a lot of these types of programs this cycle. I think if you have even an inkling that you would want to specialize, these wouldn't be the programs for you, right? They are focused on training primary care physicians to help with our overwhelming shortage of PCPs, not specialists. I would think you wouldn't get the experience, research, rotations needed to further subspecialize later, but I could be wrong. I also think going into one of these programs without the intention of pursuing primary care is kind of the opposite of what they are hoping for, and a little dishonest...

I don’t see where anything I put was dishonest. I intend to pursue IM/ FM, as I stated.
Also, I would assume there are still significant needs for rural IM subspecialists as well.

 

[sardinetoast]

I don’t see where anything I put was dishonest. I intend to pursue IM/ FM, as I stated.
Also, I would assume there are still significant needs for rural IM subspecialists as well.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply you were being dishonest. But, I do think a student pursuing one of these programs with full knowledge that they intend to subspecialize is not exactly being honest. But that's my personal ethical line; I know everyone might not see it that way, and I don't expect them to. But reading the info for these types of programs, it's pretty clear they want people committed to primary care, and I think the spots should be reserved for those people.

 

[Med Ed]

Recently received an II to MCW regional 3 year MD program that trains physicians for FM/ IM. I am happy with this as this is my main interest other than possibly EM, but nonetheless would be fine foregoing that possibility for this program. Was just curious on potential IM fellowship opportunities if I were to go this route, would I be pretty disadvantaged compared to traditional MD students with more research opportunities? I assume things like cardiology/ heme onc would be more challenging?
To clarify, I don’t have intentions currently of a fellowship but just want to be aware of potential implications of this path.

You can still do research in a 3-year program, you just have to find mentorship and manage your time. The large majority of what medical students do for "research" consists of case reports, retrospective chart reviews, and similar intellectual schlock that no one will read.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

We have covered this topic in an article.

Three-Year Medical School? All About Accelerated Medical School Programs | SDN Review

The cost of attending medical school, and other health professional programs, has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, while at the same time,

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[wysdoc]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply you were being dishonest. But, I do think a student pursuing one of these programs with full knowledge that they intend to subspecialize is not exactly being honest. But that's my personal ethical line; I know everyone might not see it that way, and I don't expect them to. But reading the info for these types of programs, it's pretty clear they want people committed to primary care, and I think the spots should be reserved for those people.

Gee you know that IM is primary care…

 

[sardinetoast]

Gee you know that IM is primary care…

Yeah, I know IM is primary care.... I guess my point was if someone was choosing IM with the intent to later subspecialize in cardiology or something, I guess that doesn't really seem like the intent of the program? Fully fine if I am off base. But I thought it was for students who are pursuing IM/FM with the intent to work as a primary care physician, not later subspecialize.

 

[wysdoc]

Yeah, I know IM is primary care.... I guess my point was if someone was choosing IM with the intent to later subspecialize in cardiology or something, I guess that doesn't really seem like the intent of the program? Fully fine if I am off base. But I thought it was for students who are pursuing IM/FM with the intent to work as a primary care physician, not later subspecialize.

Ah, a perfect no-pology - pretending to apologize, but then saying you are still right twice more. What do they call that in your CASPer test?

 

[sardinetoast]

Ah, a perfect no-pology - pretending to apologize, but then saying you are still right twice more. What do they call that in your CASPer test?

I'm sorry, I didn't feel like I was saying I was right, more that that was my personal understanding of the "3 year primary care programs". I'm sorry that what I said has been offensive, that truly wasn't my intent. I've applied to more than 10 of these types of programs this cycle, and that was the understanding I came to after reading about the programs and their purpose, and writing dozens of essays for them. I was wrong 🤷‍♀️

 

[Mr.Smile12]

As I said in the article, not necessarily. Yes, applicants should read the qualifications and eligibility. But NYU Grossman allows for an accelerated schedule for direct entry into other specialties (if allowed/offered).

Three-Year MD Directed Pathway | NYU Langone Health

NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s three-year MD directed pathway offers students early entry into a variety of specialties, as well as financial savings.

med.nyu.edu