3 years of internal medicine then 5 years of general surgery

[mpd210]

Is this possible or would surgery program directors look down on an applicant who has already done an internal medicine residency???

I applied late for surgery so I think my chances of matching are slim. I wouldn't mind doing an internal medicine residency and then a surgery residency as I like both fields...

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[Castro Viejo]

Is this possible or would surgery program directors look down on an applicant who has already done an internal medicine residency???

I applied late for surgery so I think my chances of matching are slim. I wouldn't mind doing an internal medicine residency and then a surgery residency as I like both fields...

The PDs would be less likely to take you because the institution would have to pick up the tab for the cost of your training, rather than this money coming from CMS.

I don't know that "liking both fields" justifies wanting to do residencies in BOTH. I'd think about bowing out of the match this year, taking a prelim position in General Surgery, and re-applying next year. Doing your medicine residency now and re-applying will just be a red flag on your application.

And there are those in the General Surgery world who believe that surgeons are "internists who have completed their training." 🙂

 

[Apollyon]

Back when I was a med student, there was a Kings County/SUNY-Brooklyn General Surgery chief that had done his 3 years of IM - but he said that "that was until I saw the light!" (ie, he wasn't going to do both).

 

[RTrain]

And there are those in the General Surgery world who believe that surgeons are "internists who have completed their training." 🙂

And there are also those of us who do medicine consults for general surgery who know the truth. 😉

 

[Tired]

Is this possible or would surgery program directors look down on an applicant who has already done an internal medicine residency???

God knows I do . . .

 

[Doowai]

THe guy I did a pain management rotation with MS4 had done 3 years of surgery residency before deciding he did not like it, then completed an anesthesiology residency, then an interventional pain management residency

 

[Leukocyte]

I am also planning on doing a GS residency after I complete my FM residency.

To the OP: Why choose IM? You get no surgical exposure/training in IM residency.

I intentionaly chose FM. As a "surgical type", I cannot stand internists. I literaly HATE IM. I chose FM at an unopposed university program. We are the only residents in the entire hospital. We do many procedures, scrub as a first assist on all the surgeries during surgery rotations/electives, and perform C-section on a regular basis (no OB/GYN residents). Plus it gives me the ability to "network" with surgical attending and to get LOR from them.

Good Luck, but again It is strange to to find a "surgical type" go into such an anti-surgery specialty like IM.😕

 

[carrigallen]

huh. if you like surgery, it does not make sense to do three years of medicine. you will hate it. your co-residents will hate you.

If you can't match gen surg, do a prelim surgery year...and wait for your categorical co-residents to drop out. One or two invariably does.

 

[Castro Viejo]

And there are also those of us who do medicine consults for general surgery who know the truth. 😉

True dat.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Agree with the others here.

If you had a change of heart after doing an IM (or during) residency, surgery PDs would most certainly understand you wanting to switch. However, going in with the plan to do both smacks of dilettantism and isn't viewed very highly.

Besides, as others have noted, there is the issue of CMS funding which will make your application less desirable. I'd take Castro's advice and take a Prelim spot in Surgery which can be used for a lof of things should you not get a Categorical position next year.