Just wondering if surgery residents take the ABSITE during their research years. I'd think you'd get a little rusty, spending two years in the lab...
absite during research years?
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Hopefully blade or castro will comment directly...
...but from what i'm led to believe during the GS interview trail, research GS residents do in fact take the ABSITE during their research years. Some have found that they tended to score better since they had more time to read -- but some also wondered if this was because they were taking the senior absite as lab residents vs the junior absite before starting research...
...but from what i'm led to believe during the GS interview trail, research GS residents do in fact take the ABSITE during their research years. Some have found that they tended to score better since they had more time to read -- but some also wondered if this was because they were taking the senior absite as lab residents vs the junior absite before starting research...
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My GS friends in the lab this year are indeed expected to take the ABSITE (JR exam is taken here) I don't know if this is program specific. They tend to better as I am told but I bet this has to do more with taking the junior exam with two full years of GS under their belts and more time to read/study during research year(s).
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Our lab residents took the ABSITE every year.
I realized this last year when Blade brought it up, and I thought it was pretty interesting that they continue to take the junior exam for 2 more years. This would likely cause an unfair disadvantage to actual second years, as it would be more difficult to get a high percentile when battling a bunch of lab rats with plenty of time to study and 2-3 years of experience taking this extremely consistent/repetitive test.
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As lab residents, I think we are required to take the absite. As far as I know you take the senior absite and are ranked against the level you would return as. For example, I finished my PGY-3 clinical year before entering the lab, so I am taking the senior exam and my percentile score determined with the PGY-4 cohort.
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Blade28
We're expected to take it. Our lack of clinical exposure is supposed to be offset by the extra time we have to study.
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njbmd
We took it every year. The research years were actually when we had a chance to "catch up" and rock that exam. You don't need much clinical experience for ABSITE, just keep up with your reading.
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We are given the choice between the junior and senior exam. I actually spent less time studying for it than the last two years. Have spent way more time reading journals inside, and outside of my research field.
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Is there a general consensus then about which curve senior residents are graded against or is it program specific? I have completed my PGY-3 year, doing my first year of lab research now? So does that mean I will be graded on a PGY-4 curve and a PGY-5 curve the following year? Thank you for any clarification.
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It is generally based on your CLINICAL year...thus you are clinically a PGY2 and I believe are graded accordingly, unless of course your program makes you take the senior exam (which they shouldn't).
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I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse, but if I left after completing my PGY 3 clinical year, then I would be graded on the PGY-3 curve since I have not yet technically started my PGY-4 clinical year? Thank you again for the prompt reply and the clarification.
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Yes.
Those who enter the lab after their clinical PGY2 year take the junior ABSITE with the PGY2 curve for as long as they are in the lab.
Those who enter the lab after their clinical PGY3 year take the senior ABSITE with the PGY3 curve for as long as they are in the lab.
Those who enter the lab after their clinical PGY2 year take the junior ABSITE with the PGY2 curve for as long as they are in the lab.
Those who enter the lab after their clinical PGY3 year take the senior ABSITE with the PGY3 curve for as long as they are in the lab.
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This is correct.
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it issualy based on the last clinical year you COMPLETED, so if you went in the lab after the 2nd year, you are still compared to 2nd years, not third
all our research reidents take it every year
I even took it one year when i was out sick for a few months around Jan (thats hard core, i know)
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Hmmm. Taking the ABSITE is a required part of surgical trainnig so I don't think taking it, regardless of your circumstances, is "hard core". Being "out sick" in surgery residency is a whole other bag of worms I am not going to re-open since I don't know your specific circumstances so don't want to be inadvertently insensitive. But I don't want to give other residents the idea that it is either a) optional b) a surprise that it is every January or c) something you don't have to take if you are away, even on a leave of absence or doing research in another state.
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i agree, the ABSITE is generally not optional
it is not a surprise that this test comes up in jan, although it seems that way to some interns
you are right, even if doing research or even in another state you are still required to take the absite
with that said ...
in my situation I had just gotten chemotherapy the day before the test, was trying not to vomit my guts out during test, took 8mg of zofran about every 1-2 hours (probably overkill), and still surprisingly scored the best I have ever done on the absite. So while this may not be "hard core", im pretty proud of it.
and yes, it WAS optional for me in those circumstances
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Anything that follows "I had just gotten chemotherapy and..." IS hardcore. I hope everything turned out well for you.
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There is no ACGME or ABS requirement to take the ABSITE. Any requirement to take the ABSITE is strictly program-based, and not universal law. It is a test designed by the ABS as an "evaluation instrument to assess residents' progress". That being said, individual programs often utilize the test as a checkpoint for progress. Residents in my program who are away in the lab, or even simply on vacation, do not take the test.
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This is true.
Taking the ABSITE is not a requirement by the ABS. I have heard of programs not making Prelims or lab residents take the exam, but I've never heard of a program allowing someone to miss it because they were on vacation. How do they do that - I'd imagine everyone would want to be off that week!
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deleted89854
For our lab residents, the test is optional. I called the ABS to see if I would be able to take the senior exam (I left for the lab after PGY2), and they said the test you take is at the discretion of your PD. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to take the senior exam as a second year lab resident, since I've taken the junior exam three times already.
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In my program, usually the lab kids took the senior exam. Those who were doing two years in the lab (some only did one) could take the junior exam their first year in the lab if they wanted to, but, most wanted to take the senior version since they figured they'd score higher in future years with the additional practice.
The only residents in my program I know of who were allowed NOT to take it were prelim interns who opted out, those on an official year off (sabbatical abroad) and those who were physically unable to take it due to hospitalization (but had to make it up at some point...not sure of the details as to how that worked). Lab residents always had to take it, as did the people who did a CC fellowship year after 3rd year---my program considered it a requirement since they were 'holding a spot' for them in the following academic year.
The only residents in my program I know of who were allowed NOT to take it were prelim interns who opted out, those on an official year off (sabbatical abroad) and those who were physically unable to take it due to hospitalization (but had to make it up at some point...not sure of the details as to how that worked). Lab residents always had to take it, as did the people who did a CC fellowship year after 3rd year---my program considered it a requirement since they were 'holding a spot' for them in the following academic year.
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