academic careers/fellowships

[kungfufishing]

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If I decide that I would like a teaching position later in life, will my opportunities be limited if I graduate from a 1,2,3 Residency? My understanding is that if I end up in a 3 year program but decide on an academic career ( a big 'if', gotta git literit firs) I would probably need to obtain fellowship training. Would I have more options if I came from a 4 year program? Or would a 3 year plus fellowship offer me similar opportunities? How different are the opportunities available to grads of 3 v. 4 year programs (sounds like a fight!)

thanks

 

[GCS:3]

I think you'd have more opportunities if you chose the 3 year residency plus fellowship training. I heard this a couple places on the trail, including from recent 4-year grads. The sentiment was that you're more valuable academically after fellowship, since you're theoretically more specialized. Then again, I only interviewed at 3 year programs.

 

[DocWagner]

THere are articles written specifically about this at www.saem.org

 

[beyond all hope]

Sorry, but I've always been a fan of the three year plan, and I plan on doing academics.

The only major weakness you have as a three-year grad is it's almost impossible to get hired right out of residency at a four-year program in academics. (I know of at least one circumstance where it happened, but you have to know people). Most of these programs are in NY or CA.

A strong three-year will prepare you almost as well as a four year. Some four year programs offer more electives, which is good, and frequently they involve more varied rotations, but I don't think this is really all that important. Honestly, you could probably learn more as a teaching attending in that final year.

There's always the one-year fellowship option. Fellowships are easy to get in EM because almost no one does them. They will probably become more necessary for academics and therefore more competative in the future, but for now you don't need them.
I think that you'd make a stronger candidate as a three + fellowship than a four year.

The only good reason in my mind to do a four year program is if you absolutely have to be at a certain place (USC, Jacobi, Bellevue, Denver, etc). I did rank many of these programs, but I'm glad to be doing three (and hope I stay that way...)