Advice and suggestions welcomed

[hotdogz]

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Hi there, I'm an infrequent poster on the website but truly value all the information available. I've posted couple of times before regarding my inability to find a position. I didn't match in 2005 and neither in 2006. But by some miracle, I found a spot in a northeast program (low low tier) designated mostly for foreign grads. So I was able to start on time without taking time off. It's 6 weeks in, and I truly am not happy here. The inefficiency of the hospital is truly amazing. The attendings mostly treat you like bodies to occupy space rather than residents at a teaching hospital. Everyone is overworked and exhausted. It is not conducive to the way I learn. I know that I should consider this opportunity as a blessing, but I want to be somewhere where I am happy and not always looking forward to the end of the day. I want my training to mean something. We lack in a lot of areas including regional, cardiac, peds especially. In order for me to complete anesthesia, I know I have to transfer out for next year. My question to all of you and primarily those that have done so, how did you do it? Where do I begin? What do people look at in terms of the applicant? How feasible is it to find a spot? Given my ordeal in finding a spot, I'm thinking it will work against me and I'm stuck in this ****hole of a place. If any of you know of CA2 spots for next year, please let me know. Any 2 cents will be great, but be gentle and mature. Thanks.

 

[Laryngospasm]

Hi there, I'm an infrequent poster on the website but truly value all the information available. I've posted couple of times before regarding my inability to find a position. I didn't match in 2005 and neither in 2006. But by some miracle, I found a spot in a northeast program (low low tier) designated mostly for foreign grads. So I was able to start on time without taking time off. It's 6 weeks in, and I truly am not happy here. The inefficiency of the hospital is truly amazing. The attendings mostly treat you like bodies to occupy space rather than residents at a teaching hospital. Everyone is overworked and exhausted. It is not conducive to the way I learn. I know that I should consider this opportunity as a blessing, but I want to be somewhere where I am happy and not always looking forward to the end of the day. I want my training to mean something. We lack in a lot of areas including regional, cardiac, peds especially. In order for me to complete anesthesia, I know I have to transfer out for next year. My question to all of you and primarily those that have done so, how did you do it? Where do I begin? What do people look at in terms of the applicant? How feasible is it to find a spot? Given my ordeal in finding a spot, I'm thinking it will work against me and I'm stuck in this ****hole of a place. If any of you know of CA2 spots for next year, please let me know. Any 2 cents will be great, but be gentle and mature. Thanks.

If you cant transfer out, then suffer through it, it will be over before you know it, and will that much more worth it at the end. Good luck. 🙂

 

[SleepIsGood]

hotdogz
dude hang in there. i think we all have this "the grass is greener on the other side mentality". every program has flaws. every program probably has staff that just wants to 'work' the residents. I'm just a resident, but I think that's why there are these ASA meetings nationally. hopefully, the stuff you didnt really cover in residency due to low numbers of XYZ cases, you will get to retrain or learn about at ASA meetings.

my 2 cents. but then again, if you are feeling completely used....then i dont know.

good luck!

 

[Monty Python]

, I found a spot in a northeast program (low low tier) designated mostly for foreign grads.......... The inefficiency of the hospital is truly amazing........ We lack in a lot of areas including regional, cardiac, peds especially........

Sorry about your situation; wish I had a simple solution for you.

Just curious: which VA Hospital in NYC are you at?

 

[2ndyear]

I'd say make the best of it and look for fellowships in your weakest area. The ACGME recommendations are pretty weak, 20 heart cases for example, and this allows places to slide by on accreditation even if they have a low case volume. Fellowships are only one year. Learn the bread and butter or whatever you do there well, then take a year and concentrate on a weakness.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Hi there, I'm an infrequent poster on the website but truly value all the information available. I've posted couple of times before regarding my inability to find a position. I didn't match in 2005 and neither in 2006. But by some miracle, I found a spot in a northeast program (low low tier) designated mostly for foreign grads. So I was able to start on time without taking time off. It's 6 weeks in, and I truly am not happy here. The inefficiency of the hospital is truly amazing. The attendings mostly treat you like bodies to occupy space rather than residents at a teaching hospital. Everyone is overworked and exhausted. It is not conducive to the way I learn. I know that I should consider this opportunity as a blessing, but I want to be somewhere where I am happy and not always looking forward to the end of the day. I want my training to mean something. We lack in a lot of areas including regional, cardiac, peds especially. In order for me to complete anesthesia, I know I have to transfer out for next year. My question to all of you and primarily those that have done so, how did you do it? Where do I begin? What do people look at in terms of the applicant? How feasible is it to find a spot? Given my ordeal in finding a spot, I'm thinking it will work against me and I'm stuck in this ****hole of a place. If any of you know of CA2 spots for next year, please let me know. Any 2 cents will be great, but be gentle and mature. Thanks.

I think you and I had a conversation about your situation a year or two back. As stated above, I would not count on being able to transfer to another program, especially if the program you are currently in is not viewed as a program of at least equal footing as the one you might try to transfer to.

Residency is always tough in the CA-1 year. If you are already of the mindset that you need to get out of there, you will have absolutely no chance of learning and making progress as a resident. Use every case as an opportunity to pick up a nugget here, detail there. It all adds up in the end. Vary your choice of anesthetics as possible and maximize your learning experience with each of the cases that you feel your program may not provide the best experience with (cards, peds, regional). Read whenever you can, even if you are exhausted. Three years later, that stuff will accumulate and make you a better physician.

I am fully aware of your situation and I would again say that transferring is not going to be much of an option for you. Look at the future of your residency and if/when you will be doing away rotations at other hospitals/programs as your residency MUST provide you with a minimum of subspecialty experience in order for you to be board eligible. Maximize your experience there and consider a fellowship after residency if you feel you need to increase your depth of knowledge in a particular area.

Good luck.

 

[amyl]

Can I ask you why you had trouble finding a spot? I am med student considering anes. any advice would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!