Advice please

[res82]

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I posted a similar question in ERAS forum, but didn't get many responses, so I thought this might be a more appropriate forum.

I finished my PGY2 year in an advanced specialty in June. The program decided to not renew my contract. They said it was because they thought I would be better suited for another specialty. I was unhappy at the program, and felt that another specialty would be better for me as well.

I was just wondering if anyone who is involved in their own program's decision process could tell me how this might be viewed by program directors and committee's. I'm also wondering how much information would be appropriate for the application, and what to leave for the interview (if offered, of course). Any opinions or experience with a similar matter would be helpful.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

In general, the more up front you are with a situation like this, the better. If I see an application that states "left for personal reasons" and then has no more details, I assume the worst. The best course of action is to have your PD write an LOR explaining your performance, problems, and their assessment of the situation. That way, PD's who are reviewing your app will know exactly what the story is.

This assumes that your PD is willing to write a letter that is supportive of another program/field for you.

 

[dragonfly99]

I agree with Winged Scapula that you will do much better with a neutral, or even supportive, letter from your PD than without one. I do know at least one person who got a good spot in another specialty after not getting renewed...I know the relationship between him and the PD was poor, so not sure what type of LOR he got from the PD. In general it would make the whole process easier if you can get the PD not to poison your application.

I think you need to say something in your applications/personal statement about why you left, give your perspective on why you needed to leave the specialty. Hopefully it won't hurt you too much if you pick a specialty that is significantly different enough that you can argue that most of the skills don't transfer. You can also say that you didn't fit in at that particular program, which may have affected your performance and/or just your evaluations. This is a tough situation and I wish you well. I personally can't imagine being in that situation, b/c residency was so stressful as it was without dealing with that type stuff of having to transfer or restart a different residency...

 

[res82]

Thanks for your advice. My former program director is going to write a letter of recommendation for me which puts emphasis on my good qualities. She actually wasn't among the attendings that thought I should leave. Her thought was that this was a letter or recommendation, not a letter of evaluation, so should recommend my good qualities. aProgDirector, do you think that it is better if she talks about the problems that some of the attendings felt I had?

I was going to put something similar to this for reason for leaving : my talents were not suited for a career in specialty X. To me this is the reason why I left the specialty, and does indicate that there were some problems. I prefer to leave the explanation for the reason for an interview, because I feel that anything I write will not do the situation justice. Any thoughts if this is too vague?