All Independent programs now 3 years!
Started by circleofwillis
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Yes. It's been discussed on this forum if you search for threads. The independent pathway to PRS is now essentially 10 years (5 yrs general surgery + 2 years research + 3 years plastics), versus 6 for integrated (many of the 5 year integrated programs are transitioning as well, I believe). Depending on what year resident you are you might be able to sneak into one of the remaining 2-yr fellowship programs, but they are being phased out (as each class accepted to a 2-yr track graduates, an entering class on a 3-yr track comes in).
Methinks the student doth overstate the length of training a bit. While dedicated research time may be profitable, it is hardly necessary. Most successful applicants have not spent additional time in the lab.
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I'll second that. There seems to be a notion that independent applicants must do research to be competitive. That is simply not true. Most of the applicants that I met last year had not spent additional years in the lab. For many in the match last year, the overall length of training will be 5+2 = 7. That's one year longer than most combined/integrated residencies.
Wow, I stand corrected. Maybe it's just the trend up here, but every.single.resident I've talked to who's planning on applying in plastics will do, is doing, or has done at least 1 year of research. Without exception. They feel they would have no shot matching otherwise, no matter how strong their resumes.
i hope you're right about the training length being 5yrs of general vs 5+2. otherwise 10yrs total would be insanity (and likely another year of super fellowship). however, i should say that in my experience, i don't know of a single top plastics program that has general surgery applicants without any years spent in the lab.
To answer the original question, yes, all independent programs are now 3 years. Sorry.
I heard for 2010 a few programs will still be two years in length but by 2011 all programs must be three...Anyone hear the same?
During my 3 years at Duke, where I saw 9 fellows in the PRS program, all save two had done 7 years of GS (all at programs that were 5+2 research, Duke included), save for one person that had done 8 years (voluntarily, not because he needed the extra paper for his app), and one solitary guy that had done 5 years of GS straight (and noticeably didn't mesh with the other fellows).
