Anesthesia Residency problem...

[skeweddoc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

OK i have a huge problem. I am considering anesthesia residency but I am not doing the rotation for it until november. The problem is that I wont have an anesthesia letter in time! OUCH! How much will this hurt my application. Am I likely to get any interviews without doing the rotation nor having a letter of recommendation? It is a horrible situation to be in! Please help!?

 

[usnavdoc]

OK i have a huge problem. I am considering anesthesia residency but I am not doing the rotation for it until november. The problem is that I wont have an anesthesia letter in time! OUCH! How much will this hurt my application. Am I likely to get any interviews without doing the rotation nor having a letter of recommendation? It is a horrible situation to be in! Please help!?

None of that matters! Its just like getting accepted to med school, the only thing that matters is board scores and grades/gpa. All the rest is ancillary icing.

 

[CalCoug]

I agree to a point with usnavdoc, but many programs say they require at least one letter from an anesthesiologist. I would find someone you could work with on weekends or talk to your program director or chair about at least getting a generic letter.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Talk to your program director stat.

If you are serious about anesthesia, they should be able to get you rotating somewhere in some capacity (even if it's just a lot of call and weekends) now.

If they can't do it, there are many departments around the country and there should be room for you somewhere.

 

[scotchnwater]

OK i have a huge problem. I am considering anesthesia residency but I am not doing the rotation for it until november. The problem is that I wont have an anesthesia letter in time! OUCH! How much will this hurt my application. Am I likely to get any interviews without doing the rotation nor having a letter of recommendation? It is a horrible situation to be in! Please help!?

You may try your Dept. Chair in addition to your school's PD - they usually write lots of letters this time of year and totally expect it.

 

[leaverus]

Just curious: you haven't done ANY type of rotation in anesthesia til now? How do you know anesthesia's right for you then? You must have had some kind of exposure to it other than as med student on your surgery clerkship. Any surgical ICU experience where you met an anesthesiologist who could write you a letter?

 

[loveumms]

wouldn't worry too much. I didn't get my anesthesia letter until november either. It wasn't a problem and I ended up matching at my #1 choice.

 

[dragonfly99]

I agree w/the comment above that getting in somewhere will depend more on your 3rd year grades and board scores.
However, I would try to get some exposure to anesthesiology before November. Just go to the anesthesiology residency program director, or the dept. chair, at your medical school and inform them about your problem, and ask if there is an attending or on call fellow, etc. that you can work with. They might have an opening to rotate in the pain clinic, or just take some after hours call, etc. You basically just need 1 letter. If you can't get it until November it's not a tragedy but it would be best to show your face in the anesthesiology dept. as much as possible this fall anyway, so it can't hurt you to be proactive.