Anyone finishing or starting Peds Path?

[Aubrey]

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I'm still feeling wishy-washy about the whole AP/CP vs. AP thing. I'm interested in doing a Peds fellowship, and I'm wondering if I would be limiting myself terribly in terms of eventual positions by going AP only vs. combined. Yes, I'm oriented academically, but given LADoc00's constant propaganda... I'm not made of stone ya know. 🙂

Given that we can't send our ERAS applications until September 1, I'm hoping to talk to as many people as possible between now and then and come up with a logical plan for the future (talk about wishful thinking, eh?).

 

[CameronFrye]

From what I've been told, the general consensus seems to be that if you are having any doubts, you should probably go with AP/CP. I've been told about AP-only people trying to leave academics and had some difficulty b/c without CP, it limits your ability to take call. On the other hand, if you're 100% set on academics, then AP-only would be fine.

I believe in one of your previous messages you said that you were at UVA. They just hired a pediatric pathologist, so you could get her advice.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I'm still feeling wishy-washy about the whole AP/CP vs. AP thing. I'm interested in doing a Peds fellowship, and I'm wondering if I would be limiting myself terribly in terms of eventual positions by going AP only vs. combined. Yes, I'm oriented academically, but given LADoc00's constant propaganda... I'm not made of stone ya know. 🙂

Given that we can't send our ERAS applications until September 1, I'm hoping to talk to as many people as possible between now and then and come up with a logical plan for the future (talk about wishful thinking, eh?).

Although it's always nice to tell programs if you're AP or AP/CP (this is only if you've made a firm, solid decision), you can be equivocal for application purposes.

And let's say you start residency as AP only, many programs will be flexible to accomodate you if you decide to switch to AP/CP.

Let's say you start out AP/CP, on the other hand, it is still possible to switch to AP only if you decide that is the best for you. The only issue that may arise is that you will have already done some CP rotations if you go to a program which intermingles AP rotations and CP rotations throughout the first year.

For the ERAS applications, many programs don't require you to designate AP vs. AP/CP. A few programs will make that distinction. If you're feeling wishy-washy about it, I would recommend that you check off the AP/CP box when you apply to those programs.

 

[yaah]

As one resident here said - "You can be a turd in a top hat and still get a pedes path fellowship." There aren't that many of them out there, but at the same time there aren't a lot of people looking for them either. We have a senior resident here doing a fellowship next year and he had his pick. You are somewhat limiting yourself to academics though by doing pedes path - it is kind of a niche field.

Whether AP/CP or straight AP matters for pedes path, I am not sure. It does often include a lot of heme though.

 

[Aubrey]

You are somewhat limiting yourself to academics though by doing pedes path - it is kind of a niche field.

Whether AP/CP or straight AP matters for pedes path, I am not sure. It does often include a lot of heme though.

This is a regular source of consternation for me.. With what I read about academics becoming more like private practice, especially with regards to faculty compensation being tied to clinical revenues, it makes me think that we might be wiser to do AP/CP, even if we're going academic, just to improve our marketability.

I concur wholeheartedly with the "do what you like the best, your future will work itself out" perspective, but one extra year to open up more potential future positions seems like a reasonable tradeoff. I wouldn't want to miss out on a dream academic job just because I couldn't cover blood bank 4 weeks a year.. gah. The whole fellowship issue is another major headache.. at least we all have a month to make some firm[er] decisions before ERAS starts up.

 

[LADoc00]

I could smoke hookah pipes on Thai beach for a year and get more career advancement opportunities than a peds path fellowship. I would advise a surfing fellowship in Malibu, a certificate in bar hopping in NYC or any number of better options...

 

[b&ierstiefel]

...but one extra year to open up more potential future positions seems like a reasonable tradeoff. I wouldn't want to miss out on a dream academic job just because I couldn't cover blood bank 4 weeks a year.. gah. The whole fellowship issue is another major headache.. at least we all have a month to make some firm[er] decisions before ERAS starts up.

And that is a totally legitimate argument. That is why even many MD/PhDs interested in academics and research even are flocking more and more to AP/CP. I'm totally disinterested in CP but hell, who knows...I may decide to do CP after my 2 years of AP. Nah...probably not...but as I go through life, I'm always cognizant of the "never say never" saying.