anyone (US grads) start residency after a LOOOONG break after graduating med school?

[ramonaquimby]

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i'm in this situation and scared to death about starting residency next year. what did you do to stay up-to-date? what was the hardest part about the big transition? any advice?

 

[swampthing]

i'm in this situation and scared to death about starting residency next year. what did you do to stay up-to-date? what was the hardest part about the big transition? any advice?

I already graduated med school, did an internship a few years ago, and have not started a residency. This is actually a common situation for military doctors, especially in the US Navy. In the Navy, we generally have to serve the fleet as general practitioners before they give us the "privilege" of residency. Personally, I think it's a bunch of $@#%. However, it actually worked out for me because I really did not know what I wanted to do until I finished my internship. Plus, it's a great bullet to have in my CV. I am applying for residency this year.

I am using the extra time until residency by volunteering in my desired specialty ("rubbing elbows" to get great LORs), reading its journals, and publishing articles at every opportunity (this can be "hit or miss"). I also try to attend CME conferences once or twice a year (great place to get pharmaceutical pens and other goodies).

 

[GMO2003]

I already graduated med school, did an internship a few years ago, and have not started a residency. This is actually a common situation for military doctors, especially in the US Navy. In the Navy, we generally have to serve the fleet as general practitioners before they give us the "privilege" of residency. Personally, I think it's a bunch of $@#%. However, it actually worked out for me because I really did not know what I wanted to do until I finished my internship. Plus, it's a great bullet to have in my CV. I am applying for residency this year.

I am using the extra time until residency by volunteering in my desired specialty ("rubbing elbows" to get great LORs), reading its journals, and publishing articles at every opportunity (this can be "hit or miss"). I also try to attend CME conferences once or twice a year (great place to get pharmaceutical pens and other goodies).

swampthing...good to see other GMOs/DMOs/flight docs going back to residency...I myself will be going back in 2007...good luck man.. 👍

 

[trixmd]

Ditto.

I'm a 98 grad from medical school, and have been in the fleet burning down my obligated service, so I can do a residency that the Navy doesn't currently offer. (PMR). I'm applying this summer for an R2 spot in 2007.

As far as my CV goes, I've done some research and been published a couple times, become an ATLS instructor, and put on a yearly CME for operational docs in my area. To keep current, I go to one or two CME conferences a year (paid for by the Navy - yippee), grand rounds at the local PMR training program, and spend a couple days with clinics in areas which I know I could improve. (For example, I sucked at reading EKGs, so I hung out with the cardiologists on and off for a couple months. Now I don't suck so much..) I also subscribe to a couple journals - one of which is the AAFP journal, which I think every general practitioner should read.

Cheers -
Trix

 

[ramonaquimby]

bump

 

[KatieJune]

How long have you had between finishing school and residency? Any reasons besides military? What if someone takes time off to have kids for a few years and then desides to do residency...can't imagine it would be a good thing, but how bad would it be?

 

[swampthing]

How long have you had between finishing school and residency? Any reasons besides military? What if someone takes time off to have kids for a few years and then desides to do residency...can't imagine it would be a good thing, but how bad would it be?

As I stated above, I'm a U.S. naval flight surgeon (aka "general practitioner with additional training in avaition medicine"). I graduated med school in 2002. I completed internship in 2003. I'm currently applying for residency. If I match, then I'll start a civilian residency in 2007. I believe some residency programs will look favorably on my military experience because of the valuable and practical skills I learned (eg. leadership, maturity, traveled and saw the world, etc).

 

[usnavdoc]

As I stated above, I'm a U.S. naval flight surgeon (aka "general practitioner with additional training in avaition medicine"). I graduated med school in 2002. I completed internship in 2003. I'm currently applying for residency. If I match, then I'll start a civilian residency in 2007. I believe some residency programs will look favorably on my military experience because of the valuable and practical skills I learned (eg. leadership, maturity, traveled and saw the world, etc).

I was a year ahead of you in the navy. I applied last year outside of the match for anesthesiology and was really unsure how programs would feel about me being away from hospital medicine for the last 4 years. But surprisingly every place I applied to was very receptive. I found that the interviews were very much the programs selling themselves to me. In the end I was able to pick and choose which program I wanted.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Im starting in 06 as a PGY2. I think if I were going into medicine or gen surg Id probably repeated internship. But Depending on specialty You should be able to walk in as a pgy2.

good luck with the match

 

[GoofyDoc]

How long have you had between finishing school and residency? Any reasons besides military? What if someone takes time off to have kids for a few years and then desides to do residency...can't imagine it would be a good thing, but how bad would it be?

Hi. That's what I did. I don't see why taking time off to start a family is a bad thing. I guess it won't be looked upon too favorably but I'm applying this year so I'll find out for sure. Personally, it's been kind of tough watching my peers go on and almost finish residency, but I don't regret my decision. I have a wonderful daughter who I got to spend quality time with and I won't be going into residency with any feelings of guilt. 😎

 

[KatieJune]

Hi. That's what I did. I don't see why taking time off to start a family is a bad thing. I guess it won't be looked upon too favorably but I'm applying this year so I'll find out for sure. Personally, it's been kind of tough watching my peers go on and almost finish residency, but I don't regret my decision. I have a wonderful daughter who I got to spend quality time with and I won't be going into residency with any feelings of guilt. 😎

Hey, just wondering how long you took off. Have you had a lot of questions about it in interviews? Do you think it makes it harder for some programs/specialties more than others? Thanks so much!

 

[Domokun]

Hi I am a U.S. allopathic med graduate. I took a couple years off after finishing a prelim internship for personal health reasons, and would now like to apply for residency. Do you know if I have to apply through the match? Or do most programs accept post-grad apps outside of the match? If I were to do the match, how would I do that since I am no longer in med school? My Dean's office has not gotten back to me on how to do this yet... but had previously advised I contact programs directly? Any help would be much appreciated! Is it too late for this wave of applications?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hi I am a U.S. allopathic med graduate. I took a couple years off after finishing a prelim internship for personal health reasons, and would now like to apply for residency. Do you know if I have to apply through the match?

Usually its the best way to find positions.

Or do most programs accept post-grad apps outside of the match?

As an independent candidate, you are eligible to accept a position outside of the match, but I wouldn't say that most programs accept or offer pre-match contracts. Many do not.

If I were to do the match, how would I do that since I am no longer in med school? My Dean's office has not gotten back to me on how to do this yet... but had previously advised I contact programs directly?

You apply to the match just as you would if you were a 4th year medical student. Your former medical school can supply your LORs, including Dean's letter, but it would be expected that you have letters from your internship (which of course, can be obtained from your former residency program).

You should expect, having taken a couple of years off, to repeat your internship. I know it seems unfair, but this is likely to be what you will be faced with. Therefore, apply for PGY-1 positions in your desired field, understand that you have used a year of your GME funding so some programs will not be interested and you need to supply info from your former program.

Any help would be much appreciated! Is it too late for this wave of applications?

Depends on how quickly you can get your app and letters together and what you are applying for.