I've already done an internship and want to apply for CA-1 for 2005. On ERAS, if programs offer advanced positions, does that mean they are offering a CA-1 position for 2005 or does that just mean that you have to find your own internship and the CA-1 position starts 2006? Thanks.
applying for CA-1 on ERAS
- Thread starter mbmb
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Im currently a PGY1 and have pretty much the same question. How do I apply for a CA1 spot starting in 05??? I've had some programs tell me to apply via their paper application, but the others havent given a clear answer? Is it through ERAS (am i gonna have to go through that **** again?)mbmb said:
Thanks
I'm also a PGY1 who's switching next year. Many of the programs I contacted want an ERAS application. I know it's a huge pain, but I looked into collecting and sending your information yourself to each program and it turns out to be more work and cost more money (to release transcripts/USMLE score, etc). All you need to do is ask your Dean's Office at your school to send you an ERAS Token for this year. Fill it out just like last year, but don't register for the match. Any open positions for 2005 should be offered to us outside the match.
A lot of the programs I heard from also said they would be interviewing for 2005 at the same time as 2006. Hopefully they would be able to offer us a position before the match. I will have to give my program some kind of heads-up before I leave.
Hope this was a little helpful. I does suck to have to be doing this all over again this year, but the alternative is worse!
Good luck!
A lot of the programs I heard from also said they would be interviewing for 2005 at the same time as 2006. Hopefully they would be able to offer us a position before the match. I will have to give my program some kind of heads-up before I leave.
Hope this was a little helpful. I does suck to have to be doing this all over again this year, but the alternative is worse!
Good luck!
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cak said:
yeah the alternative is worse, rounding on saturday mornings on RSV sickies for the rest of my life...id rather be intubating and sedating em for hydrocele repairs and VP shunt placements!!!
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Most programs that list advanced positions are referring to supplemental positions that require you to find your own internship. For the upcoming year, that means PGY-2/CA-1 starting July, 2006.
However, when I was transferring into anesthesiology, most programs I interviewed at stated that an ERAS application could and would be used by the programs for consideration for open spots in the immediately upcoming academic year. In other words, these programs can use the informatio you provide them through ERAS for consideration of any CA-1 positions they may still have available starting July, 2005.
You have to contact the individual programs to determine if this is the case. Some programs prefer that you send a separate application if you are applying for a CA-1 position in the class that has already gone through the match.
I think that it is a benefit to a transfer resident to have a program consider their application through ERAS since it would give you a chance for a CA-1 position in both 2005 and 2006.
For MBMB: If you are finished with your internship and are now in your PGY-2 year, if you don't get a spot for next year, you may as well finish this residency (assuming it is not a 3+ year residency), get boarded in that field, and then go to anesthesiology. That is if you cannot get a position for the upcoming year. At Southwestern, we have/have had board certified internists, pediatricians, critical care specialists, urologists, general surgeons, an FMG CT surgeon, and family practitioners. It was a long road for them, but almost all of them presented superior skills and clinical judgement that allowed them to excel, get great clinical reviews, and thus get great jobs.
However, when I was transferring into anesthesiology, most programs I interviewed at stated that an ERAS application could and would be used by the programs for consideration for open spots in the immediately upcoming academic year. In other words, these programs can use the informatio you provide them through ERAS for consideration of any CA-1 positions they may still have available starting July, 2005.
You have to contact the individual programs to determine if this is the case. Some programs prefer that you send a separate application if you are applying for a CA-1 position in the class that has already gone through the match.
I think that it is a benefit to a transfer resident to have a program consider their application through ERAS since it would give you a chance for a CA-1 position in both 2005 and 2006.
For MBMB: If you are finished with your internship and are now in your PGY-2 year, if you don't get a spot for next year, you may as well finish this residency (assuming it is not a 3+ year residency), get boarded in that field, and then go to anesthesiology. That is if you cannot get a position for the upcoming year. At Southwestern, we have/have had board certified internists, pediatricians, critical care specialists, urologists, general surgeons, an FMG CT surgeon, and family practitioners. It was a long road for them, but almost all of them presented superior skills and clinical judgement that allowed them to excel, get great clinical reviews, and thus get great jobs.
I would certainly defer to UTSouthwestern's wisdom in this matter; however, I would also advise you to read about how medicare funds a finite number of years in residency positions on the AMCAS website...you will learn why programs (that don't have tons of extra money) may have an incentive to take you *before* you finish your residency b/c then you'll have a full year of funding the from medicare that the program will not have to pay for...
but certainly there are programs that would prefer the skilled clinician to one with more funding, I imagine it's a sliding scale.
best of luck-
but certainly there are programs that would prefer the skilled clinician to one with more funding, I imagine it's a sliding scale.
best of luck-
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Last year at this time I was a PGY-2 internal medicine resident looking into switching into anesthesia. I emailed around 30-40 programs asking about positions available for the next year (similar to what you'd be doing now) and around 5-6 of them had positons available. I suggest you email places you are interested in. I didn't want to go to any of the programs that had spots available so I went through the match and got a good spot. I'd say its at least worth trying though.
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Bump for those looking to transfer.
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DB, I'm amazed at the quality of people looking to transfer. We have a couple of board certified IM residents, surgery, optho, and next year's class will have a board certified pediatrician who is also board certified in pediatric critical care. Talk about overeducation. The quality of this year's transfer may make our department and other departments create more positions.
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Bumped. I am also starting to feel that transferring (from gas to gas) would be in my best interest.
My situation is this: matched into a program on probation (not first on my list). facutly and didactic issues have continued to decay rather than improve. lack of fellowship-trained faculty has me wondering how well I will be trained, and more immediately, how the next acgme revew will pan out. I am PGY-1 and thoroughly enjoy this hospital, area, people, few remaining faculty, etc., but... I do need to graduate.
Is it reasonable to jump ship now? Is that even possible? Is it smarter to stay put and see if things improve or start emailing now looking for open 2007 CA-1 spots? It is difficult to speak to the PD about this now as he is still trying to turn things around, but I am starting to have doubts. Is there any weight to the theory that a program that closes can help find spots in other programs that might otherwise not be available (i.e. other programs absorbing residents - or is this too goodnatured for academics?)
Which brings me to - is it ethical to email looking for spots before being officially released from this program? If I should be looking now, should I just apply for July 2007 or should I go the ERAS route for advanced 2008 spots also?
Welcome to my pickle.
My situation is this: matched into a program on probation (not first on my list). facutly and didactic issues have continued to decay rather than improve. lack of fellowship-trained faculty has me wondering how well I will be trained, and more immediately, how the next acgme revew will pan out. I am PGY-1 and thoroughly enjoy this hospital, area, people, few remaining faculty, etc., but... I do need to graduate.
Is it reasonable to jump ship now? Is that even possible? Is it smarter to stay put and see if things improve or start emailing now looking for open 2007 CA-1 spots? It is difficult to speak to the PD about this now as he is still trying to turn things around, but I am starting to have doubts. Is there any weight to the theory that a program that closes can help find spots in other programs that might otherwise not be available (i.e. other programs absorbing residents - or is this too goodnatured for academics?)
Which brings me to - is it ethical to email looking for spots before being officially released from this program? If I should be looking now, should I just apply for July 2007 or should I go the ERAS route for advanced 2008 spots also?
Welcome to my pickle.
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Here's my suggestion based on my personal experience.
Apply through ERAS for 2008 advanced (CA1/PGY2 positions). In your interview, don't be afraid to bring up the subject of a 2007 PGY2 position. You may get an offer for a 2007 spot outside the match, or you may end up going through the match, getting a 2008 spot and then have to do something for a year (stay in residency, doc in the box, prison medicine, etc).
In addition, send a CV and cover letter to the PD of every program you may be interested in. These can be personalized using Word, and it's very easy. In your cover letter, mention that you are interested in a 2007 PGY2 position should they have one available or should one become available, describe why you want to do anesthesia, etc.
Do this now. You're competing with 2 large categories of people: PGY1s who want to switch and have probably started applications, and med students who are also doing this. Most med students probably have the jump on you, so you need to start right now. For ERAS, you'll need letters, and it's not a bad idea to have some from internship because PDs will want to know that they're not hiring some whining, lazy intern looking for an easier way out.
Apply through ERAS for 2008 advanced (CA1/PGY2 positions). In your interview, don't be afraid to bring up the subject of a 2007 PGY2 position. You may get an offer for a 2007 spot outside the match, or you may end up going through the match, getting a 2008 spot and then have to do something for a year (stay in residency, doc in the box, prison medicine, etc).
In addition, send a CV and cover letter to the PD of every program you may be interested in. These can be personalized using Word, and it's very easy. In your cover letter, mention that you are interested in a 2007 PGY2 position should they have one available or should one become available, describe why you want to do anesthesia, etc.
Do this now. You're competing with 2 large categories of people: PGY1s who want to switch and have probably started applications, and med students who are also doing this. Most med students probably have the jump on you, so you need to start right now. For ERAS, you'll need letters, and it's not a bad idea to have some from internship because PDs will want to know that they're not hiring some whining, lazy intern looking for an easier way out.
