Can a Family Med intern graduate and switch to an IM program as a PGY-2?

[sandybeach]

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I'm in an FM program currently in Southern California. I'm really enjoying my Internal Medicine rotation and the hospitalist life is becoming more appealing to me. I'm starting to think that I should have applied to IM programs instead.

I never enjoyed my inpatient rotations as a medical student, unfortunately :/

Is it possible to finish intern year as an FM resident and transition as a PGY-2 to an IM program? I know I would have to make up some ICU and ward months, but has anyone heard of this? I would hate to finish intern year and then redo intern year as an IM resident..

 

[gutonc]

Short answer: No
Long answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

But you can probably be a hospitalist after finishing FM if you want, although the jobs are probably fewer.

Or you bail now, get an IM residency, maybe get some time off for good behavior (fewer inpatient rotations as an R2/3) and then get a job as an IM hospitalist.

 

[jdh71]

No. You don't do enough in patient IM in an FP internship. If you finish FP you could probably start IM as a second year.

You can still be a hospitalist with an FP background (though probably not everywhere)

 

[IMPD]

I'm in an FM program currently in Southern California. I'm really enjoying my Internal Medicine rotation and the hospitalist life is becoming more appealing to me. I'm starting to think that I should have applied to IM programs instead.

I never enjoyed my inpatient rotations as a medical student, unfortunately :/

Is it possible to finish intern year as an FM resident and transition as a PGY-2 to an IM program? I know I would have to make up some ICU and ward months, but has anyone heard of this? I would hate to finish intern year and then redo intern year as an IM resident..

ABIM can grant up to 6 months credit for your FM rotations that are reasonably like IM training. We had someone do this 3 years ago and he went on to do Pulm/Crit, even though he was off cycle. So, difficult and can be done.

 

[styphon]

I have had a friend leave FM after one year - went into IM, had to do a few extra ICU rotations but graduated after doing 2.6yrs of internal med - he is now Pulm/CC fellow