Changing residencies

[Radiohead67]

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I'm currently an intern who matched in anesthesiology, who is completing a preliminary medicine internship. I've liked my internal medicine year more than I expected and recently I've considered changing residencies to internal medicine as a categorical (I have no problems changing hospitals for this).

Ideally I would like to get into a program as an R2. Is this possible to do or would I need to reapply as an R1? Has anyone ever gone through a similar process and if so what steps would I need to take?

 

[lord_jeebus]

I have indirect knowledge of people doing this. One way is to ask your current director if you can stick around. Another way is to contact IM programs, explain your interest in IM, and ask if they have any open spots for R2s next year. I don't think it would make sense to reapply as an R1; there should be open spots at some good programs.

 

[dragonfly99]

man
radiohead
do NOT even think about repeating your PGY1 year
What you do is go to your current medicine program director and tell him you want to stay in internal med. He'll probably jump for joy and ask you to stay on. If not, he'll probably be able to help you find program(s) that are looking for residents. If you could get in to anesthesiology there are tons of programs that would take you.

The first thing I would do after you talk with your PD for your prelim year is to start telephoning your "dream" IM residencies and see whether they might have an opening for next year. If you can expect positive references from your PD and/or other medicine attendings at your current program, you will do well. You can try for a PGY2 at whatever medicine programs you would have been competitive for as an intern (this means hospitals equal to or better than whatever tier of place you matched into for anesthesia). You can call up even places like Emory or Washington U and see if they have spots...places that are competitive and have large numbers of interns might have an open upper level spot...people leave those types of places to do derm, radiology, or they have short-trackers who just do 2 years of IM and then proceed directly to fellowship. This means they might end up short on PGY 2 and 3 people.

You could pay to get on Findaresident. I think it's about $75 for one year of access. I'll bet money there are PGY2 medicine spots on there...but I think you'll do as well or better via personal networking with your PD and/or other attendings.