Changing specialties after transitional year?

[amphatoast21]

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I'm currently an M3. If I match into radiology next year and realize later on (after I start actually practicing radiology my PGY-2 year) that I'm not a great fit for radiology, could I use my transitional year for a different specialty (like internal medicine, PMR, or neuro) or would I have to redo my PGY-1 year all over again? Does it matter if I do a PGY-1 internal medicine or transitional year?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ERDOC555]

I'm pretty sure that Intern/Transitional years meet the requirements for other fields that start PGY-2, so no you wouldn't have to repeat PGY1 if you did (or switched into) a derm or anesthesia residency after radiology.

 

[amphatoast21]

What if I did a PGY-1 medicine year? If I change into say IM, would I have to redo that year?

 

[ERDOC555]

What if I did a PGY-1 medicine year? If I change into say IM, would I have to redo that year?

I'm not entirely sure on that one, but I think that's okay for Medicine PGY-1 years. I've heard of many people who don't match derm but match a PGY-1 internal medicine year and then the program just keeps them for another 2 years after that and they practice Internal Medicine. I would assume that you could transfer to another program for years 2 and 3 if they let you in, but I'm not 100% sure on this.

As for transitional years, I have no idea if that would be a possibility.

 

[GastriqueGraffin]

Prelim IM is safer than TY. Greater chance you would be able to apply it to IM training.

 

[Osteoth]

I'm not entirely sure on that one, but I think that's okay for Medicine PGY-1 years. I've heard of many people who don't match derm but match a PGY-1 internal medicine year and then the program just keeps them for another 2 years after that and they practice Internal Medicine. I would assume that you could transfer to another program for years 2 and 3 if they let you in, but I'm not 100% sure on this.

As for transitional years, I have no idea if that would be a possibility.

Prelim IM is safer than TY. Greater chance you would be able to apply it to IM training.

So then what are your options if you do a transitional year?

Ophtho, Derm, Rads, Gas?

 

[GastriqueGraffin]

So then what are your options if you do a transitional year?

Ophtho, Derm, Rads, Gas?

Options are all the same except categorical IM

 

[FrkyBgStok]

it is dependent on the program and factors. if you do a TY, it will cover the residencies who require a prelim year or a TY. if you do a prelim IM, your first year may qualify for that program if you switch, but I think it is program specific. one program may load their first year with critical care and another may load with ambulatory, so it is hard to guarantee credit across programs.

you may be fine and will likely get at least some credit, but it isn't a "for sure" that you wouldn't have to repeat your first year.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Options are all the same except categorical IM

And Neuro. Neuro board is reasonably strict about what counts for their PGY-1. Much safer with an IM Prelim than a TY. Would depend on what the TY includes.