Combined residency programs?

[rpkall]

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Hi all.

I was hoping to get some info on how combined residency programs typically are started at institutions that have programs in each of the disciplines--but the departments are entirely separate.

I'm a 3rd year, thinking about doing a combined program; my wife and I would love to stay in our house while I do residency here, start a family, etc, etc.

Is there a way to get my home med school institution to "start" a combined program in my areas of interest (psych/neuro for example) if they have individual psych and neuro programs presently? Or is it completely insane to expect that something like this is possible...?

Any info/anecdotes would be much appreciated!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Although you can try to do this, it is a difficult task.

The combined program will need a program director, and that PD must be dual boarded in the two fields. Some combined tracks allow two "co-directors" each boarded in one of the fields.

The combined program will need a curriculum. You can't simply say that the two individual program curricula combined are the curriculum -- someone will need to write one.

Since you would count as a half of a resident in each program, you would need to convince each program to run one half of a resident short (or alternatively, convince GME to let each program run one half of a resident over their quota)

The most difficult part of all of this is convincing everyone to do all this work for you alone. If you can convince them that this is a good long term project, and that this will continue and attract good applicants, then it will be much easier.

Good luck! Can't hurt to ask.

 

[yaah]

The other question is why? Why not do one or the other? Doing just one does not forbid you from exposure to the other (as elective or research or whatever). I get the impression a lot of med students think doing multiple fields will somehow help their career or be more fulfilling more than just being good in one field. In truth, most fields of medicine are very diverse with wide areas of interest, and becoming competent in one field completely is very difficult - stretching yourself further and further doesn't really do anyone any good.