Contingency Plans

[Adam Smasher]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Consider the following: You try your best, graduate, but emerge from the match/scramble empty-handed. You now have a DPM degree, a year's worth of free time, and enough debt to make the U.S. treasury department blush. What do you do?

In anticipation of where this discussion might go, here are some responses I would appreciate NOT seeing:

1. Whining. Yes, the residency shortage is an ugly situation, but whining won't accomplish anything.

2. Admonitions to try my best. Everyone is going to try their best, and for some, it won't be enough.

3. Admonitions to hope for the best. I do hope for the best. I also plan for the worst.

So to repeat the original question, what is the best strategy for students who don't match and want to reapply to residency programs the following year?

 

[PADPM]

I'm not sure if there is a simple answer, but options with the military can possibly be explored.

 

[zloetakoe]

Consider the following: You try your best, graduate, but emerge from the match/scramble empty-handed. You now have a DPM degree, a year's worth of free time, and enough debt to make the U.S. treasury department blush. What do you do?

In anticipation of where this discussion might go, here are some responses I would appreciate NOT seeing:

1. Whining. Yes, the residency shortage is an ugly situation, but whining won't accomplish anything.

2. Admonitions to try my best. Everyone is going to try their best, and for some, it won't be enough.

3. Admonitions to hope for the best. I do hope for the best. I also plan for the worst.

So to repeat the original question, what is the best strategy for students who don't match and want to reapply to residency programs the following year?

set up shop in west philly?

 

[Feli]

The most viable options would probably be industry (fixation/biologic/etc) consulting/design/rep, military, etc.

In reality, you will have red flags popping up probably during your first year - definitely by 2nd - if you are in real jeopardy of not getting a residency spot: more C/Fs than A/Bs and ranking in the bottom 25% of the class, failing pt1 nbpme, etc. If you end up in that boat, you probably have to do some soul searching and ask yourself truly if you are struggling because of too much social/party time and not enough studying or whether you are really studying as hard as you can and pod school just might not be the best route for you.

 

[347932]

If you take a hard look at the APMA News and online there are positions for non residency trained podiatrists with large companies that manage the care of nursing home patients nationwide. The real issue is actually getting a license as at this point most(?) states require at least one year of residency to be eligible. That is an option as you continue your residency search after graduation.

 

[Saint419]

On a more positive note with this subject, in the past few months the APMA has approved a bunch of programs to add additional residency spots if needed (I believe it was around 100..?). I'm not sure what year you are or when these new spots will actually be added but if you (or anyone else on here) is worried there is still reason to be optimistic.

Found the link here: http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/apma/residency.pdf

 

[dtrack22]

The CPME is the organization who authorized the additional positions. And you have to remember that these are seats at programs that already exist (ie program who can take 2 residents is allowed to take 3 now).

Out of the 100 approved, only about 25 have actually been added and will be available during the match. Of course that number can go up between now and then, and even more can be added before the scramble is over.

Sounds like a lot of directors don't want to "water down" their surgical numbers, because it's evident that MAVs would be met with the additional seats. It's not about not having the cases really, it's about wanting your program to have a higher volume than the next guy's.

I wouldn't worry too much about the residency situation...when you see some of the numbers of students who haven't passed part I, will not pass part II, are applying for a second time (with and without previous training), you quickly realize that the people who are really qualified are getting seats. Work hard, be smart when applying for clerkships, and rank a bunch of programs.

 

[347932]

I wouldn't worry too much about the residency situation...when you see some of the numbers of students who haven't passed part I, will not pass part II, are applying for a second time (with and without previous training), you quickly realize that the people who are really qualified are getting seats. Work hard, be smart when applying for clerkships, and rank a bunch of programs.

👍

 

[Wikileaks83]

The practice management organization is setting up a preceptorship where you'd work with a DPM in their office and get more first hand clinic practice as well as academics to prepare you for the next year's interviews.

Applications are available only after the match/scramble.

My hat's off to these organizations that are trying to solve the problems.

 

[347932]

Is this podiatry's version of a general med internship year you would see MD/DO students doing who didn't match in their desired specialty of medicine? Are these students going to be paid a salary while gaining this pod med experience to make them stronger candidates for the next match? Are residency directors really going to be impressed with this year of extra training under a DPM?

All excellent questions. Also, who is going to cover this dr.'s ancillaries like malpractice insurance as I'm sure positions are unfunded?

 

[doc1107]

Is this podiatry's version of a general med internship year you would see MD/DO students doing who didn't match in their desired specialty of medicine? Are these students going to be paid a salary while gaining this pod med experience to make them stronger candidates for the next match? Are residency directors really going to be impressed with this year of extra training under a DPM?

I know there is only a set number of years of residency funding set aside for each MD/Do student since it is government funded. Isn't this the same for POD students too? I have heard of MD students doing two years of internship because they kept trying to get into radiology residency and ended up not having enough years of funding left. This looks very unattractive since the program can't pay you, so do those students go without pay or what?

 

[Adam Smasher]

Thanks for the tips everyone, and thanks for keeping the discussion constructive.