Differences in IM: Primary vs. Categorical

[medlaw06]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys...as time approaches, I, too, am in dire need of some advice BUT NOT about will u do my ROL (it would be appreciated, but it seems like not many people reply to those)...

Anyways, I have applied to a certain place and I checked off BOTH categorical AND primary. It seems like the only difference b/w the 2 programs is the amount of months spent in the ambulatory setting (primary has like 3 months, whereas categoricals do 2 months)....the differences b/w the 2 in terms of their curriculum seem minor.

Anyways, my question to you is whether or not there is any difference COME MATCHING FOR FELLOWSHIPS if I did primary track IM v. categorical IM? Also, will fellowship places know whether or not I did the primary vs. categorical? Is there something in your "residency diploma" that says that this person completed the primary vs. categorical at program X? Or will these places know that I completed my residency in IM from program X? I know that I am not asking these questions in the manner in which I wanna ask them, but I think you guys know what I mean.

Has this dilemma happened to someone else? The reason why I ask is because I have interviewed at a place that is VERY competitive (top 10) and I feel that it is HIGHLY unlikely that I will match in their categorical IM, but have a much higher shot at matching in their primary IM track. However, I am scared that this may negatively affect me when its time to apply for fellowships (wanna do GI). Currently, I have them at #1 for the categorical and #7 for the primary, but if these things do not matter much when its time for fellowships, then I will rank the primary #2 in hopes of doubling my chances.

Thoughts? Opinions?.....




[optional]...please rank these programs (seriously)

SUNY DOwnstate
Columbia Presby (categorical)
Columbia Presby (primary)
Einstein Beth Israel
UMDNJ-Newark
Lenox Hill
Einstein Jacobi (hmm....they have a quota of 10 when their program takes 30....and u wonder why US students get pissed off at FMGs....relax guys....my mom is an FMG)
SUNY Stony Brook
Maimonides
NY Hospital-Queens
Nassau (doubt I'll rank this place though....didn't like it at all)

 

[jadedbearsprite]

[QUOTE=medlaw06

Anyways, I have applied to a certain place and I checked off BOTH categorical AND primary.

Anyways, my question to you is whether or not there is any difference COME MATCHING FOR FELLOWSHIPS if I did primary track IM v. categorical IM? Also, will fellowship places know whether or not I did the primary vs. categorical?


I take it that you mean Columbia, based on your ROL.

In general, at most of the top IM programs that also have a primary care program or track, if you look at where their grads go, you will see that 1/4-1/2 of them do fellowships. These are not just endo and rheum, but often cardiology. And that doesn't always have to mean preventative cardiology. Graduates of primary care programs are a product of their program and training. If you go to a top tier primary care track, you will have the reputation of that institution behind you. No, I don't think your "diploma" necessarily specifies which track you took.

Specific to Columbia, their "primary care program" was advertised to me as "categorical PLUS," meaning it only differed from the cat program slightly. If I remember correctly, they offer an ambulatory curriculum for the primary care residents that occurs during the ambulatory blocks. This curriculum focuses more on ambulatory issues, but also teaches the residents about clinical research. I got the feeling, which was verified by my interviewers, that the goal/mission of the primary care program at Columbia is not to train their residents to go into private practice but to go on to general medicine fellowships, including the Robert Woods fellowship, and to do outcomes research. The PC program had a strong emphasis in research, but specifically epidemiology and the like (health disparities, health outcomes, etc.).

If you end up at Columbia, either program, you will be in a very good position to get a great fellowship.

Fellowships may or may not know which program you trained in. However, as most fellowships are research based, I have been told that your research is the important factor, not whether you spent more in time in ambulatory or hospital based medicine. Every residency program is required to provide so much hospital based training. You won't be lacking in either program, especially at Columbia.