EM to Anesthesia

[4roses]

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Sorry if this topic has been discussed previously.

I am finishing up residency at a top tier ER program and, to be brief, have never enjoyed it. I have often thought about anesthesia.

Has anyone here made the jump after residency into a 2nd? How hard is it to get one of these spots, and what is the length of training?

Thanks

 

[Psai]

Should be relatively easy and even more so for you. A lot of top places will take people who went through other fields and skip the intern year but these people have usually done internal medicine. I'm not sure if EM applies.

I'd just stick with EM though, the grass is always greener and 3 years is a long time to continue deferring gratification when you don't even know that you'll like it.

 

[Twiggidy]

Just stick to ED and find a decent job or do a fellowship in something like Sports Medicine. Being an attending in any field is better than being a resident.

 

[psychbender]

I've seen it happen. At this point, finish residency, at least, before jumping into a different one, so you at least have a fallback in case the second socially also isn't a good fit. What draws you to anesthesia? Would doing a CCM fellowship after your residency meet your professional goals?

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[anbuitachi]

Sorry if this topic has been discussed previously.

I am finishing up residency at a top tier ER program and, to be brief, have never enjoyed it. I have often thought about anesthesia.

Has anyone here made the jump after residency into a 2nd? How hard is it to get one of these spots, and what is the length of training?

Thanks

The concerning thing is you wont like anesthesia either. Obviously you went into ER because you thought you'd enjoy it and i guess you were wrong. what make you think it wont happen with anesthesia. what do you like about anesthesia? The main difference i see between anesthesia and ED is in anesthesia we focus on few patients at a time in greater detail, while you guys handle many patients. with that said, you will still get disrespected, the hours in anesthesia will be significantly longer than your ER hours, while annual pay is similar.

With that said, you should be able to jump to CA1 year and i dont think its difficult at all. You got into a top tier ER program so you mustve did OK on step. And programs love people whove trained in something else already instead of getting someone who just finished med school.

 

[AdmiralChz]

We had a couple ED transfers into anesthesia at my program - they struggled a bit in ICU and pain rotations as well as acute pain service, but they really enjoyed the switch overall and are much happier.

 

[coffeebythelake]

My colleague was a practicing surgeon who went back for anesthesiology. Yes it happens. He seems quite happy with his decision

 

[Guillemot]

Even if you like anesthesia more consider that your life outside of work will be better as an attending (more money/ time for other parts of your life). Overall, only you can say if going back for another residency is worth it from a holistic perspective.

 

[Hamhock]

The reason for your dislike of EM is missing from you post...but I run into a fair number of EM folks who have expressed a similar desire...and often CCM (especially an IM-CCM program) is what they are looking for.

I second pyschbender's question: would a CCM fellowship be appropriate?

Your detailed answer to that question would be very informative to readers and yourself, I suspect.

HH

 

[shepardsun]

Finished peds, now CA2. Happy to answer any questions about the process if you want.

 

[GravelRider]

Don’t do it. I did a full IM residency. I like anesthesia more than IM, but not enough to have justified a second residency. My recommendation would be to finish EM, consider a fellowship, and work for a year. If you still are thinking about anesthesia at that point then go for it.

In terms of finding spots, it’s pretty easy. Email programs and usually a couple will be happy to take on someone who is board certified in another field.