Failed internship, career advice wanted

[Loren Ipsum]

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Hello,

I am unfortunately being told to resign or be terminated due to poor performance.

No, I did not do anything dramatic or criminal. I struggled with depression after a physician loved one committed suicide and was financially forced to go back to work before I was ready. Interns are not FMLA eligible. I had been doing much better the last six months but this last rotation (very fast paced) hit me like a truck. I truly did try my best but this was the wrong specialty, wrong location, wrong everything.

I failed 2 rotations as a IM PGY1 due to poor performance which means I am not eligible for a license and did not complete my intern year. I had asked to remediate before moving on to PGY2 rotations which was denied. I made it through another 4 months of PGY2 before struggling on something else. This means I do not get a license nor credit for PGY1, despite passing more than 12 months of total rotations, being put on a 2nd year schedule given 2nd year responsibilities and given 2nd year pay.

All I had wanted to was to complete the remediations instead of proceeding with PGY2 and then resign to pursue something like disability evals or med spa.

What do I do now? There's no way I can complete the last 2 months of internship somewhere else is there?

I'm just hoping I can find some kind of job in any field after this. I am aware this is a horrendous, horrendous situation and likely the end of my medical career. If anyone has any advice and wants to message me please do.

 

[CopaceticOne]

One thing that you didn’t mention was which speciality were you in

 

[Loren Ipsum]

One thing that you didn’t mention was which speciality were you in

Added, was IM

 

[CopaceticOne]

There's no way I can complete the last 2 months of internship somewhere else is there?

No, there is not.

There are two reasons people are told to resign - knowledge issues and professionalism issues. The story you shared doesn’t make clear which is the issue for you. Biggest concern is if it both issues.

For your PGY 2 schedule this fall, were you the senior resident of an inpatient general wards team? If no, then you were probably functionally still an intern, because that was your level of responsibility, but with PGY2 pay.

If your issue was knowledge, then the program may be making the decision to force resign because you have not been able to demonstrate an ability that is require for even basic independent practice.

Your mention of med spa / disability evals makes me wonder if your program was aware of your future plans. Their goals are to train physicians for their speciality. They won’t feel an obligation to invest in your succeeding if you are looking to cash out.

With all of that in mind, let’s move in to your question of what you should do now…

1) get the help you need to treat your depression. This must happen for your long term health no matter your future career.
2) self reflect on where you job related issues are on the knowledge-professionalism spectrum. Ask the PD for a very frank sharing of your gaps. It will be hard to hear, you’ll likely want to get defensive, but it is the program’s perspective on your performance.
3) since you said IM was the wrong speciality, what other specialities do you think would be a good fit. Is it a switch to non-patient care speciality like pathology?
4) if pursuing a different speciality isn’t in your future your options are likely working for industry (pharma vs devices) or insurance.

 

[Crayola227]

No, there is not.

There are two reasons people are told to resign - knowledge issues and professionalism issues. The story you shared doesn’t make clear which is the issue for you. Biggest concern is if it both issues.

For your PGY 2 schedule this fall, were you the senior resident of an inpatient general wards team? If no, then you were probably functionally still an intern, because that was your level of responsibility, but with PGY2 pay.

If your issue was knowledge, then the program may be making the decision to force resign because you have not been able to demonstrate an ability that is require for even basic independent practice.

Your mention of med spa / disability evals makes me wonder if your program was aware of your future plans. Their goals are to train physicians for their speciality. They won’t feel an obligation to invest in your succeeding if you are looking to cash out.

With all of that in mind, let’s move in to your question of what you should do now…

1) get the help you need to treat your depression. This must happen for your long term health no matter your future career.
2) self reflect on where you job related issues are on the knowledge-professionalism spectrum. Ask the PD for a very frank sharing of your gaps. It will be hard to hear, you’ll likely want to get defensive, but it is the program’s perspective on your performance.
3) since you said IM was the wrong speciality, what other specialities do you think would be a good fit. Is it a switch to non-patient care speciality like pathology?
4) if pursuing a different speciality isn’t in your future your options are likely working for industry (pharma vs devices) or insurance.

My read wasn't that they wanted to cash out of IM residence, but they were pointing out how even a completed intern year which could allow for independent licensing gives them more and better paying career options, which is why they want advice on doing at least that much.

Also it bears pointing out that their options will still be limited without a license within these other fields.

 

[chudat]

AMG, IMG, vs DO?

 

[CopaceticOne]

12 months for an unrestricted license is typically AMG.