Family Medicine Residency Programs

[Doctor Faust]

Hello. I am new to this forum. I had a question regarding residency programs in family medicine. Let me explain:

I have completed a preliminary year in general surgery, but I was unable to secure a categorical position in surgery for the coming year (low board scores). I am seeking to switch fields and was exploring family medicine. I am interested in rural family medicine and would like to look into unopposed family medicine programs. I want a broad education (which is why I picked general surgery initially) with procedural training as well as ICU/hospital medicine and OB/GYN. I am having a hard time finding which programs are unopposed and which are not and which ones will provide the training that I seek. I used the AAFP residency directory, but I am unsure how to find a program that will provide the education I am looking for. Can anyone recommend some programs in family medicine for me to look into? I would appreciate any help or advice that you all can give me.

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[HipsterLorax]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/rural-full-scope-cowboy-programs.48434/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/unopposed-family-med-residencies.1056259/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/best-ca-unopposed-programs.229909/#post-17546954
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/strong-unopposed-programs.844455/

This has been discussed a lot on this forum. Here's some threads to get you started. I would look at the residencies' pages to see if they provide more information that you may be looking for (e.g. JPS posts tallies of their residents' procedures http://www.jpshealthnet.org/academics_research/residency_programs/family_medicine/procedures), then you can start ruling programs in/out based on that and, of course, location.

 

[DrMidlife]

With 4000+ FM programs you really need to narrow it down by something stronger than "unopposed" before you try to wrap your brain around things.

Such as location. If you just focus on one state at a time, you can easily process the list of residencies on AAFP and start comparing.

"Unopposed" programs may or may not be "full spectrum". Full spectrum is what you want for independent practice ie rural. The "cowboy" thread referenced above has my own draft protocol for choosing full spectrum programs. As of this writing, it's the last post.

I suggest asking about procedure counts after you become familiarized with basic curriculum. How many months of IM? ICU? EM? OB? How many electives?

Assuming you got licensed, working in an urgent care is excellent prep for FM residency.

FM programs (as with all specialties) get mid-year vacancies on occasion. If you find you have some favorites, start reaching out and becoming known. You never know - some PDs may be willing to cut a deal to start you midway through PGY1.

Also in case you weren't aware of it, a whole lot of gen surg programs don't fill. If you get on NRMP you can find out which ones.

Best of luck to you.

 

[JustPlainBill]

A recent thread talked about how programs in Alaska tend to produce physicians who are more self-sufficient since they're often in the middle of nowhere for training; In Texas, you should check John-Peter Smith in Ft. Worth, UT-Tyler in Tyler, McLennan County FM Residency in Waco, Conroe FM residency, Durant FM Residency in Durant, Oklahoma ---