Fellowships for Non-Trads

[drold2012]

I was wondering about how hard it will be for Non-Trads to get fellowships after they finish their residencies? Is it realistic for someone in their 40's or 50's to consider a fellowship? How big is the age factor in determining if you get a fellowship? Any idea?

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[ArkansasRanger]

I was wondering about how hard it will be for Non-Trads to get fellowships after they finish their residencies? Is it realistic for someone in their 40's or 50's to consider a fellowship? How big is the age factor in determining if you get a fellowship? Any idea?

kinda jumping the gun a little aren't ya

 

[drold2012]

I totally agree. I just didn't hear anything about this issue. But if you think about it, as Non-Trads we are older, most of us have families, mortgages,and student loans. You need more money than the young 26 years old doctor, who will start his residency with you. With the decreased pay for primary and family doctors, you might need more money than what they gonna pay you. (It is not about getting rich, it's about paying off all the debts faster).
And rest assured my friend, we gonna make it!

 

[student1799]

No offense to you personally (I'm an older nontrad mysef), but the fellowship programs aren't really interested in what YOUR needs are. They pay what they pay (same rate for everyone), and that's it. They assume that you were aware of the economics when you decided to go to med school, and when you chose your specialty. And if you haven't sat down yet and figured out whether you can get through those years economically, I would urge you to do so, because this is hardly a trivial issue.

Aside from economics, I don't see much point worrying about your fellowship chances before you even start med school. The only exception might be if you're really getting up there in age (say, over 50) and you're dead set on a super-competitive specialty like orthopedic surgery. There is still significant age discrimination out there in such specialties, although it's seldom discussed openly, and the older you are, the more it can come into play. But even then, most med students change their minds about specialties during school, so it might not matter in the end.

 

[NTF]

Just for some perspective, njbmd started medical school at 45 and is now a vascular surgeon.

 

[zoner]

Just for some perspective, njbmd started medical school at 45 and is now a vascular surgeon.

wow, amazing

 

[njbmd]

My ABSITE scores were more of a factor than my age in terms of getting a fellowship.

 

[drold2012]

Just for some perspective, njbmd started medical school at 45 and is now a vascular surgeon.

Wow! That is super impressive.

 

[dragonfly99]

I think that for IM, being older would not necessarily keep you out of fellowships. I think that older people, and/or ones with families, sometimes tend to not do fellowships for reasons of economics and then just general burnout from being a trainee.

 

[drold2012]

I think that for IM, being older would not necessarily keep you out of fellowships. I think that older people, and/or ones with families, sometimes tend to not do fellowships for reasons of economics and then just general burnout from being a trainee.

But doing a fellowship means more money later, which will help with all the commitments. And if you manage to go through residency, it will be the same way through the fellowship.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

But doing a fellowship means more money later, which will help with all the commitments. And if you manage to go through residency, it will be the same way through the fellowship.

Fellowships are rarely financially sound decisions, much like nontrads' attending medical school is rarely a sound financial decision. The best reason for doing both is because that is what you are truly interested in doing.

 

[njbmd]

But doing a fellowship means more money later, which will help with all the commitments. And if you manage to go through residency, it will be the same way through the fellowship.

I wouldn't say that things are the "same" way as during residency. The interest on your loans continues to accrue and your responsibility increases monumentally. After all, you have completed residency (will be required to become board certified) and thus you will be functioning as an attending physician with far less compensation. This is not an acceptable position for many physicians (non-traditional or not).

I have had more than a couple of classmates and residency mates who "chucked" the fellowship and headed into practice once the loan payments became closer to reality. I was fortunate in that I had very little debt from undergraduate, graduate and medical school ($40K total). My case was a very rare exception (scholarship kid).

Also remember that most people who complete fellowship are not going to be offered the loan repayment options that folks who enter primary care (and some of the other in demand specialties) will be offered. In terms of healthcare reform, you may find that becoming a superspecialist is not going to provide that added compensation that you want.