FM to OB

[CanIdoIt?]

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I realize this question has been posed before and the responses have been deterrent. I am a PGY2 in FM and have always wanted to do OB. I reapplied this year and the return on II has been dismissal at best. I realize that the hope of transferring this year will probably not work out. As a side note, my PD and APD are well aware of my situation and are supportive. Any advice on what I can do to still try and move over to the OB world? I miss surgery.

Before anyone suggests it, I do know that OB fellowships for FM exist. I will keep those in mind, however, my ultimate goal is to be in OBGYN. I am ok waiting and trying again after I graduate. I am a DO and only have comlex scores which show massive improvement from level 2 to level 3 (almost 100 points).

I originally tried for OB when i was a medical student. I had 8 interviews and did not match into OB. I contacted programs after and the impression i got was that it was due to my interviewing skills.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I know I'm looking at a possibly impossible task.

 

[baileyfal]

There was a resident in my program with a similar story who was accepted into the home OBGYN program halfway through her second year of FM. I believe she started as an intern and was given 6 months credit.

I’d imagine it is much more difficult to transfer if you do not have a home program with an opening.

 

[CanIdoIt?]

There was a resident in my program with a similar story who was accepted into the home OBGYN program halfway through her second year of FM. I believe she started as an intern and was given 6 months credit.

I’d imagine it is much more difficult to transfer if you do not have a home program with an opening.

Yea.... That is my issue right now. I am at a program with no OBGYN residency. I do check the CREOG clearinghouse on a weekly basis to try and find opening in PGY1 spots.

 

[baileyfal]

Is it possible to use elective time to schedule an away rotation at a program with an open spot?

 

[CanIdoIt?]

Is it possible to use elective time to schedule an away rotation at a program with an open spot?

Honestly that would be brilliant if I had elective time. Because of COVID, I do not have any elective time this year. Maybe I can look into it to cover for a required rotation in OB or Gyn. Thank you for that wonderful idea.

Right now, there is only one position open that is being offered to start in Jan. I wish I knew if they were considering my app but the posting said they will only contact you if they will interview you.

 

[baileyfal]

Honestly that would be brilliant if I had elective time. Because of COVID, I do not have any elective time this year. Maybe I can look into it to cover for a required rotation in OB or Gyn. Thank you for that wonderful idea.

Right now, there is only one position open that is being offered to start in Jan. I wish I knew if they were considering my app but the posting said they will only contact you if they will interview you.

It sounds like you are doing everything you can. I’m glad your program is supportive.

Good luck!

 

[CanIdoIt?]

It sounds like you are doing everything you can. I’m glad your program is supportive.

Good luck!

Thank you for your input. It means the world!

 

[j4pac]

Have you fixed your problems with interviewing? You have to find a way to prevent history from repeating itself.

 

[CanIdoIt?]

Have you fixed your problems with interviewing? You have to find a way to prevent history from repeating itself.

I did take notes of the impressions I gave while interviewing two years ago. I was planning on practicing with family, my partner, & co-residents prior to interviewing again.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You can certainly keep trying to find an offcycle opening -- it's much harder to find good candidates for those spots. But it's not hopeful given your history.

I wouldn't play up your massive improevemnet on Level 3. No one really cares about level 3.

An "away rotation" is extremely difficult in residency. You'd need to stay within the same state or else need a new license. Depending upon your state, your training license may only be good at your program. In any case, if you leave to go do a rotation at another program, especially one that has an OB program, your home program will lose all medicare funding for you for the time you're away -- and yet still be responsible for your salary. Then there's all the onboarding work for a new hospital. You can try, but it's unlikely to work.

And then you have funding problems, because your full funding is capped at 3 years.

Your best plan is to finish your FM program, and then try to get an OB spot. You could get an FM position at an institution with an OB program and try to build up some experience there. I don't know anything about OB fellowships, but perhaps that's an option also.

 

[CanIdoIt?]

You can certainly keep trying to find an offcycle opening -- it's much harder to find good candidates for those spots. But it's not hopeful given your history.

I wouldn't play up your massive improevemnet on Level 3. No one really cares about level 3.

An "away rotation" is extremely difficult in residency. You'd need to stay within the same state or else need a new license. Depending upon your state, your training license may only be good at your program. In any case, if you leave to go do a rotation at another program, especially one that has an OB program, your home program will lose all medicare funding for you for the time you're away -- and yet still be responsible for your salary. Then there's all the onboarding work for a new hospital. You can try, but it's unlikely to work.

And then you have funding problems, because your full funding is capped at 3 years.

Your best plan is to finish your FM program, and then try to get an OB spot. You could get an FM position at an institution with an OB program and try to build up some experience there. I don't know anything about OB fellowships, but perhaps that's an option also.

That is a really good point about the away rotations. I did not think about that and that would definitely be a huge hurdle.

I believe you are probably right, that waiting until I finish FM will be my next best move.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post.

 

[AMEHigh]

Yeah it seems like based on not many interviews the best bet will be to wait until you finish FM.

Obviously rules may vary but I will say at my program in regards to electives, myself and one of my co-residents both did away electives in other states at other hospitals and it wasn’t a problem. Of course there was a lot of paperwork to fill out, but as far as funding and licensing and whatnot, our coordinator dealt with that and it had no affect on anything from what I know. So if that is an option for you to do some rotations next year at other places that might be a good option to get your foot in the door when applying.

Good luck!

 

[samac]

.... you didn’t go to KYCOM did you?

 

[CanIdoIt?]

.... you didn’t go to KYCOM did you?

Nope! I did not go to KYCOM.

 

[j4pac]

What prevented you from matching into OB this first time? And what’s different about you now that will make you more successful (other than Step 3 which is not important)?

 

[Toastayy]

OB Fellowship perhaps?

 

[CanIdoIt?]

What prevented you from matching into OB this first time? And what’s different about you now that will make you more successful (other than Step 3 which is not important)?

I am still unsure what prevented me from matching the first time. I had a decent number of interviews that should have given me good odds. I believe the issue was poor interviewing skills. I came to that conclusion after speaking to some PDs after the match.

In regard to what makes me different now that will allow me to be more successful, I wish i had a better answer than more experience as a resident. I have started a research project but did not add this to my CV because it is still in the works. Are there things that you suggest I can do to improve my resume outside of level 3 (which i was told did matter by PDs) to improve my chances moving forward?

 

[CanIdoIt?]

OB Fellowship perhaps?

Yes, OB fellowship is still on the table for me. It is my "plan B", however, it is looking more and more like it will end up being my plan A. My hope by posting this thread was to get advice on how to pursue my dream without going to my Plan B.