From Family Medicine to Anesthesia

[bhananas]

Hello All! Long time stalker, first time poster.

I am a PGY-1 at a great full spectrum Family Medicine Program (tons of inpatient medicine, ICU, NICU, pediatric, and OB experience), however, I have always been interested in Anesthesia.
I'm 3 months into my intern year and cannot see myself doing primary care for the rest of my life (this is not just the intern blues). I have already let my PD and faculty know my dissatisfaction and they will fully support me anyway possible.

Back story:
Applied to Anesthesia and FM during the match. Ranked Anesthesia residencies number 1 &2, but matched my number 3, which was FM. FM was my back up because, hey, I liked people/long term relationships sure enough, but mostly because I knew my application was not that strong for Anesthesia. I know. Hindsight is 20/20 and I really should have just ranked Anesthesia and taken my chances.

My question is:
What should I do now/what is my best approach? I've just missed the deadline to re-enter the match this year.
I will be 100% applying in the match this year, but what can I be doing now? Calling programs for open spots?
According to FAR and Residency Swap, there are no current open positions.
What can I do now to make my application stronger for next year? I can't change my step 1 score, and that really seems to me to be my hindering factor.

Thanks in advance!

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[rokshana]

didn't realize there was a deadline to apply for the match...its a little late, but though you could apply anytime...

anyway, did you only get 2 interviews for anesthesia? you may want to consider finishing up the FM residency and then applying to anesthesia...or see if there is anyway you can get into the anesthesia program where your FM program is...

 

[Crayola227]

You can also sign up and try to SOAP your way into a slot... but I don't know if anesthesia ever has SOAP slots
There's a chance something might open up after the match and SOAP, March-July as sometimes people have to bail on the position last minute, and sometimes you see another bail out in Oct-Jan. But that won't be until later this year. Rr

Read some of my post history on what can happen when you let the PD you're looking to go somewhere else. If they look to replace you this year or don't promote you to 2nd year because you told them you wanted anesthesia without having something else lined up, you could find yourself with no position next year. Never give up a residency position without having another in the bag if you can help it. Be wary of if the program now turns on you for saying you want to leave.

You need to network with your alma mater med school. I don't know if doing some research if you can as a resident can help you now.

Definitely contact the programs that interviewed you. Sure they didn't rank you to match, but if they get an unexpected hole in their program they may keep you in mind, or even if another anesthesia PD tells them they get an opening they might put in a word for you. They liked you enough to interview you once. Plus, with the recommendation of your current PD (which I sincerely hope you get, you're going to need it) you are less of an unknown quality in terms of being a resident, meaning, you have intern experience in the bag which can help you.

Are you MD or DO? @Doctor4Life1769 might be someone to talk to

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

You only had 2 anesthesia interviews?
If you weren't competitive for anesthesia then, what makes you think you'd be able to get it now?
I certainly hope you have well-researched your supposed interest in anesthesia.
Your door is now closed in FM at your current program. Hope you finish it off well and are able to transition into anesthesia.

 

[2021Doctor]

Entering the FM program set your residency funding clock to 3 years. Imo it will be difficult to find anesthesiology programs that will take a resident who will only have 2 years of full funding left at the end of the year.