Gen surg intern on probation with talk of dismal

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I was promised the courtesy of resigning before it came to dismissal, as had occurred with two people before me, one being a 4 th yr who transferred to IM. Another went to psych.

Your program terminated a 4th year? In my mind that's a huge red flag (from a program perspective). Barring some catastrophic event, it suggests the program was poor at either identifying that the person needed help or remediating them...or both. And if that happened recently, I suspect the way you're being handled is a ripple effect from that. I'm sure they Department is gun shy about having the same thing happen again.
 
Your program terminated a 4th year? In my mind that's a huge red flag (from a program perspective). Barring some catastrophic event, it suggests the program was poor at either identifying that the person needed help or remediating them...or both. And if that happened recently, I suspect the way you're being handled is a ripple effect from that. I'm sure they Department is gun shy about having the same thing happen again.

I agree 100% but I also realize I was way behind clinically. If I had know how much heartache and suffering my lack of clinical practice and training was going to cause me, I would have happily gave up those first assists 3rd and 4th yr and trained at academic center.
 
Don't stay in residency just to pay the bills. Get the support of your program for switching to a nonsurgical field, and get a job while you are waiting
Why not? It is a paying job and frankly, one that pays better than any other job he could find out there...and possibly he could change their minds and gain support for a different residency spot for the following year... at the moment it doesn’t sound like he would get anything decent.
Another 6-12 months at least allows him to continue to have some clinical experience instead of working say retail or being a barista at Starbucks...
 
I was told completing Step 3 and applying for occupational health position might be option. But yeah, as of now it will be very hard to land something with my current status unless I can get my PD to sweet talk a program. Been looking and many require “good standing with current program".
 
I agree 100% but I also realize I was way behind clinically. If I had know how much heartache and suffering my lack of clinical practice and training was going to cause me, I would have happily gave up those first assists 3rd and 4th yr and trained at academic center.
I was told completing Step 3 and applying for occupational health position might be option. But yeah, as of now it will be very hard to land something with my current status unless I can get my PD to sweet talk a program. Been looking and many require “good standing with current program".


Yes that is something that I frequently suggest to people who perhaps may not be as clinically inclined as needed. And you are right most programs do require a prelim year - so if you can somehow "pass" this year, or somehow tell your program that you will leave in peace at the conclusion of PGY-1 that might help salvage your career.
 
I submitted my appeal. Now I have to be present in front of board members which are attendings and PD. Not expecting much but I will make my last stand and look them in the eye. At the very least, if all goes to hell, including my finances, medical career and everything else really at this point, at least I know I put up a good fight till the end.
 
You appeal is to extend your probation? When’s the meeting? I hope you have some “concrete” evidence that your surgical skills are at least up to par. Bring your in-service score. Take responsibilities, have some responses ready. Knowing a few people on the board won’t be a bad idea.
Good luck.
 
I submitted my appeal. Now I have to be present in front of board members which are attendings and PD. Not expecting much but I will make my last stand and look them in the eye. At the very least, if all goes to hell, including my finances, medical career and everything else really at this point, at least I know I put up a good fight till the end.

As above poster said, to extend probation? If nothing else, I would try to bargain a "resignation" vs a dismissal so that at least you can switch fields. You can work with a resignation and switching to a different field.

Hope things go well. Show a meek attitude, be humble, show them that you are teachable and have learned from your mistakes.
 
Appeal at end of month. I am going to ask them to reconsider and let me repeat intern year or at very least extend probation so that if they still feel I'm not surgery material at least allow me the opportunity to become a better physician and clinician by continuing my training and finishing up the year. I really don't think they care if they throw me out on the street but I need to try everything I can.
 
Appeal at end of month. I am going to ask them to reconsider and let me repeat intern year or at very least extend probation so that if they still feel I'm not surgery material at least allow me the opportunity to become a better physician and clinician by continuing my training and finishing up the year. I really don't think they care if they throw me out on the street but I need to try everything I can.

Well rather than them throwing you out on the street, I would make sure you at the very least gain the option to say - look I will go quietly, let me resign, I won't make issues, please don't dismiss me, type of thing. I think lack of drama and peace can potentially go a long way.
 
My PD said she would give me the courtesy of resigning "if it came to that". If they do not want to budge, I will at least plead for mercy and ask for assistance in transferring to other field .
 
My PD said she would give me the courtesy of resigning "if it came to that". If they do not want to budge, I will at least plead for mercy and ask for assistance in transferring to other field .

Yes I think, even if not ideal for you, to at least come out with a resignation so you can transfer to a different field is the most preferable outcome, and if you can get a PGY-1 credit that will certainly go a long way in going into a different field. I also would not antagonize them if they say no to extending probation - if they say no, and they won't change their mind with minimal budging, I would create an exit plan that is as smooth as possible.
 
Yes I think, even if not ideal for you, to at least come out with a resignation so you can transfer to a different field is the most preferable outcome, and if you can get a PGY-1 credit that will certainly go a long way in going into a different field. I also would not antagonize them if they say no to extending probation - if they say no, and they won't change their mind with minimal budging, I would create an exit plan that is as smooth as possible.
Yeah, that is my plan. Thanks
 
Just curious, if the OP is able to move on from this and does well PGY2-5 if there is any chance of subspecialty fellowships given poor intern performance?
 
Your program terminated a 4th year? In my mind that's a huge red flag (from a program perspective). Barring some catastrophic event, it suggests the program was poor at either identifying that the person needed help or remediating them...or both.

Orrr, it suggests the program gave the person many chances and he/she still failed to meet expectations. There are legit reasons to terminate a resident and not all of them happen in PGY 1 year.
 
Orrr, it suggests the program gave the person many chances and he/she still failed to meet expectations. There are legit reasons to terminate a resident and not all of them happen in PGY 1 year.

Sure, that's possible. But it's hard to believe that something changed between 3rd and 4th year that made them realize it wasn't going to work. 3rd year is a transition year in most GS residencies, and if you're sinking during that year to the point that dismissal is on the table, promoting you to a 4 and expecting it will improve is a pipe dream. The person should either be made to remediate 3rd year or be dismissed. This is amplified by the fact that the ABS requires completion of 4th/5th year in the same program. Though someone being dismissed after 3rd year may have a longshot to find another program, someone dismissed in the 4th year is hosed.
 
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Sure, that's possible. But it's hard to believe that something changed between 3rd and 4th year that made them realize it wasn't going to work. 3rd year is a transition year in most GS residencies, and if you're sinking during that year to the point that dismissal is on the table, promoting you to a 4 and expecting it will improve is a pipe dream. The person should either be made to remediate 3rd year or be dismissed. This is amplified by the fact that the ABS requires completion of 4th/5th year in the same program. Though someone being dismissed after 3rd year may have a longshot to find another program, someone dismissed in the 4th year is hosed.

This isn't that uncommon. There are a lot of residents who are terminated in the latter years of residency. Remember Eugene Gu? He finished PGY 3 year. The story that comes to mind most vividly is the resident from Dartmouth who was terminated just before graduating.
 
This isn't that uncommon. There are a lot of residents who are terminated in the latter years of residency. Remember Eugene Gu? He finished PGY 3 year. The story that comes to mind most vividly is the resident from Dartmouth who was terminated just before graduating.

But the Eugene Gu thing is a little different. I don't think clinical/surgical skills were the issue with him - he is one of those examples of getting fired for not being well liked and causing trouble and drama.
 
But the Eugene Gu thing is a little different. I don't think clinical/surgical skills were the issue with him - he is one of those examples of getting fired for not being well liked and causing trouble and drama

Unless I missed it, the OP didn't say the 4th yr who was terminated was terminated for clinical skills. That's my point. The OP just said they fired a 4th yr and I'm saying advanced residents are terminated more often than people think, usually for decent reasons.
 
Sure, that's possible. But it's hard to believe that something changed between 3rd and 4th year that made them realize it wasn't going to work. 3rd year is a transition year in most GS residencies, and if you're sinking during that year to the point that dismissal is on the table, promoting you to a 4 and expecting it will improve is a pipe dream. The person should either be made to remediate 3rd year or be dismissed. This is amplified by the fact that the ABS requires completion of 4th/5th year in the same program. Though someone being dismissed after 3rd year may have a longshot to find another program, someone dismissed in the 4th year is hosed.

I admit to not knowing how this works in GS, but in my peds residency program, we had people that from the perspective of everyone else were promoted with their class, but were on remediation and had rotations in early second year that could have them function as an intern still. I had one such resident as one of my ‘returns’ in July of her second year.

Point being that just because someone is in their x year of training doesn’t mean that they are actually considered a x year by the program. They may be repeating rotations from x-1 year in a remediation attempt and are only officially promoted once they successfully complete said rotations.
 
Unless I missed it, the OP didn't say the 4th yr who was terminated was terminated for clinical skills. That's my point. The OP just said they fired a 4th yr and I'm saying advanced residents are terminated more often than people think, usually for decent reasons.

Right. It was about clinical skills, so why bring up Eugene Gu? He falls into the "catastrophic" situation I mentioned.

Yes, I'm aware 4th year residents get terminated. And my point is that if 4th year residents are getting terminated for poor clinical performance, the program isn't doing a good job at either identifying or remediating people. There's no way to skate under the radar for three years...and if they have, it's perhaps even more disconcerting.

Point being that just because someone is in their x year of training doesn’t mean that they are actually considered a x year by the program. They may be repeating rotations from x-1 year in a remediation attempt and are only officially promoted once they successfully complete said rotations.

This is possible, but more appropriate earlier in residency. Just based on the structure and responsibilities of most GS programs, in my opinion the promotion from 3rd to 4th year includes a tacit understanding that you are on track to graduate barring some major development. If the program hasn't identified and remediated those with weak clinical skills in the first three years, there is something wrong with the way the program is evaluating residents.
 
Right. It was about clinical skills, so why bring up Eugene Gu? He falls into the "catastrophic" situation I mentioned.

Read it again. The OP never mentioned clinical skills when talking about the PGY 4. The OP just said a PGY 4 was terminated. Never said why.
 
Read it again. The OP never mentioned clinical skills when talking about the PGY 4. The OP just said a PGY 4 was terminated. Never said why.

Fair enough. But my original point was that firing a PGY4 for clinical performance suggests a possible failure on the part of the program. Do you agree or disagree with this? I never suggested that a PGY4 can't or shouldn't be dismissed if there is an event that warrants it.
 
Don't stay in residency just to pay the bills. Get the support of your program for switching to a nonsurgical field, and get a job while you are waiting


How would that help? He is having clinical problem not surgical ones. He is unable to think on the spot when being asked questions or trying to think through a problem. Being in ANY other field beside surgery would be worse for him. In surgery you don’t have to think you just have to drape over a tiny aspect of the patient body, cut, cauterize bleeding and suture skin closed.

He even stated that he has no issues in the OR. He wouldn’t do well in Anesthesiology, EM, IM, or anything that requires some thinking.
 
How would that help? He is having clinical problem not surgical ones. He is unable to think on the spot when being asked questions or trying to think through a problem. Being in ANY other field beside surgery would be worse for him. In surgery you don’t have to think you just have to drape over a tiny aspect of the patient body, cut, cauterize bleeding and suture skin closed.

He even stated that he has no issues in the OR. He wouldn’t do well in Anesthesiology, EM, IM, or anything that requires some thinking.

nick-young-confused-face-300x256-nqlyaa.jpg
 
Hey, really sorry about your situation. Having gone through this recently myself, I understand how you feel. I was actually well liked in my residency since I'm pretty friendly, easygoing, and polite - but I got dismissed anyways. I don't think being well liked ( might help a lil but not much) or not liked really has much to do with it, it's more if you are not being a burden to your team and holding them back. The residents starts getting annoyed and then they don't really care to help you anymore . If you show you are a good team member, the resident can't at least complain about that to the attendings. You do have to show more interest in working with the team though - they need to feel like they can rely on you.

The advice people said about how to improve sounds pretty good - but I think, if you have the money for it - hire a tutor ( one who is currently in residency or recently graduated) and go over critical thinking skills. I too had a lot problems answering on the spot - I needed more time, but I did get the answer...but too slow. Unfortunately, you aren't given this time in the real world to this and have to be quick on the spot in life and death scenarios. It would be great if some of the seniors/attendings can give you feedback ( and you definitely should seek it) - but you need more than that. You need someone to sit down with you and go over cases and test how fast you can come up with a solution. And address these deficiencies. Nobody in your residency unless out of the kindness of their heart will do this for you - and attending and seniors may not give you the most honest feedback because they don't wanna sound too harsh ( or be given negative evals in retaliation). I was stupid and listened to my advisers when they said don't get a tutor, don't read your books , just learn from the real world cases. I knew in my gut I needed more help to catch up but I listened to them. While yes, you should be learning from your rotation, if you didn't get prepared well in med school....you will need to do extra work on your own time to be prepared to deal with real life case scenarios until you have the confidence to manage without extra help

It sounds like you good have surgical skills and hopefully you can somehow prove that ( maybe get some attending to vouch for you). Step 3 is a good idea - you may be able to get a limited license which will allow you to work under supervision for two years. Check your state's site for it. And at least you got a psych connection for a back up, I would love to be in a psych residency . Anyways, if you need someone to just talk to, can always message me 🙂. Good luck with appeals case!
 
Hey, really sorry about your situation. Having gone through this recently myself, I understand how you feel. I was actually well liked in my residency since I'm pretty friendly, easygoing, and polite - but I got dismissed anyways. I don't think being well liked ( might help a lil but not much) or not liked really has much to do with it, it's more if you are not being a burden to your team and holding them back. The residents starts getting annoyed and then they don't really care to help you anymore . If you show you are a good team member, the resident can't at least complain about that to the attendings. You do have to show more interest in working with the team though - they need to feel like they can rely on you.

The advice people said about how to improve sounds pretty good - but I think, if you have the money for it - hire a tutor ( one who is currently in residency or recently graduated) and go over critical thinking skills. I too had a lot problems answering on the spot - I needed more time, but I did get the answer...but too slow. Unfortunately, you aren't given this time in the real world to this and have to be quick on the spot in life and death scenarios. It would be great if some of the seniors/attendings can give you feedback ( and you definitely should seek it) - but you need more than that. You need someone to sit down with you and go over cases and test how fast you can come up with a solution. And address these deficiencies. Nobody in your residency unless out of the kindness of their heart will do this for you - and attending and seniors may not give you the most honest feedback because they don't wanna sound too harsh ( or be given negative evals in retaliation). I was stupid and listened to my advisers when they said don't get a tutor, don't read your books , just learn from the real world cases. I knew in my gut I needed more help to catch up but I listened to them. While yes, you should be learning from your rotation, if you didn't get prepared well in med school....you will need to do extra work on your own time to be prepared to deal with real life case scenarios until you have the confidence to manage without extra help

It sounds like you good have surgical skills and hopefully you can somehow prove that ( maybe get some attending to vouch for you). Step 3 is a good idea - you may be able to get a limited license which will allow you to work under supervision for two years. Check your state's site for it. And at least you got a psych connection for a back up, I would love to be in a psych residency . Anyways, if you need someone to just talk to, can always message me 🙂. Good luck with appeals case!

You did ultimately get dismissed? Sorry to hear that. What are your plans?
 
I'm finishing my rotations....and buh bye to that hellish place. Not sure really, just focusing on comlex studies and then plan to move back home and reapply again as well as look for other options.

🙁 best of luck.
 
First let me say that I two was recently placed on resident corrective action (RCA) two weeks ago for failing to progress in a a couple of the core competencies. There was no behavior or patient adverse events. I knew I was not the best resident in my class, but this came as a big shock. I came back from vacation to a surprise meeting on Monday with my PD that outlined why I was on RCA and went through a multipage document on negative feedback from senior residents and attendings. I was then escorted to employee health for psych and learning disability evaluation to determine if I was safe to work. I won't get into the details of the events or examples that lead to this, but I was pretty shell shocked and heart broken.

Part of the program is that I have a chief resident mentor and faculty mentor that I meet with twice a month who gives me feedback from others and also act as my liaisons to the department. Additionally I have to meet with a psychologist monthly and also write a journal of mistakes I have made and the learning points. The program is for 6 months and on re-evalation I can either be taken off RCA, extend the program, or be terminated. While this is a lot of work and meetings, it has enabled me to develop a support system and advocates within the residency program. They serve as intermediaries on my behalf. Their honest feedback has been helpful and I encourage you to seek out a similar support system. The biggest thing is that we have to prove to the department that there is improvement, having mentors can help facilitate that by having someone speak positively for you.

On my own introspection, the biggest problem that I had was not seeing the unwritten rules of my residency program. I thought if I show up, work hard, and don't make any egregious errors then I would be fine, but this is not true. What I learned is that the standard is to be just above the standard (if that makes sense). AKA: going above and beyond is actually the standard. Many people will say this, but I have thought of ways that prove it and include being seen by the attendings in the OR even if it's not your case, staying late for procedures, and not leaving when someone says you can go (even if you want to). My program has a very micromanaging environment and even though I am not a junior resident I still have to run everything by a senior resident regardless of how trivial. If you are having problems with clinical judgement having it filtered by a senior resident can help. Plus if an adverse outcome occurs, you have loaded the boat. These are things that I came up with but I am sure there are more.

I applaud you for your own introspection. Having to go through something like this is emotionally devastating and scary. I am routing for you/us. It's hard to look at the situation objectively, come up with a plan, and institute the plan but it sounds like you have done just that. Hopefully the things I mentioned can help you, no matter what ends up happening.
 
First let me say that I two was recently placed on resident corrective action (RCA) two weeks ago for failing to progress in a a couple of the core competencies. There was no behavior or patient adverse events. I knew I was not the best resident in my class, but this came as a big shock. I came back from vacation to a surprise meeting on Monday with my PD that outlined why I was on RCA and went through a multipage document on negative feedback from senior residents and attendings. I was then escorted to employee health for psych and learning disability evaluation to determine if I was safe to work. I won't get into the details of the events or examples that lead to this, but I was pretty shell shocked and heart broken.

Part of the program is that I have a chief resident mentor and faculty mentor that I meet with twice a month who gives me feedback from others and also act as my liaisons to the department. Additionally I have to meet with a psychologist monthly and also write a journal of mistakes I have made and the learning points. The program is for 6 months and on re-evalation I can either be taken off RCA, extend the program, or be terminated. While this is a lot of work and meetings, it has enabled me to develop a support system and advocates within the residency program. They serve as intermediaries on my behalf. Their honest feedback has been helpful and I encourage you to seek out a similar support system. The biggest thing is that we have to prove to the department that there is improvement, having mentors can help facilitate that by having someone speak positively for you.

On my own introspection, the biggest problem that I had was not seeing the unwritten rules of my residency program. I thought if I show up, work hard, and don't make any egregious errors then I would be fine, but this is not true. What I learned is that the standard is to be just above the standard (if that makes sense). AKA: going above and beyond is actually the standard. Many people will say this, but I have thought of ways that prove it and include being seen by the attendings in the OR even if it's not your case, staying late for procedures, and not leaving when someone says you can go (even if you want to). My program has a very micromanaging environment and even though I am not a junior resident I still have to run everything by a senior resident regardless of how trivial. If you are having problems with clinical judgement having it filtered by a senior resident can help. Plus if an adverse outcome occurs, you have loaded the boat. These are things that I came up with but I am sure there are more.

I applaud you for your own introspection. Having to go through something like this is emotionally devastating and scary. I am routing for you/us. It's hard to look at the situation objectively, come up with a plan, and institute the plan but it sounds like you have done just that. Hopefully the things I mentioned can help you, no matter what ends up happening.

Wow, I feel like this should be a sticky for all to read. I applaud you for the way in which you took this and the way you're viewing it. Best of luck to you in the future.

I'm on the fence about mandatory psych evals. I think there are certain (rare) cases in which they should be required - a psychotic, manic, suicidal, or personality disordered resident with concern for patient safety due to level of impairment. But short of that, I think mandatory psych evals with the threat of termination are useless and I fear in some institutions, they're an exercise in intimidation. PDs who require a psych eval outside the things noted above usually have no idea why you're not behaving the way they want and will send you to psych to find out. What they don't get is that the resident is now and forever saddled with the responsibility of checking that box on licensing forms that ask if you've ever had to have a psych eval, which leaves them vulnerable to mandatory disclosure of said records. It's just wrong in all sorts of ways.

@SadNutellaGirl are you still around? Any update?
 
Yeah, more than anything I want to applaud the program if what they are doing is actually working to remediate a resident. Unfortunately most remediation efforts don't approach this level or are effective efforts.

I would never agree to a psych eval under these circumstances. Nothing about this smacks of what is appropriate or can be required by an employer. They can certainly require that you get a physician's OK that you can work. Specifically, a program can say that your work isn't up to x,y,z standards and refer that to HR. HR is supposed to act as the go between your supervisor and your physician in order to protect your health information's privacy to the extent that is possible. HR can basically ask to communicate your deficiencies to a treating provider of your choice. You can then consent, and then it is up to that provider to answer the question, do you have a medical condition that impairs your ability to work, per what they've been given of your essential job functions.

I probably didn't explain this well. I will have to come back to it.
 
Yeah, more than anything I want to applaud the program if what they are doing is actually working to remediate a resident. Unfortunately most remediation efforts don't approach this level or are effective efforts.

I would never agree to a psych eval under these circumstances. Nothing about this smacks of what is appropriate or can be required by an employer. They can certainly require that you get a physician's OK that you can work. Specifically, a program can say that your work isn't up to x,y,z standards and refer that to HR. HR is supposed to act as the go between your supervisor and your physician in order to protect your health information's privacy to the extent that is possible. HR can basically ask to communicate your deficiencies to a treating provider of your choice. You can then consent, and then it is up to that provider to answer the question, do you have a medical condition that impairs your ability to work, per what they've been given of your essential job functions.

I probably didn't explain this well. I will have to come back to it.


I miss spoke about the evaluation earlier. It wasn't a formal psych eval but exactly as you mentioned it. It was an employee health doctor through HR that gave me the clearance to go back to work and then subsequently referred me to a psychologist.
 
Wow, I feel like this should be a sticky for all to read. I applaud you for the way in which you took this and the way you're viewing it. Best of luck to you in the future.

I'm on the fence about mandatory psych evals. I think there are certain (rare) cases in which they should be required - a psychotic, manic, suicidal, or personality disordered resident with concern for patient safety due to level of impairment. But short of that, I think mandatory psych evals with the threat of termination are useless and I fear in some institutions, they're an exercise in intimidation. PDs who require a psych eval outside the things noted above usually have no idea why you're not behaving the way they want and will send you to psych to find out. What they don't get is that the resident is now and forever saddled with the responsibility of checking that box on licensing forms that ask if you've ever had to have a psych eval, which leaves them vulnerable to mandatory disclosure of said records. It's just wrong in all sorts of ways.

@SadNutellaGirl are you still around? Any update?

Thank you. Honestly positive feed back feels pretty darn good given all the recent negativity. Nice to know that there is a support community.
 
Yeah, more than anything I want to applaud the program if what they are doing is actually working to remediate a resident. Unfortunately most remediation efforts don't approach this level or are effective efforts.

I would never agree to a psych eval under these circumstances. Nothing about this smacks of what is appropriate or can be required by an employer. They can certainly require that you get a physician's OK that you can work. Specifically, a program can say that your work isn't up to x,y,z standards and refer that to HR. HR is supposed to act as the go between your supervisor and your physician in order to protect your health information's privacy to the extent that is possible. HR can basically ask to communicate your deficiencies to a treating provider of your choice. You can then consent, and then it is up to that provider to answer the question, do you have a medical condition that impairs your ability to work, per what they've been given of your essential job functions.

I probably didn't explain this well. I will have to come back to it.

But psych has become the default field to make that determination and licensing boards know that, which is why they ask.

In my opinion, ANY resident told to have a mandatory psychiatric evaluation should, at the very least, see an attorney for an initial consultation (which is usually free) due to the Pandora's box it has the potential to open.
 
End of year summary...

They ended up extending my time till the end of year. At the january CCC, my program director told me to start thinking about alternatives, like IR or anesthesia. I pressed her to tell me what the liklihood of her passing me on to second year would be. She told me less than 10%. I was devastated. It was surgery or bust for the last few years,, and all pointed towards bust. Spent the last few months expecting going into other fields, and eventually i was okay with it. As fate may have it, today she called me and said I was happily advanced to second year. mostly because of my positive evals and strong work ethic. We never know what the future holds, even if it looks like all is lost. Never give up, regardless of how hopeless it is.

If anyone unfortunately finds themselves in similar situations. Feel free to IM me. It was the worst two years of my life. You are not alone.
 
Good job!!! So glad you were promoted to second year! Given the intensity of surgery to begin with, your work ethic must truly be something else.
 
Congratulations! I'm so glad to hear they're promoting you to PGY 2. Well done!
 
End of year summary...

They ended up extending my time till the end of year. At the january CCC, my program director told me to start thinking about alternatives, like IR or anesthesia. I pressed her to tell me what the liklihood of her passing me on to second year would be. She told me less than 10%. I was devastated. It was surgery or bust for the last few years,, and all pointed towards bust. Spent the last few months expecting going into other fields, and eventually i was okay with it. As fate may have it, today she called me and said I was happily advanced to second year. mostly because of my positive evals and strong work ethic. We never know what the future holds, even if it looks like all is lost. Never give up, regardless of how hopeless it is.

If anyone unfortunately finds themselves in similar situations. Feel free to IM me. It was the worst two years of my life. You are not alone.
Given the pandemic and the chaos, it was probably hard to find another resident to replace you. Programs/Hospitals don't like to downsize and lose 150k from having one less resident. Not saying your work ethic was not a factor. Just be careful, your still under the radar and you still have 4 more years of surgery residency for them to change their decision. Good luck.
 
End of year summary...

They ended up extending my time till the end of year. At the january CCC, my program director told me to start thinking about alternatives, like IR or anesthesia. I pressed her to tell me what the liklihood of her passing me on to second year would be. She told me less than 10%. I was devastated. It was surgery or bust for the last few years,, and all pointed towards bust. Spent the last few months expecting going into other fields, and eventually i was okay with it. As fate may have it, today she called me and said I was happily advanced to second year. mostly because of my positive evals and strong work ethic. We never know what the future holds, even if it looks like all is lost. Never give up, regardless of how hopeless it is.

If anyone unfortunately finds themselves in similar situations. Feel free to IM me. It was the worst two years of my life. You are not alone.

Don't let up now. Stay hardworking and don't give them a reason to doubt their decision.
 
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