HELP.. advice desperately needed

[chatterbox]

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I just started intern year a couple months ago in a pretty prestigious OBGYN program on the east coast. The program itself is terrific but I've come to realize that OBGYN is not for me for many reasons.. mainly, I'm not cut out to be a surgeon emotionally or physically.. I've actually been ill enough to warrant a couple trips to the ER.. nothing too serious yet but definitely an eyeopener and I find myself literally afraid of going back to work.. either hurting a patient or continue to hurt my body because of physical and mental exhaustion and dehydration. To make thinsg more complicated, I realized even earlier than the health issues popped up that I needed to move back to the West Coast and could not commit to 4 years out here.. to make it brief, my mother is sick (good chance she will not be around after I get out of residency) and even though things are stable now, I don't forsee things going smoothly over a 4 year period.. which is why I need to make a move to go back now to help, spend time with her, etc.

My question is, what to do I do now?? Before my health felt threatened, I was committed to sticking OBGYN intern year out at my current program.. I feel like things are stable enough with my family for now that I owe the program that much and it would be great to have an intern/transitional year behind me. More and more I think radiology would be a better fit.. I find the stuff interesting and physically not as burdensome.. I would move back in with my parents, help them out, get a research job for a year to build the resume and pay the loans, reapply to programs in my hometown and it would work out. With my recent health problems though over the past month, I am scared I can't even finish intern year.. and at what cost? (I know I"m being broad about my illness, you can PM me and ask if it helps offering better advice but just dont want to put it all over general msg board). I know internship and residency in anythign will be emotionally and physically taxing but beng in the OR for hrs at at time is a particular beast of its own, one that I truly feel now I am not cut out for. by the way, this was NOT a problem for me in medical school.. granted I didn't keep these kinds of hours but I stood in long surgeries, I took calls, yet still I have been caught unprepared by the toll residency has taken on my physical health. This isn't how it should be.. a person meaent to do this shouldn't require fluid resuscitation twice a month to function! right?!
Please help. If I leave now, am I throwing it all away? I think that my program will be understanding enough but I know tongues will wag and who knows how strong the support from the PD and people who matter will be if I can't even finish the year.. I'll be putting everyone in a tight spot (which kills me, I'm by nature a people pleaser). plus I'm really afraid to leave my current job without another one lined up.. I don't think research positions in my home state are what they used to be and if anything, I need the health insurance. Please advise!!!!!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Read your contract, to find out what your legal requirements are. This information might be in a "Resident/GME Handbook" instead. Chances are, there will be a 2-3 month notice required.

Talk to your PD. Make a plan. Consider applying for a PGY-1 in another field, you might be able to transition into IM or FP or something else.

Rads is very competitive. You need the right "pedigree" to get a spot ==> high USMLE / Great MSPE / Rad rotations / Research / Rad letters -- you don't necessarily need ALL of that, but many applying will. You need a plan B. Pathology might be something to consider, if you like it.

 

[DrJosephKim]

Since I don't know what type of health ailments you're referring to, I'll make my comments very general. I know many physicians who have become "disabled" for various reasons and they are now working in the non-clinical setting. If you can complete a residency, that's still the best thing to do. However, if the clinical medicine doesn't end up working out, there are many great non-clinical options.

Look at Sermo's founder. He was a surgical resident and then he developed a back problem. He quit residency to start his own company. Most people probably aren't that lucky, but there are many options out there.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Yah to get into rads with a big red flag like dropping out of internship would require an otherwise perfect application. Do you have what it takes?