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Is it much harder to get into a competitive speciality like Ophthalmology without a home residency program in that field?
Ophthalmology is a bit different than other fields
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but why wouldn't you get exposure to it?It hurts in multiple ways.
First off, how would you know you would even be interested in XYZ specialty without any/minimal exposure?
You would need to do aways, both to gain experience/show interest and to get letters of recommendation.
Also it will likely be more difficult getting in on XYZ research as it will be likely be limited at the home institution.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but why wouldn't you get exposure to it?
One school I'm considering doesn't have any surgical residencies besides ortho and gen surg, but they match people outside those fields every year. They have departments in other surgical fields and some research going on in those fields. Can't you just email the chief of the ophtha (how do shorten ophthalmology?) and ask to observe some surgeries and get exposure and letters that way? I understand the letter may not be as powerful as one from a bigshot, but still
Well it's a generalization, but if they don't have a residency program, the department is likely smaller and less academic. Which would likely mean less research. They would also be less likely to consistently offer medical student rotations.
There is actually a pretty big difference between observing some surgeries and hanging around and being part of a structured academic team on a formalized rotation.
Of course, there is also a difference between having a department but no residency program and not having a department at all.
Also, optho is the word you're looking for
Ophtho
Do you think it is worth paying $80K (total cost $285K vs $365K) more to attend a school with residencies in everything vs a school that doesn't have any surgical residencies outside of gen surg and ortho?Well it's a generalization, but if they don't have a residency program, the department is likely smaller and less academic. Which would likely mean less research. They would also be less likely to consistently offer medical student rotations.
There is actually a pretty big difference between observing some surgeries and hanging around and being part of a structured academic team on a formalized rotation.
Of course, there is also a difference between having a department but no residency program and not having a department at all.
Also, optho is the word you're looking for
Do you think it is worth paying $80K (total cost $285K vs $365K) more to attend a school with residencies in everything vs a school that doesn't have any surgical residencies outside of gen surg and ortho?