How to transfer into Anesthesia?

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DocBrown

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I'm soon to be a PGY-1 surgical intern.

Does anyone have any experience with transferring into anesthesia after finishing a PGY-1 year in another specialty?

I would like to transfer and directly get a CA-1 position, so I don't have to do another intern year.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

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you just matched 2 months ago and already looking to change before your first day in surgery?

If you are seriously considering switching already, I would try to directly contact program directors and ask them if they have spots open. The spots you are going for have already been matched into, but sometimes they hold a few open here or there or spots become available for other reasons.
 
Already? what happened in the last 2 months?

you may be able to swing a spot for next year. If you don't get a spot until 2008, it does not mean you have to do another internship. you could moonlight, do research, or whatever in the interim.
 
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...

My old roommate transferred into anesthesia after intern year. He was surgery.
 
DocBrown said:
I'm soon to be a PGY-1 surgical intern.

Does anyone have any experience with transferring into anesthesia after finishing a PGY-1 year in another specialty?

I would like to transfer and directly get a CA-1 position, so I don't have to do another intern year.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

PM UTSouthwestern. He's the guru in this area.

Good luck.
 
DocBrown said:
I'm soon to be a PGY-1 surgical intern.

Does anyone have any experience with transferring into anesthesia after finishing a PGY-1 year in another specialty?

I would like to transfer and directly get a CA-1 position, so I don't have to do another intern year.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

yeah, i did it this year. what would you like to know? wouldn't mind answering questions about the experience either.
 
i did it too, feel free to message me. good luck.
 
Lots transfer in from one specialty or another. Many programs will have a spot or two for 2007 CA-1s, but they aren't going to be widely advertised. The first way would be to send a CV and cover letter to all the programs where you'd be willing to go. You should have a very good reason for wanting to transfer considering you haven't started your internship yet. You could wait a few months (until September or so), so you have some experience as a surgical intern and it looks like you're basing your decision on some experience.

The second way is to apply for the match. When you interview, you can ask about the possibility of starting a year earlier than you would otherwise.

If you're really serious, I'd do both.
 
I really appreciate the info guys!

But, can you specify if I can AVOID doing the intern year over?

I know there's 1-4 programs and 2-4 programs. If go into a 2-4, I know I'll have a year off, but that's much better to me than repeating intern year.

Will the 1-4 programs make me re-do intern year?
 
DocBrown said:
I really appreciate the info guys!

But, can you specify if I can AVOID doing the intern year over?

I know there's 1-4 programs and 2-4 programs. If go into a 2-4, I know I'll have a year off, but that's much better to me than repeating intern year.

Will the 1-4 programs make me re-do intern year?

If you match into a Categorical (1-4) program, I'd think you would have to redo the intern year. For those programs that have only Categorical spots, your best bet would be to contact them, explain your situation, and ask if they have positions outside the match.

There's plenty of programs with Advanced positions advertised both in and outside the Match. I would focus my efforts on those programs!

Good luck
 
VolatileAgent said:
hey, what's up little brother.

Little brother? Judging by our join dates, I'm 11 months your senior. Unless of course you're further along the anesthetic path. I'm a mere PG-1. Yourself?
 
You won't necessarily have to take a year off if you get a a 2-4 year program to take you outside the match for 2007 spot. Happens frequently. I know several people who have done it. However, if you only apply through the match, you're a lot less likely to get that kind of spot.
 
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