How/When to find PGY-2 categorical gsurg spot for NEXT year

[gsurg6forever]

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Hi,


I just matched in categorical general surgery at my #2 spot. My boyfriend is across the country. He matched in a specialty that is not available anywhere near me....So, I've accepted that I will doing my intern year at my matched program and we are anticipating me moving closer to him as a PGY-2 next year.

Does anyone know how feasible it is to find a PGY-2 categorical spot in general surgery? Michigan or Illinois would be great but New York, Boston, or D.C would work as well. If so, when do I start looking and at what point in my intern year do I tell my PD? Should I personally contact PDs before letting my PD know? Do I find a vacancy or a swap position, as I'm not sure if my PD would be open to swapping (although he may, but I don't want to screw myself over by being known as the one who wasn't happy)?

Thanks for all your help. I am still getting over the shock of not being near him but am overall grateful to have a categorical spot in general surgery.

Hi,


I just matched in categorical general surgery at my #2 spot. My boyfriend is across the country. He matched in a specialty that is not available anywhere near me....So, I've accepted that I will doing my intern year at my matched program and we are anticipating me moving closer to him as a PGY-2 next year.

Does anyone know how feasible it is to find a PGY-2 categorical spot in general surgery? Michigan or Illinois would be great but New York, Boston, or D.C would work as well. If so, when do I start looking and at what point in my intern year do I tell my PD? Should I personally contact PDs before letting my PD know? Do I find a vacancy or a swap position, as I'm not sure if my PD would be open to swapping (although he may, but I don't want to screw myself over by being known as the one who wasn't happy)?

Thanks for all your help. I am still getting over the shock of not being near him but am overall grateful to have a categorical spot in general surgery.

Hi,


I just matched in categorical general surgery at my #2 spot. My boyfriend is across the country. He matched in a specialty that is not available anywhere near me....So, I've accepted that I will doing my intern year at my matched program and we are anticipating me moving closer to him as a PGY-2 next year.

Does anyone know how feasible it is to find a PGY-2 categorical spot in general surgery? Michigan or Illinois would be great but New York, Boston, or D.C would work as well. If so, when do I start looking and at what point in my intern year do I tell my PD? Should I personally contact PDs before letting my PD know? Do I find a vacancy or a swap position, as I'm not sure if my PD would be open to swapping (although he may, but I don't want to screw myself over by being known as the one who wasn't happy)?

Thanks for all your help. I am still getting over the shock of not being near him but am overall grateful to have a categorical spot in general surgery.

 

[medicienne]

I hear ya. I have a similar dilemma and would appreciate if someone can post the answers here. Maybe you should post this at 'general residency issues' where the statistics are better and you may get more replies.

 

[Winged Scapula]

What follows is not helpful.

Why are people shocked when they end up at a program they ranked (and highly no less)? Did you and your BF not do the couples match? And even if you did, why would you rank a program #2 knowing that there was a good chance (or any chance) that you might be separated?

At any rate, some programs will offer PGY-2 positions on NRMP, others at apds.org and still others via word of mouth. We used to get flyers all the time from programs with open positions which our PC used to post in the resident's room.

So feasible? Sure...the attrition rate is still high. The trouble is that now the competition is much stiffer. You are competing with hungry and very hard working NDPs who would eat the PD's shoes for a position.

In regards to when you should tell your current PD, I'd suggest the following:

- you not use the term BF. No matter how long you've been together and how loving your relationship is most people, surgeons especially, will think you a little "flighty" to be giving up a categorical surgery position for someone who is not your husband. These are generally not people who value family over career (exceptions abound of course).

- you will need time off to interview for other positions; I suggest you use your vacation time to do so, as you don't want to be asking for additional time off when you will be trying your hardest to make sure you leave this program on a good note

- I would wait to tell the PD until you have left a good impression (ie, don't tell him during July when all interns look ridiculous); make him/her like you and want to help you (although don't expect them to be happy about it)

- if your BF is in a less competitive specialty, think about having him move closer to YOU. After all, you say that there are no programs "anywhere near" but then you list a wide geographical area which ranges from Illinois to DC to Boston. I find it unlikely that there are any medical specialties which do not have residencies somewhere in that wide swatch of our country.

And with that I apologize for being cranky.

 

[Winged Scapula]

BTW, moving to General Residency...as this forum is for the posting of open positions only (ie, for people who have an open position).