I need a doctor : )

[Gigo]

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Hello there

I am 28 and currently doing 2nd year of residency in... well... orthopedic surgery... and I do have really big problem, and this problem is that I really want to switch to psychiatry, the thing is that from 1st year of medical school I knew that I wanted to be a psychiatrist, I was doing great on every quiz of Behavioral science, neurology, psychiatry well in everything that was near to this field because that was my dream, but on 5th year of med.school a **** happened, I had teacher in local psych. clinic and she was really one of the worst people that I ever had met, long story short, I quit my ''dream'' and went in orthop. and ever since I have intrusive thought of going back to it, but I'm afraid... mostly because of low salary and my absolute inexperience in the field,

so my question is what would you do in my place? will it be very hard for me to get psy. residency position in US at 30 or 31 ? I still have to pass USMLE, (I'm IMG), will my 3 year background in orthopedics be a drawback for getting a place? will you recommend somebody to start with psy. at this age?

 

[twright]

Hello there

I am 28 and currently doing 2nd year of residency in... well... orthopedic surgery... and I do have really big problem, and this problem is that I really want to switch to psychiatry, the thing is that from 1st year of medical school I knew that I wanted to be a psychiatrist, I was doing great on every quiz of Behavioral science, neurology, psychiatry well in everything that was near to this field because that was my dream, but on 5th year of med.school a **** happened, I had teacher in local psych. clinic and she was really one of the worst people that I ever had met, long story short, I quit my ''dream'' and went in orthop. and ever since I have intrusive thought of going back to it, but I'm afraid... mostly because of low salary and my absolute inexperience in the field,

so my question is what would you do in my place? will it be very hard for me to get psy. residency position in US at 30 or 31 ? I still have to pass USMLE, (I'm IMG), will my 3 year background in orthopedics be a drawback for getting a place? will you recommend somebody to start with psy. at this age?

In general, your prior background in orthopedics should not be an insurmountable barrier to entering a psychiatry residency.

However, your post conflates two different ideas:
1. Getting into psychiatry residency
2. Getting into psychiatry residency in the U.S.

 

[Gigo]

I have absolutely no problem to go into psy. residency in my homeland, but eventually I will think of getting into US, due to quality of teaching etc. I'm just curious how will I explain prospective employers such switch

 

[On Walden Pond]

but I'm afraid... mostly because of low salary and my absolute inexperience in the field, so my question is what would you do in my place? will it be very hard for me to get psy. residency position in US at 30 or 31 ? I still have to pass USMLE, (I'm IMG), will my 3 year background in orthopedics be a drawback for getting a place? will you recommend somebody to start with psy. at this age?

I will be 34 when I start residency in psychiatry, and that's not too old at all. The more life experience the better in this field.

As for pay, I know of psychiatrists in Los Angeles who make more than some surgeons.

 

[shan564]

The average age at which people finish med school in the US is 28-29. So your age is really not a concern. And neither is your background in orthopedics - if anything, it's good that you have some experience and you're not coming straight out of med school.

As far as the issue of coming to the US, you'll have to do the same thing that the other IMGs (including myself) have to do, in order of importance:

1. Make sure you can speak English at the level of a native speaker (especially true for psychiatrists)... most foreign doctors come to the US from English-speaking countries like India or Pakistan, but I'm not sure what it's like in Georgia. This is probably the most important thing - even if you have really high USMLE scores, you won't get past the interview stage without strong English language skills.

2. Get above-average scores on the USMLE. This is the most difficult part for most people, especially if you've been out of med school for a couple of years.

3. Do some externships in the US. This might not be absolutely necessary if you're a great candidate otherwise, but it's almost essential.

4. While you're taking your time with the USMLE and externships, do some research in psychiatry. This isn't essential, but it will certainly help.


All in all, there's no reason to think that you're any less competitive than any other IMG. But you should really start studying for the USMLE soon. The number of US graduates is increasing faster than the number of residency spots, so there will be fewer and fewer spots available for IMGs every year.

 

[Gigo]

Thank you for comments.

Finally I decided to quit my Ortho-trauma residency and go to Psy. I will be starting my residency in couple of weeks (I'm not currently in States). At this point I have 2 Goals: (1) Pass USMLE Step 1 and (2) Get residency position in Germany (I have to go there first)

Can you advice me some good book for beginners? I mean some nice (not very big) book for General Psychiatry? maybe 300 - 500 Pages? For me to have some kind of general idea about ''everything''?

 

[vistaril]

Hello there

I am 28 and currently doing 2nd year of residency in... well... orthopedic surgery... and I do have really big problem, and this problem is that I really want to switch to psychiatry, the thing is that from 1st year of medical school I knew that I wanted to be a psychiatrist, I was doing great on every quiz of Behavioral science, neurology, psychiatry well in everything that was near to this field because that was my dream, but on 5th year of med.school a **** happened, I had teacher in local psych. clinic and she was really one of the worst people that I ever had met, long story short, I quit my ''dream'' and went in orthop. and ever since I have intrusive thought of going back to it, but I'm afraid... mostly because of low salary and my absolute inexperience in the field,

so my question is what would you do in my place? will it be very hard for me to get psy. residency position in US at 30 or 31 ? I still have to pass USMLE, (I'm IMG), will my 3 year background in orthopedics be a drawback for getting a place? will you recommend somebody to start with psy. at this age?

not to be overly blunt, but how much of this is really a desire to come and work in the states? Ortho is obviously not an img compatible residency in the US. Psych obviously is. How much of that is the driving force vs more preference for psych over ortho? Because that is the first thought that is going to pop up to a pd.....

 

[zenman]

We have 2 Filipino psychiatrists in my clinic, one used to be ortho doc and the other eye surgeon

 

[vistaril]

We have 2 Filipino psychiatrists in my clinic, one used to be ortho doc and the other eye surgeon

well yes, but in their own country right?

 

[nancysinatra]

not to be overly blunt, but how much of this is really a desire to come and work in the states? Ortho is obviously not an img compatible residency in the US. Psych obviously is. How much of that is the driving force vs more preference for psych over ortho? Because that is the first thought that is going to pop up to a pd.....

If that was the motivation, the OP would apply in family practice. The OP might also be from a country where mental health is not well developed, but ortho is, which probably describes most of the world.

 

[nancysinatra]

Ortho would be a good background for psych, because you can be the one to read the hand and wrist xrays for the patients who injure themselves punching walls. Unlike us, you will even know which views to order.

 

[Gigo]

not to be overly blunt, but how much of this is really a desire to come and work in the states? Ortho is obviously not an img compatible residency in the US. Psych obviously is. How much of that is the driving force vs more preference for psych over ortho? Because that is the first thought that is going to pop up to a pd.....

well, this is only question that ''I fear'' : ) I am quitting ortho because of interest in psy and that's actually a truth : )

 

[vistaril]

well, this is only question that ''I fear'' : ) I am quitting ortho because of interest in psy and that's actually a truth : )

but interestingly, pursuing psych in the US while you perfectly content to pursue ortho in your home country.

 

[Gigo]

well the only reason why I want to have some kind of experience in US is to have a good training. The medical school I graduated from is based on ''Western medicine'', so I find it a little bit difficult to work in places that have so to say ''another style'' of practice. Its very easy for me to stay in ortho. I have spent 3 years in department that primarily focuses on hip/knee replacements and we really do a ''normal money'' here, the reason I don't want to stay in this field is that I find it more and more hard to work in the field that does not interests me in any way. So when it comes Money Vs Interest, I am trying to choose 2nd option, which I think suits me more. Anyway, thank you for comments : )

 

[shan564]

well, this is only question that ''I fear'' : ) I am quitting ortho because of interest in psy and that's actually a truth : )

Don't worry... as long as you're being honest and you have good reasons for choosing psych, most people will believe you. If you want to prove your interest, do some research or some externships/rotations in psych and get some rec letters from psychiatrists.

Also, I think it helps to have a high USMLE score to prove that you're not just applying to psych as a backup. If you have a high score, everybody knows that you could have gotten into another specialty if you wanted to, but you're choosing psych because it's what you want to do.

 

[vistaril]

well the only reason why I want to have some kind of experience in US is to have a good training. The medical school I graduated from is based on ''Western medicine'', so I find it a little bit difficult to work in places that have so to say ''another style'' of practice. Its very easy for me to stay in ortho. I have spent 3 years in department that primarily focuses on hip/knee replacements and we really do a ''normal money'' here, the reason I don't want to stay in this field is that I find it more and more hard to work in the field that does not interests me in any way. So when it comes Money Vs Interest, I am trying to choose 2nd option, which I think suits me more. Anyway, thank you for comments : )

not to be too critical, but I would really practice this a bit before interviewing here. You say '"the only reason why I want to have some kind of experience in US is to have a good training"...the obvious question that comes to mind then is- is your current training in ortho not good? Then, towards the end you say you are trying to choose interest vs money, but that doesn't make sense either.....yes, ortho here pays a lot more than psych. But that *isn't* the relevant argument, since doing ortho here is not an option. In a comparison of psych here vs ortho in your home country, I am guessing psych here pays a good bit more than ortho wherever you are at....

just on the surface, so far with many of the arguments you presented, you aren't very convincing in terms of your motives. Now that said, if you are decent IMG you still have a shot to land in psych here.