If you trained in a place where you didn't want to be permanently...

[fiatslug]

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...what was it like trying to relocate after residency/fellowship?

I'm torn b/w two fellowships: one in a town I LOVE, where we'd LOVE to live forever, that is a good program but has some holes, and one that's in a town that's probably not as bad as I think, but definitely not where we (me, husband, daugther, and bun-in-oven) want to settle down. The latter program is stronger, with bigger names, more training options, and less call. It's only 2 years.

But... you hear time & again that you should train where you want to work, b/c that's where you'll make your contacts. My field (Child & Adolescent Psych) is in high demand, and one hopes one could just hang out a shingle anywhere and have a full practice, but it seems like the vast majority of docs work where they trained.

Did you move away from your training location? How hard was it to re-establish yourself in a new place? What was the job search process like? I know some of this stuff varies with specialty, but since so few people seem to move elsewhere after training, I thought I'd open it up to the post-training masses.😉

 

[f_w]

My field (Child & Adolescent Psych) is in high demand, and one hopes one could just hang out a shingle anywhere and have a full practice, but it seems like the vast majority of docs work where they trained.

In your field, you can write your own ticket. While it would certainly be nice to be tied in with your training institution, given the 'openess' of your field that is certainly not a must.
Get the best training you can get at the most prestigious institution you can get into.

Did you move away from your training location? How hard was it to re-establish yourself in a new place?

Yes and simple. I am in a high demand specialty, finding a job where I needed to was not a problem.

If you are in lets say straight peds, you certainly want to stay where you trained, this is where the leads on the good jobs come from.

 

[johankriek]

...
But... you hear time & again that you should train where you want to work, b/c that's where you'll make your contacts. 😉

I never hear this..

 

[Winged Scapula]

...what was it like trying to relocate after residency/fellowship?

A nuisance but exciting to be back closer to home.

But... you hear time & again that you should train where you want to work, b/c that's where you'll make your contacts. My field (Child & Adolescent Psych) is in high demand, and one hopes one could just hang out a shingle anywhere and have a full practice, but it seems like the vast majority of docs work where they trained.

I see it much more commonly in IM, IM specialties and FM. Basically people wanting to go into PP in fields dependent on contacts, connections and referrals from others.

Did you move away from your training location?

As fast (and as far) as I could! 😉

How hard was it to re-establish yourself in a new place?

Not hard other than the usual annoyances of moving. That said, I am spending my first couple of months getting to know the "names" around here, marketing myself to referral sources (Ob-Gyn, FPs, etc.). Its only an issue in PP, not academics. But we get referrals due to my partner being well-known, so I'll pick up some overflow from her as well.

What was the job search process like?

Also in a high demand specialty so I could basically pick and choose where I wanted to interview and play "hard ball" on interviews and in contract negotations. As a matter of fact, I kind of waited around until a job in the geographic location came up because there were so many options to me. If C&A Psych is as highly desirable as you describe, I don't imagine you will have any trouble either. Of course, if going into PP that does mean you will have to get your name out there which will require some marketing on your end, try and get money to do this from your future employer/partner. Many practices expect you to bring them food, gifts, etc. when you make an appointment to come by and introduce yourself. The doctors probably don't care as much but the staff can serve as a roadblock if you don't...for some reason they think we're like drug reps with bottomless pockets to bring lunch to the entire office staff.🙄 So, you'll want to spend some time going to Pediatrician offices, etc. to let them know you're in town, what you offer (and what is different about what you offer).

Its all doable, it just means you have to work a little bit harder than if you had stayed in the community where you trained (although having trained at an academic center, I don't know that many surgeons or other referral sources would have had any idea who I was anyway, so not sure that this argument holds much water in hospital based specialties).

 

[Winged Scapula]

I never hear this..

Really? Because I heard it all the time and even used to tell people that until I realized that it probably doesn't make much difference.