IM residency after FM (different scenario) - possible?

[dr910]

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HI everyone! I know this question has been going around for some time, and I have read almost all of them on here, but my case is a little different so I wanted to get some experienced perspective on this.

So I got matched in FM, its a university program. It was my second choice on the rank list, first one was FM too. But since I matched, I have this weird gut feeling. I am an achiever, and I have always excelled in what I did, and for some reason now I am beginning to feel, that maybe closing doors on sub-specialties I have killed my potential. Anyways ..

The question is, I got into FM and I want to complete the residency and then I want to do a waiver to get my J1 thing out of the way. Once I am done with this, I want to do another residency, in IM. Then do a fellowship. Now the reasons for this decision is:

• My country has this new bond thing we need to sign up for getting the statement of need, which is a very hectic process. Changing specialty might prove difficult, and if at some point some of the paper work doesnt go through, I might lose my current residency also. And I want to get the J1 thing out of the way before I plan to study further, I feel its a hindrance.
• I would feel bad for changing the specialty now, after how strongly I convinced the program I wanted to be there (which I really wanted to at that point)
• I do not have any monetary issues, wouldnt mind getting paid a resident's salary for a long time.

So as you can see, my main and only concern is to achieve the goal. And my concern is the time frame I have decided, would it be possible to get into IM after the waiver (again I dont care about the pay I would get). By the time I complete my waiver, my visa status would change to Green card. I have good above average USMLE scores, all first attempts with step 3 done as well. After done with waiver and applying for IM, my YOG would be somewhere around 10years.

Thank you
(PS: I dont feel I made a mistake getting into FM, I just feel I have more potential)

 

[pulmoblast]

Typical for IMGs from India. Get the low lying fruit like FM to "secure" a residency spot and entry into the US. Then dream about being a cardiologist your parents always wanted you to be...

 

[deleted87716]

You should post your question in the IMG forum, as it has nothing to do with FM.

 

[dr910]

Typical for IMGs from India. Get the low lying fruit like FM to "secure" a residency spot and entry into the US. Then dream about being a cardiologist your parents always wanted you to be...

I didnt say I wanted to be a cardiologist

 

[VenturaResident]

(PS: I dont feel I made a mistake getting into FM, I just feel I have more potential)

And don't think that this attitude is going to win you any friends around here. Really? MORE potential? Go ahead and limit yourself to non-pregnant adult medicine. Meanwhile I'll be using my "lesser potential" to be able to care for non-pregnant adults, and maybe will be lucky enough to find a little more potential to learn to care for pregnant women, to work in the OR, and to care for children too.

Go ahead and switch to IM, and good riddance.

 

[deleted547631]

You're lucky you matched in the first place. The best thing you could do is give up your FM spot and reapply to IM but we all know you won't do that.

 

[septoplasty]

Dr910,

If you don't get the sense, you won't make friends here trying to figure out what the path is.

Alternative short answers:
- GME funding will restrict you from doing another PRIMARY CARE residency
- Your dreams of becoming a sub specialist are essentially dead

If they aren't, than I might sound bitter but I'd hate to have my hard earned tax dollars fund your GME when they could have trained 3 FM MD's (9 Years worth of GME Funding).

 

[th286]

I don't think I can offer an answer to your question, but I would recommend you carefully consider the decision you are making. What has changed? A weird gut-feeling, and fear of missing out on opportunities to be a specialist are not very compelling. Family medicine allows you to take somewhat of a specialist role if you so choose. There are family medicine physicians who focus on GI, obstetrics, wound care, pain management, cardiology, dermatology, ICU, etc. This may be more challenging at some academic centers, but is worth considering.

Have you though about what specialty you might choose if you took the IM route? That may provide you with some sense of direction.

Your last statement "PS: I don't feel I made a mistake getting into FM, I just feel I have more potential" is uncalled for and unfair. Potential is what you make of it. Family medicine physicians are the unsung heroes of medicine and many of us chose our specialty because we believe being family/patient/community experts is critical. Don't underestimate the impact you can have and skills you can develop as a family medicine physician.

 

[JustPlainBill]

I'm going to restrain myself in this forum and not drop straight into compound-complex profanity to tell you in blunt terms what I think of your statement regarding having "more potential" -- I mean, although it does make you sound like a pompous ass which is sometimes befitting of IM types, especially some of the specialists that trained at UTSW where you would fit right in (consider the Nephrology or Ortho department at that institution), I will restrain myself from going there ---

In an effort to seriously address the question -- if you order your electives towards IM electives -- i.e. more ward work, more ICU work, more specialist work (cards, GI, neuro), you can do fellowships in IM specialities -- some will accept FM with good LORs and comments in your evals. I can think of one critical care program that would take an FM trained physician right off the top of my head -- but then, there's your personality to deal with and that may keep you from getting those fellowships unless your FM preceptors can fix you before they let you graduate.

Good luck to you in your future endeavors.

 

[deleted87716]

 

[septoplasty]

I'm going to restrain myself in this forum and not drop straight into compound-complex profanity to tell you in blunt terms what I think of your statement regarding having "more potential" -- I mean, although it does make you sound like a pompous ass which is sometimes befitting of IM types, especially some of the specialists that trained at UTSW where you would fit right in (consider the Nephrology or Ortho department at that institution), I will restrain myself from going there ---

In an effort to seriously address the question -- if you order your electives towards IM electives -- i.e. more ward work, more ICU work, more specialist work (cards, GI, neuro), you can do fellowships in IM specialities -- some will accept FM with good LORs and comments in your evals. I can think of one critical care program that would take an FM trained physician right off the top of my head -- but then, there's your personality to deal with and that may keep you from getting those fellowships unless your FM preceptors can fix you before they let you graduate.

Good luck to you in your future endeavors.

What? Really?

That's interesting. I've always read that you don't "need" to be IM BC, but theres actually places that do this? Interesting!