IM switch to Radiology (IR)?

[BrockDoc]

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This has probably been asked before, but here goes anyway. I am currently a PGY-1 in a categorical IM program. I have just not been happy at all during intern year...bordering on pretty miserable. I thought about radiology as a medical student, but the idea of being on the frontlines in medicine really excited me, so I went that route. Plus, I wanted to pursue a fellowship in GI because I saw myself as being very procedure oriented. Now here I am at the tail end of my intern year and I am just not happy. I have been practically begging for research opportunities in GI with absolutely no success...so there is essentially no chance that I wil match into GI. I get absolutely sick to my stomach at the thought of doing general IM for the rest of my life.

The one thing that I have noticed all year is that I am always fascinated by the patients that we send down to IR for drainages, fistula declotting, biopsies, embolizations, lines, etc... I wish I could be down there doing the procedures. The thing I dislike most about general IM is the lack of procedures. I need to be doing something to break up the monotony of the day/week. IR seems like an awesome field in that regard. You get to see a lot of pathology at the same time that you are doing procedures.

My question is, what would I need to do if I wanted to pursue IR. Should I continue with my PGY-2 year of residency in IM and maybe try to apply next year? Maybe I can do some sort of research or electives with radiology during my PGY-2 year. I am an AMG and currently at a tier 2 university internal medicine program. I have average to slightly above average Step 1 and 2 scores. I just cannot see myself continuing to be happy if I went the general IM route.

I appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

[colbgw02]

You should probably finish your internship before making any life-altering decisions. Many (read: most) people hate their job and life during internship, but only a handful end up switching residencies.

 

[NYCRES]

What about interventional cardio, or interventional pulm or interventional nephro?

 

[NYCRES]

i only say because that would be a great way to be on the front line and also procedure based as well. Plus it would be easier for you to do since you are already in IM.

 

[asmallchild]

Is interventional nephrology a subspecialty of nephrology?

 

[gonogo]

Is interventional nephrology a subspecialty of nephrology?

Yes.

 

[Taurus]

Is interventional nephrology a subspecialty of nephrology?

I have heard of urologists and nephrology trying to get into the IR game with mixed success. Seems like they want to do their own nephrostomy tubes or something. I'm waiting to see how successful they will be.