IM to Orthopedics

[doctobe26]

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Need advise. I will be an intern in I-Med but want to know if it's possible to have a good chance of getting into ortho from I-Med. I have a 251 on Step 1, a 227 on Step2, no honors during 3rd yr, top 1/3 of my class, and participated in Rads research with no publication. I know it sounds like a long shot, but I feel it's something I really wanna do, anything is possible. Would I have to sit out a yr and do research? What your best advise?

 

[Dimoak]

Are you going to be a Categorical IM or Prelim Med? You'd probably end up having to re-enter the match, as I doubt you'd be able to get credit for the intern year in medicine. A prelim surgery spot would've put you into a better position. Your Step 1 is solid, so if you're truly certain you no longer want to pursue IM and would instead like to go into Orthopaedics, you should have a pretty good shot. IMHO, a research year (or a prelim surg spot if you can still find out outside the match) would serve you better than an IM year.

 

[skiz knot]

Need advise. I will be an intern in I-Med but want to know if it's possible to have a good chance of getting into ortho from I-Med. I have a 251 on Step 1, a 227 on Step2, no honors during 3rd yr, top 1/3 of my class, and participated in Rads research with no publication. I know it sounds like a long shot, but I feel it's something I really wanna do, anything is possible. Would I have to sit out a yr and do research? What your best advise?

The most difficult thing is probably going to be finding time to interview while you are an intern.

There may be some funding issues as well. I am not sure how re-entering the match would work, and you may not have medicare funds to continue training the length necessary for an ortho residency. I don't know how all that stuff works though. I am pretty sure you should not just sit out the year until you know how that is viewed by the Match people. It may be a violation of the match process???

Sounds like you have the numbers to get into ortho. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[wolferman]

It is possible. We have similar stats. You did better on the Steps, but I did honor all my ortho rotations 3rd and 4th year (high-passed everything else) and have one 1st authorship in J of Hand Surg. Applied to too few ortho residencies and didn't match the first time through. Did a prelim year in internal med whilst reapplying to 81 ortho residencies. Got 10 interviews, went to 8, ranked 7 (one was outside the match). Got into my #4. So, yeah, it's possible to get into ortho from medicine. You just gotta want it and keep trying. Plus, the medicine year will totally make the surgical internship easier...as EVERYONE keeps telling me. Sell them on this fact. Remember, on Day #1 you'll be a doctor seasoned by a year of medicine not a freshly graduated medical student. ;-)

Good luck!