I'm quite touched, honestly, people remembered and cared about my story. It's a bit soap opera-esque, sorry.
I posted on the women surgery residents thread, but I found out in July of PGY-2 year that I was expecting a baby, and that the husband whom I had followed out to Seattle in the first place was transferred down to Los Angeles. Before the pregnancy we had agreed that he would move down and I would continue to try my luck at UW, as I was happy there and have received a lot of positive feedback. But obviously it's quite impossible to be a single parent and a surgery resident, so I decided to apply for research fellowships once we found out and took myself out of the running for any categorical position, st UW or anywhere else.
As mentioned, I was lucky enough to win a big national research fellowship with two full years of funded support to join any lab I chose, and I found a mentor at UCLA. I'm happy with the project and my lifestyle, and happy at the thought of resuming residency with a two year old rather than a newborn, but it is a double leap into the void. Just like nobody in their right mind turns down categorical positions to become a prelim instead, no prelim voluntarily does research and removes the self from clinical practice as the chances of picking up an R3 position become infinitely smaller once you leave the sheltering arms of a program.
So I suppose I'm either the poster child of prioritizing family while still trying to have a serious career, or incredibly stupid. However, I have recently interviewed for a very good R3 spot, so there might be light at the end of the tunnel?
As far as outcomes for 2-yr prelims: I was obviously very interested. I definitely feel its a better gig than a one year prelim unless you absolutely know you want to go back into the match. Here's the data:
Two years before me:
1) FMG, attending in home country, stayed in UW program, now UW transplant fellow
2) FMG, prior residency in home country, R3 spot at university program, just matched to plastics fellowship at Mayo
3) Caribbean grad, R3 at community program
4) FMG, fired mid-year due to atrocious English and incompetence
Year before me:
1) FMG, attending surgeon in home country: categorical R3 at university program
2) AMG, good medical school: categorical R3 at university program
3) AMg, good medical school: kept in the UW program
4) AMG, good medical school, interested in ortho: took ortho house physician position with handshake deal to join ortho program pending good performance
5) FMG: geographically restricted due to husband's residency match, took research job, had baby, not sure if will seek further residency training
6) FMG, completely incompetent, not given recommendation for residency in any field. Currently doing research at UW.
My year (one and two year prelims)
1) me-- research fellowship, hopes to stay in GS
2) AMG, grandfathered in to integrated vascular surgery spot mid-year
3) FMG, R3 at university program
4) FMG, R3 at university program
5) AMG, interested in ortho, doing ortho research, applying for ortho match one last time
6) AMG, divorced with custody of children by other parent, so geographically restricted to Seatlle. Doing research, applying for nonsurgical residency (?anesthesia)
7) categorical R2 in ENT at MAss Eye and Ear
8) AMG, EM residency
9) AMG, R2 urology position at MGH
10) AMG from top 5 med school, applied for ob/gyn, did not match despite stellar credentials. The only other 'voluntary' prelim in the program, he waited for his wife to graduate med school before couples matching.
This year:
1) FMG: no prior residency in home country, landed R2 spot in integrated CT program
2) AMG: neurosurgery residency at UW on a trial basis
3) AMG: applying for EM residencies in the match
4) two other AMGs unaccounted for-- year isn't over yet. Looking for GS spots
Of the current chief class, two started as prelims. One matched to vascular fellowship at Mayo, and one matched to Uw's MIS fellowship. Last years graduating chiefs had two who started as prelims; one became the transplant fellow as I mentioned, and one is in private practice.
I won't pretend that prelim residents are mentored equally as categoricals, but UW really is quite successful in placing prelims. Most of them do the work themselves, with the right embellishments and prodding from the PD, who is genuinely very helpful. If you're staring down the barrel of a prelim residency, I'd recommend it.
