Independent programs to be phased out?

[ckdgusdl88]

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Hi I'm a MS1 medical student interested in PRS.
I've heard somewhere that independent programs will be phased out and be all converted to integrated programs. Is this true?
Has there been any definitive policy changes to this effect, or is this more of a conjecture from some people? When will this take effect?
And I've also heard that 2+3 integrated programs are being eliminated and being replaced by 3+3. Is this also true?

Sorry for so many questions and thanks!

 

[TupacalipseT96]

I was talking to a program director recently about how COMBINED programs will soon no longer be allowed. For the existing combined programs, to switch immediately to an integrated track puts a large financial burden on the Plastics department (since the general surgery department usually pays and controls the combined residents for the first half of their residency). This means that many smaller/less-endowed combined programs will be forced to drop their residency programs (and presumably become independent-only?) for financial reasons, as will be the case for his program when this goes into effect.

This is how it was explained to me, anyway.

Most integrated programs are 3+3, or 1+5, 1.5 + 4.5, 2+4, or some permutation of that. Plan on 6 clinical years, and many of the bigger name university programs may require a research year usually after clinical year 3 (so really it's 7 years a lot of places).

I have not personally heard anything about independent programs being formally phased out.

 

[Stare Decisis]

Everything will balance out, as some independent programs will be phased out others will switch from independent to integrated programs. This is happening at several independent only programs. At my institution they will phase out the independent program and start an integrated program in several years by simply taking residents from the general surgery track. So residents will interview during their PGY3 GS year to become plastics in PGY4...several students I know have already lined up to do GS at this program hoping to make the leap. The reason some of these guys want to start residencies is because they want to compete for some of the competitive applicants coming directly out of medical school, although the residents coming from GS are more "battle-tested" and less likely to drop-out.

Some of the smaller programs will go under but other programs will creep up and take their place. Plus with the addition of the the third year some GS people are not to keen on doing 5+3 or 7+3 (depending on how much research is involved). Keep in mind that all the current programs are becoming integrated in the next 1-2 years. Although, for some programs this is a name change only and they will keep the 3+3 format but be financially in charge of their residents from day 1 (University of Washington is an example of this). My own personal opinon is that once integrated PRS guys start to become chairmen society presidents then the independent pathway will cease to exist, I have no opinon on the ramifications of that but it is just my opinion.

If you truly want to do plastics I would definitely shoot for an integrated spot because that appears where the field is moving. If you feel inadequately trained after that then you could take your "saved" years and do more fellowships!