Internship choices for rads residency

[osli]

Been a while since I posted... 3rd year is keeping me occupied. 🙂 After completing at least one block in most of my core rotations, I feel that radiology is still easily at the top of my list. So I've started doing a little more serious research into what programs are out there that I would be interested in and all the stuff that goes with that... structure of their internship year, built-in moonlighting or not, faculty, salary, location, yadda yadda.

I've been thinking for at least the past year that I'll likely do some moonlighting to take a bite out of my monsterous debt. I see that not all programs have built in moonlighting, and if I understand correctly some don't even allow it at their institution.

I've also realized that while rads is easily my favorite thus far, I like many aspects of medicine and wouldn't mind keeping up the breadth of my knowledge and skills down the road. I've really enjoyed emergency med, and while I can't see myself doing that as a career I might like (and need) to work some night ER shifts along the way.

So a couple of questions. Does the rotating transitional year that seems preferred prepare you well enough to function adequetely in the ER? Does it prepare you well for step 3? I would think a medicine internship would be better in those aspects, but I know iit would likely be a more demanding year and I'm dumb enough to kill myself if it isn't necessary.

Do any of you in residency moonlight in the ER, or do you just look for babysitting rads equipment moonlight opportunities? If your program doesn't allow in-house moonlighting, does that make it (i.e. does their schedule make it) more difficult to arrange your own elsewhere?

I'm no workaholic, and I'm no ApacheIndian looking to make big money in residency to blow on cars and babes; I'll just have a debt on the upper end of the spectrum, I have a family, and know that in my career it is likely that real compensation will fall in any specialtiy - thus I would like to start as early as possible chipping away at that debt.

Any advice on the questions above? Should I be considering a transitional year if ER moonlighting is likely?

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[badasshairday]

bump. I am interested as well. Is a TY better if someone is planning on urgent care and ED moonlighting early on in residency? Or is prelim medicine better?

 

[cowme]

Any TY and prelim program I know of gives u one month of ER. So, it wouldn't make a difference. The real difference is in ICU months, which Prelims MAY have one more of (but I'm sure a TY would let u do a second ICU month if you so desire)

 

[a winner is you]

Any TY and prelim program I know of gives u one month of ER. So, it wouldn't make a difference. The real difference is in ICU months, which Prelims MAY have one more of (but I'm sure a TY would let u do a second ICU month if you so desire)

My prelim has no ER.

 

[hot sauce]

bump. I am interested as well. Is a TY better if someone is planning on urgent care and ED moonlighting early on in residency? Or is prelim medicine better?

Overall I doubt it makes a huge difference but I would guess TY would be better. All TY programs will have 1 month of EM. You could probably do a second EM as an elective and some ICU if you want.

 

[omarsaleh66]

i did quite a bit of ER for last 2 years. If thats what u want, I would recommend a strong transitional year. In my transitional year, I rotated 3 months medicine, 2 months peds, 2 surgery, 2 ER, 2 rads (waste), 1 family med (waste).

If I could do it over I would have done an anesthesia month (u gotta be really comfortable intubating which is by far the most important thing. Remember the airway).

ICU month would be good to get practice managing vent, practicing lines, running codes, etc.. ( but mainly practice with procedures).

Ob month may also be helpful. Im not telling u to deliver babies but atleast be prepared in case u have no time to transfer.

U can do some of these months during 4th year as well. I would also document all these procedures so u can get credentialed and privileges easily.

U will need DEA (cost 500), a permanent license (600ish), ACLS, ATLS, maybe PALS

I also recommend not doing ER until u have had 1 year of radiology. Things are a lot smoother when u can read your own plain films and CTs and not have to rely on the report.

Also be very careful, This **** isnt for everybody, things can get pretty scary trying to ER as a radiology resident. U are kinda playing with fire. Make sure you are doing to an easy ER, a place that doenst pay enough for the ER residents to want to moonlight in. Just go somewhere easy and sleep and study radiology.

Also dont forget your priorities, radiology is a hard residency. You have to know alot and you will easily be exposed if you are not reading enough and if you are moonlighting too much.

I also did it because of family reasons and have been making 6 figures throughout residency and it really helped with credit card debt, bought 2 cars, helped with all types of bills and traveling, etc.. I honestly cant imagine how financially stressful it would have been if I didnt moonlight. Its not for everybody but it will help a ton, and make you a really good physician and clinically stronger in case you want to IR.

later