Is getting into residency difficult?

[Ray Of Light]

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Is it difficult to get into residency? Are spaces that limited?

 

[jonwill]

Is it difficult to get into residency? Are spaces that limited?

There are enough residencies to go around at this point but not everyone will get a three year residency. The majority of students will get a 3 year (something like 360 3-year slots and 160 2-year slots).

 

[whiskers]

If I don't get a 3 yr slot, I'm leaving the profession quicker than you can say texas tube toast. I won't even start residency. I personally don't understand why the profession is clinging onto this training system other than to one up each other at conferences and meetings. I suspect that life as a 2 year could get tough later down the road, So this cat component won't even play that game.

In my opinion, one could get a JD or decent MBA in that period of time and have a more certain future.

Either we all are foot and ankle experts or we're just a confusing mess of titles which will confuse all of our potential patients.

 

[blooh]

whats the difference between 2 year and 3 year.. on the website from nycpm they make it sound like the 2 year is an accelerated program and the 3 year is the slow track?

so that one extra year your going to become one super foot doctor
something is not adding up
- danny

 

[whiskers]

whats the difference between 2 year and 3 year.. on the website from nycpm they make it sound like the 2 year is an accelerated program and the 3 year is the slow track?

so that one extra year your going to become one super foot doctor
something is not adding up
- danny

Seewhat I mean? It's down right confusing and in my opinion confuses the heck out of the public as to what a podiatrist is and does.... But does it allow a heirarchy of podiatry pride to reign like royalty?

If you are confused and know a little more than the generalpublic about the profession,Imagine how confused the patients and potential patients are.

2 yr is forefoot surgery
3yr is generally (but not always) forefoot plus rearfoot surgery.

 

[Ray Of Light]

if i go to pod school outside of california will i be able to get a residency spot in cali and practice in cali?
do different schools offer different residency programs? i'm confused.

 

[Feli]

Right now, the balance is strongly in the students' favor. A lot of spots, even PMS-36s, went unfilled for the class of 2007 (the lowest national number of graduating DPMs in 30 years, per CASPR). It was a fairly different year which saw many residencies scramble spots.

That might not be the case for much longer, though, and I certainly wouldn't ever expect it as an entering student. Nobody can, with 100% certainty, predict what the graduate-to-residency ratio will be in four or more years. With AZPod beginning to graduate students and COTH regulations mandating that residency programs need to dissolve, decrease the number of slots, or re-apply for accreditation if they go unfilled or fail to get the required surgical volume, the number of residency spots may level off or decrease while the national number of graduating DPMs increases a bit. To further compound matters, I believe a new California school is opening its doors in fall of 2009.

The best PMS-36 spots are always comptetitive (and even the mid-range ones in popular geographic areas get a lot of apps), but even some of the residency slots which currently are in low demand may see an uptick in interest if the ratio changes.
You always want to do as well as you can in school to give yourself many options.

A graduate of any pod school can apply for any residency. There are a few exceptions, but the vast majority of residencies will interview and accept qualified candidates from any pod school. The only thing limiting which residencies one can apply or interview for would typically be not passing board exams, a very low GPA/rank, or US citizenship/residency issues.

No matter where you do your DPM residency, you can take a job or start a practice anywhere you can get a liscense and find business which suits you. How you practice or what job you take or apply for is entirely up to you, but it might not be the most logical idea to set up shop right between two powerhouse residency programs or pod schools if you didn't get solid training and/or make connections...

 

[bdaddyjolley]

I was just at the Podiatry western conference last weekend and I talked with some head honchos of the APMA. They said that they would like to have all residencies PMS 3 and that they are pushing for the 2015 resolution which would also eliminate a gap in training since there would be a national scope. So that would eliminate this problem if all goes according to plan.

 

[cool_vkb]

I was just at the Podiatry western conference last weekend and I talked with some head honchos of the APMA. They said that they would like to have all residencies PMS 3 and that they are pushing for the 2015 resolution which would also eliminate a gap in training since there would be a national scope. So that would eliminate this problem if all goes according to plan.

Man i heard this 2015 resolution after a long time. So whats happening with it these days. Is there any link or website where one can go and read what exactly (word by word) is this resoultion 2015. I mean we all have a good idea but i really want to read it.

 

[grifgin]

how limited are you if you are an international student? ie no American passport?

 

[jonwill]

whats the difference between 2 year and 3 year.. on the website from nycpm they make it sound like the 2 year is an accelerated program and the 3 year is the slow track?

so that one extra year your going to become one super foot doctor
something is not adding up
- danny

2 year - can become certified in forefoot surgery
3 year - can become certified in forefoot, rearfoot, and ankle reconstruction

Those who do 2 year programs CANNOT sit for rearfoot boards.

 

[NORCAL]

Could someone please fill me in, or direct me to a good link with answers to my quesitons? I just withdrew from dental school, and I'm new to the world of podiatry. My question is this - are all pod residencies surgical in nature? I've read in a few places about how pods can be specialized in treating diabetic patients or pediatric or geriatric patients, etc. Is this type of specialization and designation obtained through residencies focused on these specific areas or through some other means? I also feel like I've read somewhere that pods can do other residencies like dermatology, radiology, etc. Are these the same residencies that MD/DOs are also competing for, or are these residencies that are created just for DPMs (like derm just for the foot and ankle areas, or radiology just for the foot, etc.)? I guess I'm wondering overall if someone can become a practicing pod without ever being surgically trained beyond what they received in 4-yr pod school. I'm guessing there are pods out in the world who never or seldom perform surgery; did all these people have to go through a surgery residency anyway to get to their final destination? Hopefully my questions make sense; I've been focused on dentistry for so long, that I'm having trouble making sense of how the podiatry career path works, what the options are after the 4-yr program, etc. I'd appreciate any help in making sense of these things. Thanks.

 

[NatCh]

Could someone please fill me in, or direct me to a good link with answers to my quesitons? I just withdrew from dental school, and I'm new to the world of podiatry. My question is this - are all pod residencies surgical in nature? I've read in a few places about how pods can be specialized in treating diabetic patients or pediatric or geriatric patients, etc. Is this type of specialization and designation obtained through residencies focused on these specific areas or through some other means? I also feel like I've read somewhere that pods can do other residencies like dermatology, radiology, etc. Are these the same residencies that MD/DOs are also competing for, or are these residencies that are created just for DPMs (like derm just for the foot and ankle areas, or radiology just for the foot, etc.)? I guess I'm wondering overall if someone can become a practicing pod without ever being surgically trained beyond what they received in 4-yr pod school. I'm guessing there are pods out in the world who never or seldom perform surgery; did all these people have to go through a surgery residency anyway to get to their final destination? Hopefully my questions make sense; I've been focused on dentistry for so long, that I'm having trouble making sense of how the podiatry career path works, what the options are after the 4-yr program, etc. I'd appreciate any help in making sense of these things. Thanks.

I finished my podiatric surgical Residency in 2000 so times may have changed, but I think all podiatric Residencies are strictly (podiatric) surgical in nature now. You do rotations in other specialties but once you leave Residency you will not be licensed to do cholecystectomies for instance.

If one didn't do a Residency these days one would have a hard time getting onto insurance provider panels, which means no you workie. Of course once in practice one wouldn't have to do surgery...

 

[FALL06]

Man i heard this 2015 resolution after a long time. So whats happening with it these days. Is there any link or website where one can go and read what exactly (word by word) is this resoultion 2015. I mean we all have a good idea but i really want to read it.

Hey cool

There is some good literature in Podiatry Today that recently came out addressing the 2015 resolution. Unfortunately, the author had a pessimistic view and had a number of pretty good reasons why 2015 resolution is not likely. Check it out for yourself, if your university has electronic reserves, you might be able to do a quick search... I can't remember which issue it was in. Hope this helps. By the way, I'll be at Scholl in the Fall aswell

 

[cool_vkb]

Hey cool

By the way, I'll be at Scholl in the Fall aswell

Hey are you on facebook.com?

 

[bocajuniors]

Is it difficult to get into residency? Are spaces that limited?

i have a friend who just finished his residency a couple of years ago. ocpm was saying that all their students get residencies. it worried me and i figured i should go since thats a great guarantee. he told ALL podiatry students get residencies. you may not get the one you want, but you do get a residency.

 

[txlioness]

i have a friend who just finished his residency a couple of years ago. ocpm was saying that all their students get residencies. it worried me and i figured i should go since thats a great guarantee. he told ALL podiatry students get residencies. you may not get the one you want, but you do get a residency.

so you based your attending OCPM on the school stating all their students get residencies?

I hope that your attending a school is based on what the school would have to offer. (ie curriculum, student services, research ops, etc)

I thought that your selection for residency spots was based on your residency application, board scores, and interview. correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[PMSIII]

i have a friend who just finished his residency a couple of years ago. ocpm was saying that all their students get residencies. it worried me and i figured i should go since thats a great guarantee. he told ALL podiatry students get residencies. you may not get the one you want, but you do get a residency.

Just as a side note, ocpm admissions tend to claim that our students get their first 2 choices. In other words, students know where they are going before April. Whether or not this is 100% true is difficult to say because I've never verified it with ALL the studetns, and I don't know many who have. I'm merely stating what they claim.

If you're really curious or interested in how the graduates do, always ask the school where their graduates end up. How many of their residencies were PM&S-36 vs 24? Granted some students choose 2 year programs over 3 years for personal reasons but a large percentage of 3 year program graduates should be a healthy sign.

At this point, I recommend you and other pre-pod's to guage your decision based on factors that include: quality of the curriculum, first time part I boards pass rate, number of externships in the senior year, and quality of the residencies matched by the seniors. Obviously, there are other factors (personal) involved in making such decisions, but the ones mentioned here should be useful in giving you a clearer picture of the quality of the school and its potential to prepare you for residency.

 

[Feli]

...At this point, I recommend you and other pre-pod's to guage your decision based on factors that include: quality of the curriculum, first time part I boards pass rate, number of externships in the senior year, and quality of the residencies matched by the seniors. Obviously, there are other factors (personal) involved in making such decisions, but the ones mentioned here should be useful in giving you a clearer picture of the quality of the school and its potential to prepare you for residency.

This is good advice^, but I'd definitely add in questions about the number of full-time faculty. I guess that goes along with quality of curriculum, but I think it's highly important.

Students will realize the critical difference once they begin, but by then it's too late. Don't get me wrong: there are some adjuncts who put a ton of effort in and do great work. However, in general, part-time faculty and adjuncts are often a school's way of cutting costs, and that can hurt the students by not having the teachers available. It's significantly easier for adjunct profs to come in, give a canned lecture, seldom be around for office hours (or even have an office on campus), give notes or tests that are largely old questioins (which not every student has?), collect their paycheck, and be on their merry way across town 2min after the pod lecture ends.

Full-time faculty typically have more accountability, an office on campus, etc. That is very valuable in terms of building relationships (read: LORs and research) as well as simply having access to the expert teacher when explanation of material is needed. Adjunct profs serve fine in some classes, but for important core sciences like anat, biochem, histo, physio, path, micro, etc (pretty much any NBPME pt1 subject) you really want a full-time faculty member whose primary teaching duties (and office) are at the pod school. Ask the pod school, and see what they say...

 

[dpmgrad]

how limited are you if you are an international student? ie no American passport?

If you are an international student (not a green card holder / permanent alien), there are residency programs that you will not be able to apply to. For example, the residency programs that are based on DVA hospital can only accept US Citizens into their residency program. The new residency program directory listing starting with 2007-2008 application cycle on the CASPR/CRIP website will list the visa restrictions on each residency program listing. There are many hospitals (usually university teaching hospitals) will be able to sponsor international students for working visa to allow the student to do his / her residency training. The remaining hospitals restrict their incoming residents to US Citizens and Green card holders due to the fact that INS Department has made it much harder for organizations to apply for working visas or sponsorship of green card (which NO hospital will do for residency training purposes) due to September 11 incident.

 

[blooh]

2 year - can become certified in forefoot surgery
3 year - can become certified in forefoot, rearfoot, and ankle reconstruction

Those who do 2 year programs CANNOT sit for rearfoot boards.

in other words you want to be in the third year....
haha
- Danny