Is there ever a restriction on when you can do a fellowship after residency?

[riskybizness]

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Suppose I want to do a peds residency but want to be a general practitioner for a while before i decide to do peds endocrinology or peds neurology, is there a time frame within which i have to get a fellowship?

 

[mvenus929]

It's becoming more and more common to take some time off before doing fellowship, most especially for the competitive specialties (of which endo is not one of them). And there are usually lots of endo spots open every year, so if you aren't particularly picky about where you go, you can sometimes get a spot after the match to start the next July.

I don't know if there is a specific limit, though I don't think many people avoid fellowship for more than 3-4 years. And you have to pass your peds boards before you can be eligible for subspecialty boards (though I'm not sure if peds neurology qualifies, since that's a weird fellowship path that isn't through ABP).

 

[doc05]

there's no time limit, but going back into training after working as an attending for a few years can be very demoralizing. not to mention the massive pay cut.

 

[kavorca]

I see a lot of people move from IM hospitalist back into fellowship. I think the pay is good, but it must be awful because they seem to come back after a few years.

 

[Doctor Bob]

there's no time limit, but going back into training after working as an attending for a few years can be very demoralizing. not to mention the massive pay cut.

Yea. Speaking from experience here...
It can also be very difficult to go back to being a trainee; especially if your fellowship involves you doing things that you could do before on your own and suddenly you have to be "supervised"

 

[riskybizness]

thanks for the responses guys. i was specifically looking to doing maybe peds cards or peds gi. any input on coming back after residency and a little time practicing to finish those. from what i understand, both fellowships are 3 years long. that is a long time esp if i've been out of the grind for a while.

 

[Mad Jack]

Pretty sure your chances drop significantly when you die.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

thanks for the responses guys. i was specifically looking to doing maybe peds cards or peds gi. any input on coming back after residency and a little time practicing to finish those. from what i understand, both fellowships are 3 years long. that is a long time esp if i've been out of the grind for a while.

Going back after a few years in practice is fairly common in pediatrics. Fellows pay is 1/3-1/2 of most beginning general pediatrics so it's not impossible if you don't have large debts, etc. Virtually all pedi fellowships are 3 years (hospitalist is 2 usually) and have a significant research component. As was noted, things like taking in house night call (cards) and the supervision aspect can be difficult for some, but again, if that's what you want to do with your life, it's not usually a deal breaker. Although fellowships vary, often the first year is similar to the first years of residency and then the clinical burden is less later.

 

[TheShaker]

Pretty sure your chances drop significantly when you die.

That's just speculation. There's nothing in the literature that actually confirms this.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Speaking from the IM side of things, it gets harder the further away from residency you are. Your letter writers, your research opportunities and your connections will likely dry up the further from residency you are.