Is this remotely possible

[Kindoflost]

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Here's my situation...I'm in a residency (Pathology) which I've just realized I don't want to do long term anymore, and I'm hoping to do IM or FM. Since I wasn't sure about switching fields until very recently, I didn't start an ERAS application for this upcoming match. Am I precluded from scrambling into a spot after the match as a result, meaning I should reapply for the match next year. I'm interested in some places in Indiana and primary care fields seem to have decent numbers of unfilled spots, but I want to know if its even a possibility for me to switch this coming summer😕

 

[BlondeDocteur]

You are a practicing physician so you are obviously eligible to find a position outside of the Match.

My advice, which you are free to take with a heaping of salt: I would contact program directors of FP programs in Indiana immediately to express your interest (mentioning in passing where you went to medical school, your graduation year, and your Steps). You will eventually need recommenders, particularly your home PD, to prove you are not leaving under duress and have been a satisfactory resident. I would contact the FP PDs first, before speaking to your pathology PD, to assess the feasibility of switching this cycle before stirring the pot by admitting to your home program that you want to leave.

If you get some substantial nibbles then act quickly to get whatever the FP people need to see (official LORs, transcripts, credits from your current path program, etc). Again, though, with the Match 6 weeks away and the rank list deadline in 2 weeks, you need to move very quickly. Like today.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree with above.
You could scramble, but that really sucks...it's probably better to look for a plain old open spot. You could sign up for FindaResident on NRMP, but if you know you want to be in a particular geographic area, it might be better to just inquire @all the programs in your state. Also, if you are doing path in a large hospital system, and have a good relationship with your PD, he/she might be willing to help you get an IM or fp spot @your current hospital. Usually fp is desperate, and some IM programs are too, so if you passed all your steps without problems and did OK in medical school, getting a spot probably won't be hard. Make sure you are running to something and not from something though...have a better reason for leaving than not liking path. Are you going to like dealing with drug seeking and other demanding patients? Are you going to like the longer hours and overnight calls that will probably be required if you do IM, vs. path?

 

[Kindoflost]

I appreciate the input. Just for the sake of completeness, in no way do I mean to brag but I do have pretty decent board scores (230+) and was a middle of the pack med student at fairly "top tier" med school. I'm not running away from path. I've pulled my own weight as a resident and have gotten mostly positive feedback from my attendings. Its a great field that, like all fields of medicine, has it perks and its negatives, and has some good people in it. I know clinical medicine has its obvious drawbacks, and the increase in hours at least in the short term will suck. But I've been deliberating for a while and have sought opinions of several neutral parties, I really do think I would be happier seeing patients and possibly doing some preventive medicine/public health work in the future, and only the last two weeks have I become sure this is the move I need to make. I see the biggest obstacle is getting LORs since I've been out of med school for two years, but I will contact the PDs at the places I want to focus on and see what happens.

Also, while my wife and I would like to end up in Indiana, we're in a very different city where I went to med school and she needed to be professionally for a few years but we really want to get out of ASAP, so the option of switching within my hospital is off the table for us.

Thank you for your help!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

in addition to the above advice, you should register for the NRMP. This will get you the scramble list. And it's cheap.

You might want to register for ERAS also, as you'd be able to send 30 applications in the scramble via ERAS. However, calling is MUCH better than sending via ERAS (although calling is very difficult / frustrating)