Issues with changing specialties

[notinkansas]

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I was just wondering if there have been any rules in the past couple years that limit programs in accepting applicants changing specialties.

I'm looking at going from surgery to family medicine. I had done 3 years of general surgery, so that leaves me with 2 years CMS based GME funding. I looked into making the switch a couple years ago and decided to continue working a moonlighting job to pay off private student loan debt and build up some savings before going back to resident pay.

Now I'm seeing fairly typical requirement to have graduated from medical school less than five years ago, and am also having programs say there is no way they would consider my application, since I only have two years of funding left. This didn't seem to be the case a couple years ago. I have lots of valuable experience and would be a whole lot better on my first night of PGY 1 call than some snot-nosed new medical school graduate ;-)

Are we moving to a scenario where only 20 somethings can train and tough **** if you decide you want to retrain later? When I was in my general surgery program, there were several other programs that all had an established attending from another specialty retraining. This included a plastic surgeon who trained in anesthesia.

 

[gutonc]

While there is nothing formal to prevent what you are hoping to do, many programs are facing political and financial realities that are going to make the switch you want to do more difficult than it was 5 years ago or so.

And frankly, some people (even PDs) are ignorant and just don't understand the rules. It's not like you're going to be 100% uncovered by CMS funds in your 3rd year, more on the order of 25-40% (depending on the institution). I don't think there's an easy or even "right" answer here though other than just spamming your app to a ton of programs and seeing what sticks.

Finally, while your previous training and experience may seem to you like a positive thing, some PDs may see it otherwise as you may already be set in your ways and unwilling to change/learn. The fact that you come from a surgery ("my way or the highway") background only makes this worse. I'm not suggesting that's the reality in your case, but if that's the perception, there's not much you can do about that.