Life after residency?

[ActionFigure]

Is it common in most residency programs for residents, after they graduate from the program, to stay in the area?

For example, if I do my residency in the deep south, and afterwards I decide I want to go to NY or Washington, DC because I have family there, would it be possible to relocate to those places easily? And what about in terms of a fellowship. I know program directors usually have connections in the surrounding region, but how possible is it to get a fellowship in a completely different part of the country?

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[smq123]

Is it common in most residency programs for residents, after they graduate from the program, to stay in the area?

For example, if I do my residency in the deep south, and afterwards I decide I want to go to NY or Washington, DC because I have family there, would it be possible to relocate to those places easily? And what about in terms of a fellowship. I know program directors usually have connections in the surrounding region, but how possible is it to get a fellowship in a completely different part of the country?

It depends on the job market, which is better for some specialties than in others.

I'm in Family Med - I did my residency in Pennsylvania, then moved to Florida. Someone the year ahead of me moved to New England, another moved to California. Someone the year behind me already has a job contract in the Pacific Northwest. Getting a job anywhere in the country, if you're in FM, is extremely easy. If you're in a specialty with a tight job market (rad onc, path), it's not so easy.

The same holds true for fellowship. If you're looking at a competitive field, it may not be easy for you to dictate where in the country you go.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Agreed that it depends on the specialty. I'm in Family Practice too. I did residency in Texas but have worked in Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Alaska. There are more FM jobs out there than bodies to fill them. You just have to apply for license in that state where you want to move to. There is no rule that says you have to stay in the area you did residency.

 

[InTheMiddle73]

What about hospitalist jobs for IM residency graduates? From my small amount of research, I know they are harder to get in desirable locations (Cali, NY, Boston, Chicago) without a decrease in compensation, but if I'm willing to sacrifice that, would it be relatively easy to find one?

 

[gutonc]

What about hospitalist jobs for IM residency graduates? From my small amount of research, I know they are harder to get in desirable locations (Cali, NY, Boston, Chicago) without a decrease in compensation, but if I'm willing to sacrifice that, would it be relatively easy to find one?

Yes. Like EM, IM hospitalist jobs in super desirable locations are hard to come by but there are roughly hojiggity million hospitalist jobs out there. Some in crap places for amazing pay, some in amazing places for crap pay, the bulk of them somewhere in-between. Keep in mind though that virtually every medicine job (Derm, plastics and breast surgery largely excepted) requires some sort of trade-off between locale and pay. The more desirable the location, the less you're going to get paid...because they can. The difference between similar jobs in NYC and Upstate NY (real upstate, Binghamton, not Scarsdale) or Berkeley and Fresno or LA and Bakersfield is going to be an easy $100K if not more.

 

[Top Gun]

I did my residency in Queens, then moved back to Central PA and began practicing there. I would say the majority of residents in my program moved outside of New York and found positions in other parts of the country. The Cuban residents in my program all moved to the Miami area, other residents moved to Ohio, others upstate New York, etc...

 

[cabinbuilder]

What about hospitalist jobs for IM residency graduates? From my small amount of research, I know they are harder to get in desirable locations (Cali, NY, Boston, Chicago) without a decrease in compensation, but if I'm willing to sacrifice that, would it be relatively easy to find one?

Yes, tons of hospitalist jobs out there. It's going to come down to pay. I looked at jobs in Denver and laughed at the 140K they offer when I can do the same job in a more rural area for 200K or better. All comes down to what is more important to you. Money or location.

There are also hospitalist jobs that are one week on/one week off or two weeks on/two weeks off. You can live anywhere and commute as needed.

 

[path or no path]

It depends on the job market, which is better for some specialties than in others.

I'm in Family Med - I did my residency in Pennsylvania, then moved to Florida. Someone the year ahead of me moved to New England, another moved to California. Someone the year behind me already has a job contract in the Pacific Northwest. Getting a job anywhere in the country, if you're in FM, is extremely easy. If you're in a specialty with a tight job market (rad onc, path), it's not so easy.

The same holds true for fellowship. If you're looking at a competitive field, it may not be easy for you to dictate where in the country you go.

What about hospitalist? Is it as much in demand as family med?

 

[IamnotFreud]

What about hospitalist? Is it as much in demand as family med?

Yes, tons of hospitalist jobs, everywhere.

 

[cabinbuilder]

What about hospitalist? Is it as much in demand as family med?

Yes, larger urban areas generally only take IM for hospitalist. Smaller areas will take IM or FP. Some places don't allow FP to do ICU, just depends on the company policy. I have done ICU as FP but I don't manage vents and make that clear during the hiring process.

 

[ActionFigure]

So then why do PDs on interviews always advertise how many of their residents stay in the area/region after graduation? And it seems like the PDs imply this is what they prefer. And many of the third year residents I spoke to also say the same thing. They have jobs lined up either in a neighboring city or state.

 

[smq123]

So then why do PDs on interviews always advertise how many of their residents stay in the area/region after graduation? And it seems like the PDs imply this is what they prefer. And many of the third year residents I spoke to also say the same thing. They have jobs lined up either in a neighboring city or state.

Well, yeah, there's a certain source of pride in a program saying that they are a community-focused program, that produces excellent physicians that help increase their local area's medical resources. But most PDs are realistic enough to know that some people will move away, for whatever reason.

Some programs also focus on how many people stay, to prove that it's a desirable place to live and work.

I wouldn't read too much into it. My program was a little like that, but, in the end, when I told my PD that I was looking at jobs in Florida, he made enthusiastic phone calls to support me. Same for all the other residents who moved out of the area.

 

[Paddington]

There's no question that doing your residency in the same city that you want to practice in is a huge plus. I was recruited by practices that we rotated at. I also had an excellent idea of the work hours, work environment, opportunities for career advancement, etc. at all the local practices and medical centers. Unfortunately, I had no interest in staying in that area since I was not from there.

For some places like California, it is very difficult to break in if you are coming from the outside. For example, read through the profiles of Kaiser Permanente docs and see how inbred their whole system is. And KP is about the only one in California that even recruits on the internet with job listings. It's rare to see any metropolitan California job listings. The private practices all fill locally. I would especially recommend doing a local residency if you want to go there.

 

[da8s0859q]

For EM people: are there any statistical / regional trends in how often people stick around in the area post-residency?

I matched to one far away from Texas, and I'd like to think I'll be back after.

 

[JacobMcCandles]

For EM people: are there any statistical / regional trends in how often people stick around in the area post-residency?

I matched to one far away from Texas, and I'd like to think I'll be back after.

If you want an EM job in Texas, there'll be plenty waiting for you.

 

[cabinbuilder]

If you want an EM job in Texas, there'll be plenty waiting for you.

Texas has a great job market especially for FP. I work locums there occasionally and the job boards of need are extensive in that state.

 

[ActionFigure]

That's cause in Texas everything is big, including the comorbidities

 

[rompebielas]

Where I live there just aren't enough spots. The overwhelming majority prefer to stay here for residency though.

 

[da8s0859q]

Where I live there just aren't enough spots. The overwhelming majority prefer to stay here for residency though.

Where, roughly, is "here?"

 

[shibby1111]

Where, roughly, is "here?"

i know where he's talking about

 

[rompebielas]

i know where he's talking about

Sorry. Puerto Rico.