Hi there,
I read your post And it really resonated with me and I could actually really use some advice from you and I was wondering if you could help me/give me a bit of direction on my next move because I have just found myself in this situation of losing my job unexpectedly. Forgive me for the length but I want you to know the facts so you can give your best opinion.. first background on me to show you who I am as a person.. I graduated with honors from Baylor, I was an athlete all the way through, went on to get a masters of science Degree again with honors and publish three journals as first author as well as complete medical school, got a full scholarship for it with the army. I was a medic for 6 years now I’m a captain and a provider flight surgeon for the Army. I had to take a year off during medical school when I got very sick and had two surgeries but recovered and got right back to it, interviewed and joined in the match. Now I’m very use To hard work and challenges and dealing with all kinds of people and teamwork and grueling hours. I honors passed most of my clinical rotations and I usually go far and above because I do genuinely love medicine and patients it shines very easily as a ton of LOR can attest to. I’m extremely responsible, disciplined, I have integrity and honor. Anyone who knows me well would say that no hesitation. I matched into an FM program and everything was great, I did have to learn to balance family kids and work life but I made it happen. However, life hit This past November my mom got diagnosed with a serious cancer totally out of the blue and underwent surgery quickly and now going through chemo. But a week after her diagnosis my engagement to my man of 5 years was called off we separated and I had raised his kids as if they were mine for 4 of those years so I lost them too and we had to split assets and move out etc. Needless to say I was stressed and tearful trying to do my best on an inpatient Internal Medicine rotation. I admit I struggled and was emotional . Tried to hide it but nurses started asking my bosses what was wrong with me etc and the two seniors on the rotation with me would say horrible jokes about my mom That she was going to pass away to get over it just like patients die every day which upset me. and if I forgot to say something correctly while presenting a case on rounds they would yell and embarrass me in the hall in front of the whole team to where a patient complained. I took full responsibility that I was distracted and not at full capacity but I never endangered a patient I’ve never killed a patient I’ve never made a major medical error to compromise them. They did the same to the other female intern as well among many more things but they ended up having to go to HR and got written up etc but because of all of that happening in a 3 week span of time I was struggling, often sad and had trouble being early From trouble sleeping, I was usually 5-10 min late from cleaning my face off in the bathroom too. long story short I did start standing up to them which then caused my chief to get involved and then my program director got wind of these events and said she wanted me to take some time off and use my pto to have time to heal and process these life events that took place because she didn’t think I was safe to handle my patients in such a state. Which at the time I thought it was completely supportive, And I have great insight And didn’t want it to ever get to a point where I would hurt a patient so I definitely agreed I knew I needed a minute to adjust to things and a few weeks to see my mom also pack and move to an new place would all be good. I did go through counseling as well to process grief reaction That was life changing and helpful .. however upon Trying to return I tried after 2 weeks and my PD said no and then I tried after 3 weeks and then she informed me that a committee had put me on fmla my pto was gone and she told me I would require a clinical sign off from a clinical professional before I could return which wasn’t disclosed to me in the beginning or I would have promptly taken care of that. I did jump on it and get the ok to return, and they said I couldn’t be late Ever or have any mess up in performance on rounds because November wasn’t my best performance I’d be watched closely. I agreed and understood so I made a point to be 1 hour early everyday and each day improved on things I had been weak on during my grief month trying to get back into the groove of the routine to prove to myself I was strong and overcoming struggle and to show them too but it had felt as though the upper class residents didn’t trust me at all anymore and doubted me whereas they hadn’t before. They picked apart every single move I made with negativity rather than positive reinforcement or encouragement and truthfully I did begin to feel singled out but just blew it off and did my job. prior to November I was good friends with these co residents, my evaluations and milestones were far above average for performance and knowledge base... I had no issues. Well they had a meeting with me this Past Tuesday which was me at one end of a table and 8 of the residents I’d been on this service with and one by one they went down the line stating harsh judgements. I sat quietly listened didn’t argue and then apologized where I needed to own up to something like for forgetting to update the patient list we keep with general info for everyone and then I stood up for myself on two things I had documentation to back me up and two Attendings backed me up as well.. but they felt as though that was me disrespecting their position and let me have it after the bosses left. They said that day that I would be put on a remediation proactive plan and as long as I showed I was following it and back to normal I was good. So I continued to show up early carry my weight know my patients inside and out as before but today out of the blue my PD pulls me out of rounds and said she had to let me go from the program today, I’m an FM PGY1/ intern.. so I’ve just been in since July. or rather the language said they were choosing to separate with me from the program. I was given nothing to sign or any explanation as to what that meant for me long term my future how it would affect my ability to obtain another job and they didn’t give me anything explaining why they made that decision after they said the plan was a remediation action plan to get back to where I was prior to november. Nothing was given in writing that explained their reasonings for forcing me out or what I did that caused my contract to break. They said they would give me glowing letters of recommendation and state all the positives but that The fit didn’t work anymore. So now after complete shock I’m trying to research how and what I’m suppose to do to secure another PGY1 spot half way through and I’m not sure what wording to use to inquire about openings and what to say for why I’m no longer with my other program. Now that program is only AOA and didn’t get full accreditation and I wonder if that played a part but I don’t know. Anyway, you mentioned you worked with ERAS and people in my position and they found successful placement elsewhere. Could you tell me how I should go about this what my best chances of securing a spot would be? Do I go through eras or just go through scramble or do I just cold call every program In the country to inquire about an opening and what do you suggest my explanation be as to why I left or am wanting to transfer? Please I beg of you any advice you can provide to help me develop a plan to tackle this would mean so much to me. I just want to get back to work and do a great job and have people see my actual potential now that all that is behind me. I know I will succeed I just don’t know how to go about this process ... again I’m sorry it’s so long I’m just really desperate and hoping you’re just the person to help me with this. Thank you so much for everything you can offer!