Long gap after med school, matched but paperwork...

[letmeinwillya]

Hello folks!
If a candidate has already matched to a residency program and as part of the paperwork PC requests that candidate submit info on what exactly he/she was doing and who was providing financial support during unemployed years.The person who was providing the financial support should submit a letter stating so.

In this case, the candidate stayed home for over 5 years for family reasons (raising kids etc) and the spoused provided the financial support. Candidate obviously matched.

Is this normal/typical for a residency program to ask such documentation? Is it simply to account for all times and is not going to be looked at something bad (meaning long gap after med school)?

Are there any material adverse affects of this or is this simply a paperwork request and after submitting requested paperwork, it's back to normal?

Does candidate have anything to worry about this?

Thank you for your time and hope to put this one to bed.

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[Smurfette]

Yes, this is normal.
To other questions, yes and no, depending on the reason why, length of the gap, and whether this is a pattern or simply situational. There's also concern about loss of skill set and keeping "current".

Any prolonged time off (more than a couple weeks) after finishing med school will need to be documented going forward. This means residency programs, state licensing boards, specialty board certification (may vary by board), every new job and every time you are being credentialed at a new location. Some insurers will also want this information. Heck, one of my state licensing boards took long enough to process me that they contacted me for an update as to what I had been doing over the 4 months since they received my app before finally sending me my license.

 

[letmeinwillya]

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated.

In this particular if the candidate is raising family, staying home and spouse is providing the financial support for the gap (from med school to specific date), Spouse will provide a letter to residency program stating the circumstances, keeping it simple gist of the letter will be that my spouse raised our kids, prepared for exams, took exams etc and spouse took care of financial support. I'm assuming since residency program requested such letter, they will be just fine with it.

Now not sure when time comes for job pos-residency, will this be a red flag? Or will it be suffice to say "yes raised family, just completed residency so clinical skills and med. knoledge is current due to the recent completion of residency.

This was circumstantial and not a sign necessarily of bad work ethic.

In this case, I suppose the residency program has already looked past the "red flag" so probably not something to lose sleep over!

Was wondering if others had to provide something similar especially when the gap is substantial?

 

[22031 Alum]

Now not sure when time comes for job pos-residency, will this be a red flag? Or will it be suffice to say "yes raised family, just completed residency so clinical skills and med. knoledge is current due to the recent completion of residency.

When you are a fresh residency grad, you will be a fresh residency grad. Nobody will care if you had a 30-year gap before starting residency, it will be obvious that you just finished.

I am glad that you matched, and can't imagine what it must have been like to have that uncertainty hanging over you. I sincerely hope that you will eventually be able to relax and not obsessively think there is a hidden significance to everything.

 

[rokshana]

not obsessively think there is a hidden significance to everything.

isn't that what defines a 4th year med student? 🙂

 

[letmeinwillya]

Yes it was uncertain at many levels and hence low tolerance of anything that can potentially cause any problem in the way of keep residency process moving forward even though it's still in the paperwork stage.. It's like if one has a red flag on their credit history and any time they apply for loan, it haunts them and they are little insecure because of it and double checking things to make sure that it doesn't become a hurdle in getting the loan approved.


Of course residency related matters are on much higher scale of significance.

Relived to know the post residency, it will be considered fresh start so to speak.

Sorry if this came across as being unduly worrisome, but like I said I'm hoping that it goes without a hitch and wanted some words of wisdom and experience for fellow SDN'ers who had insight or personal experience.

When you are a fresh residency grad, you will be a fresh residency grad. Nobody will care if you had a 30-year gap before starting residency, it will be obvious that you just finished.

I am glad that you matched, and can't imagine what it must have been like to have that uncertainty hanging over you. I sincerely hope that you will eventually be able to relax and not obsessively think there is a hidden significance to everything.

 

[rokshana]

Yes it was uncertain at many levels and hence low tolerance of anything that can potentially cause any problem in the way of keep residency process moving forward even though it's still in the paperwork stage.. It's like if one has a red flag on their credit history and any time they apply for loan, it haunts them and they are little insecure because of it and double checking things to make sure that it doesn't become a hurdle in getting the loan approved.


Of course residency related matters are on much higher scale of significance.

Relived to know the post residency, it will be considered fresh start so to speak.

Sorry if this came across as being unduly worrisome, but like I said I'm hoping that it goes without a hitch and wanted some words of wisdom and experience for fellow SDN'ers who had insight or personal experience.

well, no...as someone posted above, you will have to explain any gap after medical school for every license application, credentialing and privileging paperwork...but its not like it will keep you from getting a job if all it was a break to be housewife and care for your children and husband.

 

[letmeinwillya]

I understand. It's not going to be a detriment when looking for a job right after residency but will need to be explained. Explaining is perfectly fine. Looking at various other residency programs I have found that literally any gap over a month needs to be explained so that puts me at ease that ANY gap needs to be accounted for and backed up by some sort of documentation and in some cases a sworn statement notarized by the person vouching for the candidate or candidate himself!

well, no...as someone posted above, you will have to explain any gap after medical school for every license application, credentialing and privileging paperwork...but its not like it will keep you from getting a job if all it was a break to be housewife and care for your children and husband.

 

[Ericslv]

Hello folks!
If a candidate has already matched to a residency program and as part of the paperwork PC requests that candidate submit info on what exactly he/she was doing and who was providing financial support during unemployed years.The person who was providing the financial support should submit a letter stating so.

In this case, the candidate stayed home for over 5 years for family reasons (raising kids etc) and the spoused provided the financial support. Candidate obviously matched.

Is this normal/typical for a residency program to ask such documentation? Is it simply to account for all times and is not going to be looked at something bad (meaning long gap after med school)?

Are there any material adverse affects of this or is this simply a paperwork request and after submitting requested paperwork, it's back to normal?

Does candidate have anything to worry about this?

Thank you for your time and hope to put this one to bed.

If you already matched why do they need all that info? Shouldn't they have gotten that before they accepted you in the program?

 

[letmeinwillya]

It's part of their standard form that asks for all times since graduation from med school. Essentially they need a source to verify the activity and times. So in case of externships, it's the person the candidate was working with. If the candidate stayed home to raise kids, they need someone other than the candidate to be the source, possible spouse or parents.

Apparently this is part of the paperwork before starting residency.

If you already matched why do they need all that info? Shouldn't they have gotten that before they accepted you in the program?

 

[letmeinwillya]

I would appreciate input from someone who had to spend couple years to raise family before applying for residency after med school.

Is this something that a program doesn't make a fuss about especially when the candidate already matched and all of the information was available to the program at the time of interview and ERAS application. When the program is looking at the paperwork post match and think oh yes, this person spent 5+ years to stay home and raise kids and no worries!

Also what level of details and proof does the medical license application require? Would like to know .. I suppose it would depend on what state one is applying to be licensed?

Can't wait for the residency to start and be done with worrying about these kinds of things!

 

[rokshana]

I would appreciate input from someone who had to spend couple years to raise family before applying for residency after med school.

Is this something that a program doesn't make a fuss about especially when the candidate already matched and all of the information was available to the program at the time of interview and ERAS application. When the program is looking at the paperwork post match and think oh yes, this person spent 5+ years to stay home and raise kids and no worries!

Also what level of details and proof does the medical license application require? Would like to know .. I suppose it would depend on what state one is applying to be licensed?

Can't wait for the residency to start and be done with worrying about these kinds of things!

i gotta feeling you are going to find something else to worry about...

 

[letmeinwillya]

I hope you are wrong but who knows maybe I will mend my ways after I get over the initial hump of getting everything lined up for start of residency 😉

i gotta feeling you are going to find something else to worry about...

 

[ordersol7]

Not to necrobump but are gaps between medical school and residency a big deal when it comes to fellowships or jobs later? I understood they were not but this thread makes me nervous. I graduated in December last year so there is a 6 month gap between medical school and residency for me.

 

[Animalcules]

Not to necrobump but are gaps between medical school and residency a big deal when it comes to fellowships or jobs later? I understood they were not but this thread makes me nervous. I graduated in December last year so there is a 6 month gap between medical school and residency for me.

No, unless you were incarcerated during the last six months. That might put some fellowship directors off.


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[mvenus929]

Not to necrobump but are gaps between medical school and residency a big deal when it comes to fellowships or jobs later? I understood they were not but this thread makes me nervous. I graduated in December last year so there is a 6 month gap between medical school and residency for me.

Graduating off cycle is a bit different than actively taking gap years between Med school and residency.