Losing your spot at your current program after telling PD you want to switch?

[HeyThereJude]

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Say someone is switching from Family Medicine to Radiology.

You have to tell your PD that you are switching specialties, but say you don't actually match into the new specialty, and you wouldn't know this until Match Week, wouldn't the PD have been trying to fill your spot the whole year, and have given it to a replacement by Match Week (the same time you realized you didn't match)?

Is there a way to default into continuing your old program if you do not match into the new specialty? Or will the PD be terminating your position for the following year from the time you've told them you're switching, so that they can fill it with someone new that they know will be there next year?

I don't know how people get around this; clearly it is very scary to risk losing your old program and not matching into a new program; but I can see that a PD would not want to risk having an empty space in their program.

 

[Law2Doc]

Say someone is switching from Family Medicine to Radiology.

You have to tell your PD that you are switching specialties, but say you don't actually match into the new specialty, and you wouldn't know this until Match Week, wouldn't the PD have been trying to fill your spot the whole year, and have given it to a replacement by Match Week (the same time you realized you didn't match)?

Is there a way to default into continuing your old program if you do not match into the new specialty? Or will the PD be terminating your position for the following year from the time you've told them you're switching, so that they can fill it with someone new that they know will be there next year?

I don't know how people get around this; clearly it is very scary to risk losing your old program and not matching into a new program; but I can see that a PD would not want to risk having an empty space in their program.

Once you tell your PD you are leaving he will start to try and fill your spot. It is not realistic to think you can "default" back into your old spot.

 

[shopsteward]

This is why people who are switching often do it through personal contacts/finding a place where they are already a known entity. If someone who knows you and who you can trust is persuaded that the switch is a good one and that you will do well, and they have a place which you will be able to fill, you are in a much better position to give up the place you already have.

Otherwise, it's a leap in the dark, and you know it is likely to be harder for you to match a second time than it was the first.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

The example you suggest is more complicated.

Remember that radiology is ususally an advanced match -- so, if you match in March 2014 the position doesn't start until July 2015. If your PGY-1 would count as a prelim year for rads, then you'll only be resigning your spot the year afterwards. Hence, a possible solution to this is to apply for a rads spot as a PGY-2 in FM. Either way, you finish your PGY-3 the next year. If you match into rads, you simply start rads training after that. If not, then you're looking for a job/fellowship in your PGY-3. This assumes that your FP training qualifies as the prelim training required for rads, of which I have no idea.

 

[Paddington]

The example you suggest is more complicated.

Remember that radiology is ususally an advanced match -- so, if you match in March 2014 the position doesn't start until July 2015. If your PGY-1 would count as a prelim year for rads, then you'll only be resigning your spot the year afterwards. Hence, a possible solution to this is to apply for a rads spot as a PGY-2 in FM. Either way, you finish your PGY-3 the next year. If you match into rads, you simply start rads training after that. If not, then you're looking for a job/fellowship in your PGY-3. This assumes that your FP training qualifies as the prelim training required for rads, of which I have no idea.

That's actually a very good idea. I heard some years back that Anesthesiology and Radiology were making critical care months mandatory for their incoming residents. I definitely think a Family Medicine resident could meet the prelim training requirements.

Once you tell your PD you are leaving he will start to try and fill your spot. It is not realistic to think you can "default" back into your old spot.

Yup. That's why time and again people here are advised how risky it is to go switching their guaranteed path to being an attending at a program/specialty they might not love, for a "maybe" that might end their career if it doesn't work out.