Makin' The Switch

[JetGreen]

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Hi everyone! Was hoping to get some suggestions and advice. I am a current intern in a stand-alone pediatrics program. I am considering switching to an anesthesiology residency after my second year of pediatrics vs. completing pediatrics then entering an anesthesiology residency. Eventually, I would like to do a peds anesthesia fellowship.

I spoke with my program director and she feels I'd be a better candidate if I completed the pediatrics residency. Can anyone speak to this...ie.is it better to finish out pediatrics or make the switch after second year? For anyone who has both degees and is practicing anesthesia, in hindsight would you have gone the pediatrics residency route? And is it possible to keep dual degrees up throughout one's career? I realize that my medicaid funding is only for 3 years, etc.

Thanks! 🙂

 

[EdPierce]

i wouldnt waste your time doing both, pick one. do peds, or do anesthesia. pediatrics residency wont help you much in anesthesia residency and you probably dont need to have a completed residency under your belt to find your way into some anesthesia program

 

[JetGreen]

Thank you! Does anyone have another perspective? I feel like Im nearing crunch-time in terms of making the decision.

 

[Icefrog]

You don't need to finish a peds residency to get into or do anesthesia.

That being said, several peds anes attendings I worked with did complete a peds and anesthesia residency. Some of them also do PICU.

Even if you did do both residencies, you'd still need to do a peds anes fellowship to be recognized as a peds anesthesiologist.

Long story short, you don't need to finish peds to get into anesthesia. Finishing a peds residency might make you a better peds anesthesiologist, but it's not necessary. It would allow you to do PICU though (but you'd have to do a PICU fellowship, too)

 

[BobBarker]

You need to transfer into one of the combined anesthesia/pediatrics residencies. 5 years total and you are boarded in both.

 

[jetproppilot]

Hi everyone! Was hoping to get some suggestions and advice. I am a current intern in a stand-alone pediatrics program. I am considering switching to an anesthesiology residency after my second year of pediatrics vs. completing pediatrics then entering an anesthesiology residency. Eventually, I would like to do a peds anesthesia fellowship.

I spoke with my program director and she feels I'd be a better candidate if I completed the pediatrics residency. Can anyone speak to this...ie.is it better to finish out pediatrics or make the switch after second year? For anyone who has both degees and is practicing anesthesia, in hindsight would you have gone the pediatrics residency route? And is it possible to keep dual degrees up throughout one's career? I realize that my medicaid funding is only for 3 years, etc.

Thanks! 🙂

AND NOW

I have dudes incorporating

MY NAME

into their Screen Names...

just for the record😀

 

[Orin]

I am a current intern in a stand-alone pediatrics program. I am considering switching to an anesthesiology residency after my second year of pediatrics vs. completing pediatrics then entering an anesthesiology residency. Eventually, I would like to do a peds anesthesia fellowship.

It's only a year. I would finish the peds residency. That gives you a floor to fall back to if anesthesia doesn't work out. Otherwise you'll just be blowing in the wind as a PGY-3/4/5 etc and married to the path you are on.

At my institute, folks were very impressed at people that have finished residencies and are willing to start another one when they were making the rank list.

 

[Mman]

Hi everyone! Was hoping to get some suggestions and advice. I am a current intern in a stand-alone pediatrics program. I am considering switching to an anesthesiology residency after my second year of pediatrics vs. completing pediatrics then entering an anesthesiology residency. Eventually, I would like to do a peds anesthesia fellowship.

I spoke with my program director and she feels I'd be a better candidate if I completed the pediatrics residency. Can anyone speak to this...ie.is it better to finish out pediatrics or make the switch after second year? For anyone who has both degees and is practicing anesthesia, in hindsight would you have gone the pediatrics residency route? And is it possible to keep dual degrees up throughout one's career? I realize that my medicaid funding is only for 3 years, etc.

Thanks! 🙂

If you want to do Peds anesthesia, being a board certified pediatrician would look awful nice on the resume to groups hiring you. For 1 extra year, I think it's worth it. Otherwise you essentially have wasted your first 2 years of residency.

 

[foley12]

It also cant hurt to make some phone calls and see if any program has openings for a CA - 1 starting Jul 1. That way you lose no time.

 

[scout5584]

If you know for sure you want to do anesthesia, I would go for it. As was said above, it can't hurt to see what openings are available either as July/Aug CA-1 starts this year, or mid-year CA-1 starts. I know there are positions out there. Why not send out some brief emails to inquire? Also you should be aware of the NRMP's new "All In" policy. If you don't want the hassle of having to go through the match, you should try to transfer into a position with a start date prior to Feb 1, 2014. If you wait to finish your second year of peds residency then start CA-1 in July 2014 you will have to go through the match. Just something to be aware of.

 

[Gern Blansten]

AND NOW

I have dudes incorporating

MY NAME

into their Screen Names...

just for the record😀

My name too!
JetGern...

 

[michigangirl]

You need to transfer into one of the combined anesthesia/pediatrics residencies. 5 years total and you are boarded in both.

I'm actually with BobBarker on this one. I did Peds and Anesthesia in 5 years, now doing PICU and peds anesthesia. If you have a strong application, you should look into potentially joining a combined peds-anesthesia residency, then you can get the whole thing done in 5 years. The program is relatively new, and with only a handful of programs in the country, you could touch base with the program directors and see if they would be amenable to working something out with someone who has already done 2 years of peds. I'm happy to hook you up with Dr. Schwengel and Serwint at Hopkins. This way you finish both without taking 6 years. It is EXTREMELY competitive given the very limited number of spots.

If you are sure anesthesia is your only passion, I would definitely try to transfer into an anesthesia program now, rather than later. As long as you have your reasons, you will be an attractive candidate for a CA-1 spot. If it doesn't work out, then you try again after peds residency is finished. If you are planning on maintaining peds and anesthesia, then doing peds anesthesia, remember, that's 3 sets of boards-- peds, anesthesia (written and oral), followed by peds anesthesia.

Happy to discuss this further by PM.