Maternity leave.....Please help!!!!

[NUgirl]

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I had a baby in the beginning of my fourth year of medical school so now I have to make up two months at the end of my fourth year (June-Aug). That pushes my residency starting date to the middle of Aug instead of Mid June or July 1st. I don't know how this usually works.

Are the programs usually understanding about this? Even though a contract says one starting date and I ask for another, can they throw me out for this? I feel bad, but there was nothing I could have done. I didn't want to take a whole year off just to be able to start on time. I am freaking out because I already have my radiology pgy2 lined up after my internship!

Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙁

 

[Winged Scapula]

I had a baby in the beginning of my fourth year of medical school so now I have to make up two months at the end of my fourth year (June-Aug). That pushes my residency starting date to the middle of Aug instead of Mid June or July 1st. I don't know how this usually works.

Are the programs usually understanding about this? Even though a contract says one starting date and I ask for another, can they throw me out for this? I feel bad, but there was nothing I could have done. I didn't want to take a whole year off just to be able to start on time. I am freaking out because I already have my radiology pgy2 lined up after my internship!

Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙁

They are usually understanding about this, but didn't you know when you interviewed that you would have to make up the time? You might have considered asking about this when you interviewed. Frankly, I find it a bit strange that your medical school goes all the way until June and you have to make up the full two months - did you take more time off, and used your vacation and two months is what's left? Most medical schools finish before June so you have some time before residency.

At any rate, you need to contact the program where you matched for your Prelim year asap. Obviously you won't know that until tomorrow but they are expecting you to start July 1; if you start late, you can use your vacation time in lieu of the late start, but that makes for a long year with no more vacation (ie, most residencies get no more than 3 or 4 weeks vacation per year). Each program will have its own policy. If your Prelim year requires you to start asap and won't let you start late, you'll need to work something out with your medical school. If the Prelim year lets you start late and you can't use your vacation time or finish late, then you also need to let your Rads program know that you'll need to start late.

Keep everyone in the loop, be flexible and things should work out.

 

[dpmd]

Technically, your school isn't supposed to certify you for the NRMP if you aren't going to meet the criteria for graduation by the end of june (I came back to third year after an Army deployment, and that was an issue for me that required me to take rotations back to back in order to not go over). You are lucky you were still allowed to participate in the match. Have you talked to your school about their recommendations? Are you lacking core rotations, or is it just weeks of elective time you are missing. My school allowed me to compress one of my rotations from three weeks to two (the OB part of my OB/gyn core) by working it out with the clerkship director and taking extra call. Maybe they can work with you to cut down the time you owe.

 

[NUgirl]

Thanks for your replies. They are much appreciated. I will talk to my dean about this situation. My school allowed me to graduate with my class, and thus allowed me to participate in this year's match as long as I completed my requirements within 90 days of graduation. I will complete them in 60 days. I need to make up 2 months of core rotations.

I just wanted to know what other people did in this type of situation and if most places are understanding, especially internships, considering they are only one year. I am scared to approach them for fear of them throwing me out!

 

[Winged Scapula]

I can understand your fear of approaching your intern program but frankly, not letting them know until the last minute that you can't show up until August 1st is more likely, IMHO, to anger them than telling them as far in advance as possible.

I had forgotten that your school needs to certify you in order to participate in the match. See what they can do to get you to finish by July 1, and once that discussion is complete (with something down on paper), call your intern program and let them know what is happening. They may be able to arrange things as well so you can finish in time to start your PGY2 program on time.

If one abides by the strict letter of the law, it appears you are in violation of the match...

2.0 Applicants

2.1 Eligibility

To participate in the Matching Program, prior to the scheduled start date of the position(s) for which the applicant is applying, the applicant must meet all of the requirements for entry into graduate medical education as prescribed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education ("ACGME") in Section II of the Essentials of Accredited Residencies in Graduate Medical Education, under Institutional Requirements, Residents, which are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. Each applicant executing this Agreement hereby affirms that he or she will meet those requirements prior to the applicable program start date.

Each sponsoring institution (e.g., a teaching hospital) may have additional requirements for eligibility for its programs. The NRMP is not responsible for ensuring that any or all of the requirements have or will have been met by an applicant prior to the scheduled beginning of the term of the position to which the applicant matched or for communicating such requirements to applicants.

Of course, your program has some culpability for certifying you, which led you to believe you would be eligible. I do not know how the NRMP would view this situation, but as always, best to be honest and let everyone know as far in advance as possible. Unlikely that they would enforce this violation but you need to get a resolution from your school and future residency program asap.

 

[NinerNiner999]

Agreed - be open, honest, and flexible - and do it sooner than later. This is the type of situation that can kill your career. If your program can't accomodate your schedule, they will look for an intern that will. If your school can't accomodate your schedule with residency, you will need to finish your rotation after graduation. If you are in this situation, you will need to wait until next year to start your internship. If you have violated the match, you won't get that spot next year...

Does your medical school offer a prelim or TY spot? If they do, maybe you can finish your rotations for medical school and stay there to stay on track for residency? Good luck...

 

[Hope 2 B A MD]

I had a baby at the start of my 4th year of medical school. My school was very good about letting me take a couple of courses that I could do at home. I took a computer course and a research course that I could take at the same time as some other courses that counted towards graduation. I was sort of a "double dipping" when it came to my courses that year. Talk to your school. I know that mine was very understanding and I was able to graduate on time. I just had my second child less than 2 weeks ago and I am in the middle of my residency. My residency program was also very understanding when it has come to having a child. Just communicate and Good Luck!!