Need to switch location 2/2 family reasons: ObGyn to anything

[VipaZena]

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Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice. I am currently an intern in Ob Gyn. I was somewhat surprised to match where I did and it has been very difficult for my family. My current residency is very work hour heavy and I am a single mom. I originally moved my kids with me but I quickly realized I couldn't handle it on my own. They are now living with family where we are originally from. I'm having a rough time being away from them. My son is not doing well in school and I realize that I need to go home - asap.

I am hoping that there might be a way to transfer into a PGY2 position but it doesn't look like Ob has any openings as of now. I am open to transferring into something else - FM, IM, or psych sound most appealing.

Anyone know if I could swing switching into PGY2 of any other specialty with a year of OBGyn? I don't mind graduating later but would hope that some of my rotations (like my inpatient medicine) would count towards the future.

I guess the other option would be for me to finish intern year, find some sort of job 😱 and then try to go through the match again. I really would prefer not to do this given I am not quite the spring thing I used to be and would be delayed two years on paying those loans .

Any other kind words of advice would appreciated.
thanks!

 

[Winged Scapula]

One option is to quickly register for the 2014 match. The deadline is usually in February.

This will allow you access to SOAP and a list of open positions starting July 2014; there may be a position of interest to you near your hometown which you could apply for. Its worth a shot.

Also you may find some PGY-2 Ob-Gyn positions opening up over the next few weeks. Most programs will have contracts for PGY-2 residents out by April. Some residents will not be renewed, others will quit, leaving open positions. The ACOG website usually lists open positions.

If you have informed your current program about your desire to leave, assuming you've been an asset to them, they may be to assist you in finding a position. Word of mouth position can be common in some fields.

 

[VipaZena]

Thanks so much for your reply. Just to clarify, I can register for NRMP and participate in SOAP even though I did not do an ERAS this year?

 

[gutonc]

Thanks so much for your reply. Just to clarify, I can register for NRMP and participate in SOAP even though I did not do an ERAS this year?

Correct. That said, since SOAP uses ERAS documents, you should put an app together and submit it so that if you get SOAP offers they can get your documents. You'll need at least 1 LOR from your current year to have anybody take you seriously.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Agreed with above. You should:

1. Tell your current PD your plans. Staying in your current program doesn't seem like a reasonable option.
2. Perhaps your PD will help you find an OB/GYN PGY-2 spot closer to home.
3. You will not be able to start as a PGY-2 in any other field. You may get a few months of credit for your OB/GYN experience, but most likely will need to repeat the year. (Possible exception: Surgery. They might consider a OB/GYN year equivalent to a prelim GS year).
4. Contact IM/FP/Psych programs close to home. Depending on where "home" is, there may not be many. Sending ERAS apps at this point will be pointless, you'll need to call / email and send your CV, explain why you are applying late, etc.
5. In case no luck with #2 or #4, you can consider pulling together an ERAS application for SOAP, and registering with NRMP. You'll need to apply via ERAS to a single program in any field (prior to SOAP starting) to participate in SOAP. No matter what field you apply to, you can send SOAP apps to any field.

You'll need to decide how geographically restricted you are. If your family is in a big city with many programs, chances are there will be something in SOAP there. If your family is in a smaller locale with only a single program, then less likely. In any case, the only way to apply for SOAP positions is with ERAS and NRMP.

 

[Smurfette]

Surgery will not count an OB year...some places may be generous to give a month or two credit for rotations done (my residency program would not), but you would still have to do a full GS intern year.

I would surmise that FP residencies would give credit to you for all the OB months, as well as ER or other rotations that overlap with the FP curriculum. Plus FPs still do deliveries and prenatal care so if you can't find another OB program, this may be a good alternative.

 

[VipaZena]

Thanks so much for your replies. Yes, that's what I would have thought re: R1 vs R2, I just am hopeful that some of the stuff I've done can count going forward. I don't mind starting as an R1 again. Also, yes, I will make an appointment with my PD asap. I am from a metropolitan area with a decent amount of programs. It is, however, a VERY popular place to live so it is very competitive. One of my mentors says that it is unlikely that any program will go unfilled in our area but I figure I will give it a shot anyway.

A few more ?s
1) If I apply to ERAS, would I need to interview at the program I apply to in order for it to count? I assume that if I did an ERAS now, I wouldn't get any interviews
2) If I do apply to NRMP and ERAS but do not get any interviews, do I need to submit a rank list in order to be eligible for SOAP? Can I even submit a rank list if I have no viable options?
3) If I don't find anywhere to go, any suggestions on what an MD, MPH with one year of OB could do for work while I reapply? I did a search for this on SDN but nothing great popped out.

thanks much.

 

[gutonc]

Thanks so much for your replies. Yes, that's what I would have thought re: R1 vs R2, I just am hopeful that some of the stuff I've done can count going forward. I don't mind starting as an R1 again. Also, yes, I will make an appointment with my PD asap. I am from a metropolitan area with a decent amount of programs. It is, however, a VERY popular place to live so it is very competitive. One of my mentors says that it is unlikely that any program will go unfilled in our area but I figure I will give it a shot anyway.

A few more ?s
1) If I apply to ERAS, would I need to interview at the program I apply to in order for it to count? I assume that if I did an ERAS now, I wouldn't get any interviews
2) If I do apply to NRMP and ERAS but do not get any interviews, do I need to submit a rank list in order to be eligible for SOAP? Can I even submit a rank list if I have no viable options?
3) If I don't find anywhere to go, any suggestions on what an MD, MPH with one year of OB could do for work while I reapply? I did a search for this on SDN but nothing great popped out.

thanks much.

1. No. You just need to apply.
2. I don't know for certain but I seem to recall that you do need to submit a rank list of at least one program (but again...I may be wrong here). But since you get 20 ranks for the same fee you pay just to register...why not?
3. Research. Urgent care (unlikely). Home Depot.

 

[Raryn]

Assuming you're an AMG, you can get licensed in something like 37 states with just the one year of residency experience. If you have to take the year off, there's a few jobs you might be able to get as a licensed MD, though most are generalist positions that a year of experience in Ob likely didn't really prepare you for. These are things like urgent cares, disability exams for insurance companies, etc. You can try to get one of these if you feel comfortable with it, b/c otherwise, there's no clinical work open to you.

OTOH, if you're an IMG, with one year experience, you have the options of working in WI or GA (GA has a limited # of foreign schools on their list). WI was working on closing that opening too, so it might just be down to GA.

 

[mycatishuge]

Would you consider doing anesthesia? It is procedural and you can do a ton of OB anesthesia during residency or an OB fellowship and continue doing OB related stuff. Hours are much more controllable as compared to GS or OB/GYN.
Please see my PM to you for details.

 

[VipaZena]

Thanks for the continued replies.

Kind of a dumb question but PDs, should I make an appointment or just try and catch my PD when I can. I am at an off-site rotation and wont be back until next week. That said, I don't want to set off any alarms too far in advance.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Make an appointment. This is not the kind of discussion you want to have "on the fly"

 

[VipaZena]

Yeah, that's what I thought. There may be one position opening up near home (in another specialty but at this point family first) soon I've heard so will plan on discussing this soon. Thank you.

 

[foodle]

I don't have any practical advice for your situation, but I just wanted to say that you're doing the right thing for your family, and that's a very brave/honorable thing to do. Good luck working things out.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

3. You will not be able to start as a PGY-2 in any other field. You may get a few months of credit for your OB/GYN experience, but most likely will need to repeat the year. (Possible exception: Surgery. They might consider a OB/GYN year equivalent to a prelim GS year).

With Psych you may not start as a PGY-2, but you should be able to complete residency as if you were starting as a PGY-2. ACGME graduation/board eligibility requirements are for 48 months total residency training (not total psych residency, and only 2 years need to be at the same program), and all the specifically annotated psych rotation requirements (i.e. 4 months of inpatient, 2 months of consults, etc) can easily be completed in the 3 years you'll have with that program. Hope that makes sense.

 

[VipaZena]

I don't have any practical advice for your situation, but I just wanted to say that you're doing the right thing for your family, and that's a very brave/honorable thing to do. Good luck working things out.

Thank you very much for your kind words. I have had a really hard time making this decision. Sometimes I feel like I've worked so hard just to give it all up but I am determined to make the best of it.

With Psych you may not start as a PGY-2, but you should be able to complete residency as if you were starting as a PGY-2. ACGME graduation/board eligibility requirements are for 48 months total residency training (not total psych residency, and only 2 years need to be at the same program), and all the specifically annotated psych rotation requirements (i.e. 4 months of inpatient, 2 months of consults, etc) can easily be completed in the 3 years you'll have with that program. Hope that makes sense.

That's encouraging. I would love to do psych actually...I got really interested in mental health during my masters and really love the idea of learning/doing psychotherapy. Hopefully a spot might open up but I'm doubtful given there are so few.

 

[Shikima]

Thank you very much for your kind words. I have had a really hard time making this decision. Sometimes I feel like I've worked so hard just to give it all up but I am determined to make the best of it.



That's encouraging. I would love to do psych actually...I got really interested in mental health during my masters and really love the idea of learning/doing psychotherapy. Hopefully a spot might open up but I'm doubtful given there are so few.

Could always get your PhD or PsyD and do talk therapy for a living. You still carry the MD after your name.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Could always get your PhD or PsyD and do talk therapy for a living. You still carry the MD after your name.

Except that that's a lot more additional schooling without an income. As a single mother I suspect she needs a steady paycheck.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Could always get your PhD or PsyD and do talk therapy for a living. You still carry the MD after your name.

But you get way less pay, and that's even more time in training. OP, psych residencies are pretty open to transfers from other specialties, so if you like it, go for it.

 

[scarletgirl777]

Would you consider doing anesthesia? It is procedural and you can do a ton of OB anesthesia during residency or an OB fellowship and continue doing OB related stuff. Hours are much more controllable as compared to GS or OB/GYN.
Please see my PM to you for details.

Your year of OB can count as a prelim year for some advanced specialties. Looks like anesthesia, ophtho, pm&r, rads, and rad onc would count your OB intern year.