Pathology, as a SECOND residency?

[Leukocyte]

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Anyone heard of docs in clinical medicine who had a change of heart, and went back to do a second residency in Pathology?

How hard, do you think, it would be for someone to go from FM to Pathology? If the person is an IMG (completed FM residency in US), is research or a PhD a must? I ask this because it seems that almost all of the IMGs who get accepted into pathology programs have either PhDs or extensive research under their belt.

Thanks.

 

[yaah]

There are lots of people in path who did something else (either partially completed or fully completed) before pathology. The IMG issue is important, but if your other residency is a US program it probably becomes a little less important. At that point, the main barrier is convincing pathology PDs that your interest in pathology is sincere, and that you are not going to flake out on them and leave midway through, or be looking to transfer to a different program, things like that. It becomes less about your numbers than it does your motivation.

 

[Leukocyte]

Thanks yaah for your encouraging comments. As you might have read in my earlier posts...I am currently VERY depressed as a FM resident. I hate every breathing second of my life. I no longer eat or sleep well, and starting to ignore my hyegine (not shower and shave daily like I used to, not do laundry as often, not wear the stupid tie, my appartment is dirty.....). My faculty and fellow residents are starting to notice, but I always put on a false smile on my face and pretend all is well. I do not want them to know that I hate clinical medicine. Every time I am on-call, and get called for an admission (no matter how simple it might be), I feel Nauseious and start getting abdominal pains...My life is horrible. After almost 2 years in a FM residency I am ready to quit. The only thing making me not quit residency at this time is the Money. I need a pay-check, and have nothing in my savings to buffer me if I quit today.


1) Do you think I should apply to Pathology programs now, or wait until I finish FM residency...and then apply?

2) Any advice on how to make my application stronger? Should I get involved in pathology research during my remaining 1 year of FM residency?!!!


Thank you very much.

Leuk.

 

[Cloaca]

I'm sorry to hear you're so miserable. I think before you do anything, you should define what exactly the problem is. Perhaps sit down with a counselor and work this out because if you are physically ill at the thought of seeing patients, perhaps the whole field of clinical medicine isn't right for you. It would be disastrous to your career to start another residency and then decide you hate that as well. There are other employment options for MDs than clinical medicine.

IF you do decide that it's just FM that makes you sick and nothing about pathology would do the same, IMO I would apply this application cycle and get out as soon as possible. But you should probably have a heart-to-heart with your PD sometime before you do this because you don't want to sneak out. You don't want to leave them short-staffed on short notice and also you want to make sure that they can write you a good letter. Be above-the-board with everything.

As for making your application stronger, I think having done well in med school, boards, and residency will probably be enough to get a path spot, maybe not your first choice but something. To improve your choices, you may consider taking a year to do a post-sophomore fellowship in pathology (also would help you preview the field) or a year of research.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Thanks yaah for your encouraging comments. As you might have read in my earlier posts...I am currently VERY depressed as a FM resident. I hate every breathing second of my life. I no longer eat or sleep well, and starting to ignore my hyegine (not shower and shave daily like I used to, not do laundry as often, not wear the stupid tie, my appartment is dirty.....). My faculty and fellow residents are starting to notice, but I always put on a false smile on my face and pretend all is well. I do not want them to know that I hate clinical medicine. Every time I am on-call, and get called for an admission (no matter how simple it might be), I feel Nauseious and start getting abdominal pains...My life is horrible. After almost 2 years in a FM residency I am ready to quit. The only thing making me not quit residency at this time is the Money. I need a pay-check, and have nothing in my savings to buffer me if I quit today.


1) Do you think I should apply to Pathology programs now, or wait until I finish FM residency...and then apply?

2) Any advice on how to make my application stronger? Should I get involved in pathology research during my remaining 1 year of FM residency?!!!


Thank you very much.

Leuk.

Leuko,

Sorry to hear the situation that you are in. I would be depressed too if I was in clinical medicine. Make sure you like Pathology...make sure you like grossing, looking at slides day in day out, doing autopsies. Path residency is another 5-6 years, depending on how many fellowships you do. That is a huge opportunity cost. Do you think you might enjoy work as a FP although you hated residency? Doing a second residency is a huge task to take. If it was me, I would be so burned out. Don't wanna sound so negative. Just know what you are getting yourself into.

 

[skoller]

Some of the best pathology residents / attendings I've encountered are converts from clinical medicine, and none of them regretted the switch. In truth, these people are more dedicated and hardworking than most residents I know who went straight into path from med school. One was an IMG but did have a research background and transferred from a clinical residency program within our institution. Do make sure you're OK with the idea of grossing specimens and sitting at the microscope for hours on end, and be prepared to study and read more than in clinical med. Good luck!

 

[Autopsy101]

I second what Skoller has said. Many of the pathologists who trained me and trained with me had converted from clinical medicine. They were from all disciplines. Each one brought that life experience with them, and it made them a unique and skilled pathologist. I feel that their previous experience in other fields gave them a unique viewpoint from which I benefited from imensely in my education. I feel so grateful to have worked with pathologists like them. Even with 2 years experience in clinical medicine, you have learned a great deal and will bring clinical insight to any program that you would join. I am certain that is only to the benefit to your peers in that program. I think that any experience you can get in pathology through a rotation or research project would help you be sure that pathology is the field for you. Good Luck with your decision.