Physician parents and residency

[User23]

I have always wondered this, and I am not sure where to post it. I am a new member! Anyway, as title asks, does have a physician parent or family members help secure residencies. Not necessarily secure, but help your chances in getting a certain residency. This pertains to Caribbean MD grads as well. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you!🙂

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[auburnO5]

I have always wondered this, and I am not sure where to post it. I am a new member! Anyway, as title asks, does have a physician parent or family members help secure residencies. Not necessarily secure, but help your chances in getting a certain residency. This pertains to Caribbean MD grads as well. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you!🙂

Doubt it. Unless you have a really sweet hook up and/or stellar board scores.

 

[michaelrack]

usually not

 

[Mr hawkings]

Maybe if said parent plays poker with the residency director. Otherwise, no.

 

[User23]

Thought so, thanks all!

 

[michaelrack]

Maybe if said parent plays poker with the residency director. Otherwise, no.

I'll have to try that when my kids apply for residency- I occasionally encounter docs when I play poker

 

[SuperFOR]

I'd say yes, if one or both of these apply:
1.) A wing of the hospital is named after your parent
2.) Your parent is the program director and/or his/her spouse

 

[CeltSoxDoc]

haha, I think the people who respond are the people who may have hoped their parents were physicians. It is like anything else in this world, if your parents are physicians that does not necessarily mean you are going to just get any residency you please. Nonetheless, like anything else in this world networking and connections are how you get what you want in this world and that is something only an ignorant, idealistically-thinking person would deny.
Say your parent was a physician at said Hospital "A" and had a pretty good reputation as well as a fairly vast referral network of friends and acquaintances at said Hospital "A". Now say you applied for a residency at that hospital under either your parents sub-speciality (higher chance) or another, it would be foolish to think that your parent could not pull some strings and get you that residency spot. I have seen it happen and I know it will continue to happen, that is society. I am not saying that you will automatically get into a Harvard/Hopkins residency because your parent is that, but if you have great board scores and an important parent there it is not inconceivable. More likely this connection is seen at smaller hospitals or less highly ranked medical centers. That is reality folks, deny it all you want but it is a definite, 100% advantage in our society.

 

[duckie99]

Say your parent was a physician at said Hospital "A" and had a pretty good reputation as well as a fairly vast referral network of friends and acquaintances at said Hospital "A". Now say you applied for a residency at that hospital under either your parents sub-speciality (higher chance) or another, it would be foolish to think that your parent could not pull some strings and get you that residency spot. I have seen it happen and I know it will continue to happen, that is society. I am not saying that you will automatically get into a Harvard/Hopkins residency because your parent is that, but if you have great board scores and an important parent there it is not inconceivable. More likely this connection is seen at smaller hospitals or less highly ranked medical centers. That is reality folks, deny it all you want but it is a definite, 100% advantage in our society.

Correct. If your parent is a physician at a hospital in the same speciality or even sub-speciality you will have a much higher chance of matching there if your parent isn't hated. Programs want their residents happy and having strong connections to a place is important.

Also if your parent is private practice or works elsewhere but happens to know a PD or is friends with a person who knows the PD of a place you like to go your chances of matching there are higher. Connections and networking will move you up the rank list assuming you have at least an avg application for the program you are applying.

 

[Asp]

Definitely so in smaller fields if they are well-connected and hold positions of political power in the regional professional societies. Doubly so if they are Jewish.

However, the majority of the benefit of being the offspring of two successful physician parents is exactly that - genetics - the apple truly doesn't fall far from the tree.