PLEASE Help!

[Undecided18]

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I am a 4 year medical student who just matched into a competitive IM program. However, I am now on a radiology rotation and seriously having second thoughts about IM. I was wondering if I want to do radiology what would be the best way to go about it? Do I show up and try to transfer or reapply after first year or Do I not show up? Have I seriouslly hurt my chances of ending up in a radiology residency?

 

[DarthNeurology]

I am a 4 year medical student who just matched into a competitive IM program. However, I am now on a radiology rotation and seriously having second thoughts about IM. I was wondering if I want to do radiology what would be the best way to go about it? Do I show up and try to transfer or reapply after first year or Do I not show up? Have I seriouslly hurt my chances of ending up in a radiology residency?

Now show up? The match is a binding contract and you could be sued for not showing up, of course more importantly you might be banned from applying for residency via nrmp for maybe a couple years . . . you can simply not sign a contract for a PGY-2 year and apply for radiology next year.

 

[DarthNeurology]

I am a 4 year medical student who just matched into a competitive IM program. However, I am now on a radiology rotation and seriously having second thoughts about IM. I was wondering if I want to do radiology what would be the best way to go about it? Do I show up and try to transfer or reapply after first year or Do I not show up? Have I seriouslly hurt my chances of ending up in a radiology residency?

Now show up? The match is a binding contract and you could be sued for not showing up, of course more importantly you might be banned from applying for residency via nrmp for maybe a couple years . . . you can simply not sign a contract for a PGY-2 year and apply for radiology next year. A year of internal medicine internship may qualify for the internship for radiology.

 

[Tigerz_Fan]

All is not lost. You have little time to think about this.

Yes, the NRMP contract is binding. You MUST show up on July 1st as PGY-1 in IM. If you are seriously considering changing fields and are certain about it, you really should be honest with the program. It will give them the oppportunity to find someone to fill your position. If you are upfront from the beginning, programs usually are supportive of these things. And when ERAS opens again, you can apply for advanced rads positions, since you will be in the process of completing an intern year. This should fulfill the requirements of most rads programs to do a prelim IM, surg, or TY. You will need a letter of good standing/LOR from your program director when you apply for rads and be ready to explain the transition during your next set of interviews.

Good luck!

 

[Undecided18]

Do programs have the ability to tell you, you cant leave after the pgy1 year? How early in the year would you tell your PD? Will it be harder to get in because I am transferring fields?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Do programs have the ability to tell you, you cant leave after the pgy1 year? How early in the year would you tell your PD? Will it be harder to get in because I am transferring fields?

Contracts are signed for 1 year at a time. Thus, no program has the right to tell you that you can't leave after PGY-1. Both resident and program are required to give notice of intent to stay or not by March 1 of each residency year.

As a matter of fact, the NRMP contract only requires that you show up for residency. There is no clear language, as I recall, that stipulates how many days you have to work to avoid being in violation of the NRMP contract. That doesn't include the contract you sign with the residency however.

Some PDs will support you and others will not. There is no hard and fast rules about when to tell them, what measures they will follow if you decide to leave before your contract is up. Generally if you are going to be applying for another residency it is good form to let the PD know as you will probably need an LOR from him/her, time for interviews, etc. Hard to do if you keep it a secret.

Finally, ask yourself if this is not really fear about starting residency and making a committed decision. You've done what? 4 weeks of radiology and now its the best thing since sliced bread? You sound like a nervous groom. 😉

If indeed you made a mistake bear in mind that if you apply for Rads next year, you will be sitting out a year or repeating your internship, so lots of possible consequences.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

No, they cannot. The contract you sign is on a year-to-year basis.

I'll second the others: you have to do an internship before you're even eligible for radiology. Breaking your contract will label you a Match Violator and you will be banned from participating in the future. So you obviously have to show up, from both a pragmatic and an ethical standpoint.

Secondly.. perhaps you're having a bit of Buyer's Remorse, now that you're matched? Go to your internship with an open mind (keeping in mind, of course, that no one really enjoys being an intern, and that being an intern is not representative of being an IM doc). If your interest in radiology is genuine, you'll know after a few months that you should switch. It might just be a bit of a phase-- cold feet before tying the knot.

 

[dragonfly99]

No, they cannot. The contract you sign is on a year-to-year basis.

I'll second the others: you have to do an internship before you're even eligible for radiology. Breaking your contract will label you a Match Violator and you will be banned from participating in the future. So you obviously have to show up, from both a pragmatic and an ethical standpoint.

Secondly.. perhaps you're having a bit of Buyer's Remorse, now that you're matched? Go to your internship with an open mind (keeping in mind, of course, that no one really enjoys being an intern, and that being an intern is not representative of being an IM doc). If your interest in radiology is genuine, you'll know after a few months that you should switch. It might just be a bit of a phase-- cold feet before tying the knot.

I agree with this. All is not lost. Do show up and do your IM intern year. You need an intern year anyway to do radiology. If you are a competitive candidate for radiology,you can apply next year, and/or look for open spots for PGY2 for the next year (but there are VERY rare). Sometimes people do an entire IM residency and then radiology,so that might be an option. Another option is to quit IM after your intern year, even if you don't get into radiology, and do a year or two of radiology research in the hopes of getting into radiology that way.

I would not tell your PD right away that you are thinking of radiology. I would wait a few months, see how you feel about IM vs. rads (bear in mind that intern year tends to suck...). Then some time like September or so, you can try for rads, throw out a few applications, if you still want to do it. If you get any interviews, THEN tell the PD and chief resident because you'll really have to in order to be able to go on interviews.

If you are thinking of doing radiology, I would ask the radiologists you are working with right now to write you a LOR, and try to see if your med school's dean's office or academic advising office will keep it on file for you are a year or two. This way it's still a letter you've waived your right to see, but you'll be able to get it sent to rads programs or ERAS if you need to later.

 

[Brunette1981]

Also, your best rads shot might be at the hospital you are already attending for IM. If you start IM and do well then you might be able to interview internally if there are any openings in the department outside of the Match.

It's bound to be easier to get a competitive slot outside the Match at a place that knows you and where you've made a good impression (be Super Intern on IM - don't act disinterested/sulky and do the minimum... even if you want to go elsewhere) than at a place where you are a stranger.

 

[Undecided18]

Thanks for the help. I do not think I will be able to get a Rays spot in my IM program because it is probably a top 10 program and I will not be nearly as competitve for Rays as I am for IM. I am just hoping that my IM program will not make my life miserable when they find out I want to switch. Do you think I will be viewed as an inferior canidate because I will be coming from IM? Also is there any possibility of trying to work out a deal w/the IM program before I start and somehow getting out of my commitment or is that just career suicide?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Do you think I will be viewed as an inferior canidate because I will be coming from IM?

I don't see why you would.

Also is there any possibility of trying to work out a deal w/the IM program before I start and somehow getting out of my commitment or is that just career suicide?

A deal? What are you contemplating? Getting out of your commitment to the program is not up to you and the program. If you are marked as a match violator, the NRMP can ban you from participating in the match which has repercussions for your future career. Secondly, you matched into IM at a Top 10 program. While this is highly variable, the program surely has many many people waiting in the wings who would be glad to take your spot and stay the entire residency. Who's to say that you try and work out a deal with your program and they say, "no thanks. We've got someone here who will gladly take your position. Have a nice life." There is no guarantee that they will not release you from your contract. You can certainly try it but be prepared for the consequences.

 

[Undecided18]

Do people ever switch residency programs but stay in the same field. Can someone decide after a year that they like medicine but just prefer to be in a different program?

 

[Tigerz_Fan]

Do people ever switch residency programs but stay in the same field. Can someone decide after a year that they like medicine but just prefer to be in a different program?

Not often, but it does happen. The people I know that have transferred have done so to be closer to spouse or family.