Possible to transfer to a different program after PGY-1?

[Salamechton]

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I am a categorical general surgery PGY-1 at an academic program. Unfortunately, I have been very disappointed with my program so far for a wide variety of reasons, including straight dishonesty, poor patient care and essentially a program that will fall apart over the next few years (losing affiliation and such).
Anyhow, I am now hoping to go elsewhere to continue my training in GS. I suppose my options are either to go through the match again, or to find a spot via websites such APDS.

Has anyone on here successfully transferred after their intern year to a different program? How would that work? Also for those who re-did the match, how did it go?
This is a difficult situation because I feel like I can not talk about this issue with anyone at my program, without being afraid of the repercussions.

Thank you for your help
Sincerely,

 

[ACSurgeon]

I am a categorical general surgery PGY-1 at an academic program. Unfortunately, I have been very disappointed with my program so far for a wide variety of reasons, including straight dishonesty, poor patient care and essentially a program that will fall apart over the next few years (losing affiliation and such).
Anyhow, I am now hoping to go elsewhere to continue my training in GS. I suppose my options are either to go through the match again, or to find a spot via websites such APDS.

Has anyone on here successfully transferred after their intern year to a different program? How would that work? Also for those who re-did the match, how did it go?
This is a difficult situation because I feel like I can not talk about this issue with anyone at my program, without being afraid of the repercussions.

Thank you for your help
Sincerely,

It's tricky.

I knew someone who transferred after the first year, and essentially arranged everything before telling her home program. That was very risky and could have backfired a lot, but it worked.

Alternatively, the easiest way is to take research years after your second or third year and find a program during that time. If you do your research at a different institution or different part of the country, that can be a way to find another program without offending the original program too much.

You're still taking a risk, and should be sure that it's worthwhile, especially if your goal is to remain in general surgery.

 

[DoctwoB]

Also, if your program losses accreditation, you get to keep your funding, so any program that takes you in gets a free resident. Know some people who went to a vastly superior program via that route.

 

[kemper6036]

transferring as a PGY 1 will be tough. as you progress in your training it would seem that there are more opportunities as an upper level resident due to people going into the lab etc. keep checking APDS....things come up from time to time.