Prelim Surg --> ObGyn

[Torsades42]

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Any one have a good idea of the out look of this track? I'm asking in the context that if one's application is a bit weak, would it make sense to do prelim surgery at a hospital with a good Ob/Gyn program, and then re-apply the following year as an Ob/Gyn? That too, can one apply as a PGY-2 or do they have to start over as a PGY-1? I'm assuming the latter, but I really have no idea.

 

[GuzzyRon]

Any one have a good idea of the out look of this track? I'm asking in the context that if one's application is a bit weak, would it make sense to do prelim surgery at a hospital with a good Ob/Gyn program, and then re-apply the following year as an Ob/Gyn? That too, can one apply as a PGY-2 or do they have to start over as a PGY-1? I'm assuming the latter, but I really have no idea.

This year I met 2 guys on the interview trail who were in prelim surgery but now interviewing for PGY1 OB. They both seemed to have had a fair number of OB interviews. If you go this route, I figure many programs will consider you favorably if you sell yourself well and have no serious deficiencies or red flags. So, to your first question, yes, that approach is good and the outlook is good as well.

However, chances are slim to nil that you will get a PGY2 OB spot following a prelim surgery year. The reason is because the two specialties acquire very different skill sets in their 1st years. PGY-1 OB residents gain experience running the L&D floor, managing low- (and perhaps high-) risk OB, ambulatory gyn, perhaps some NICU, MFM, medicine etc - things you will probably never see and do as a surgical intern. But you will gain skills managing electrolytes, acute abdomen, running the surgical floor, and perhaps do rotations in trauma, critical care, orthopedics etc - skills you probably won't find much use for in OB. So, going from a prelim surgical intern year to a PGY-2 OB will mean you will be pretty much deficient in foundational OB knowledge and skills - and no program will want to mess with that. In addition, most PGY2 openings (such as the ones in this ACOG clearinghouse) will require your 1st year CREOG scores. I doubt anyone will let you take the CREOGs as a prelim surgical intern.

Good luck!

 

[Requiem4Souless]

You absolutely won't be able to slip into a PGY-2 OB/GYN spot from a general surgery prelim. The experience will be great and make make you a stronger candidate for a PGY-1 OB/GYN year. There are a few prelim OB/GYN spots. In fact, there's at least one spot list on:

http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/ACOG_Departments/CREOG/CREOG_CLEARINGHOUSE

right now. Doing a PGY-1 OB/GYN year can set you up to slide into a PGY-2 year somewhere else the following year. Just take a look at how many PGY-2 positions are open on the same page. There's a decent bit of attrition from OB/GYN so it's likely you'll find an open PGY-2 spot after a prelim OB/GYN year.