Question for anybody who can answer, but what does switching specialties entail. Briefly, I'm an intern, doing something that I thought was my "calling" in life but am finding out pretty quickly that maybe it wasn't the wisest career choice. This is probably a stupid question, but given that I signed a contract to work "x" number of months, I have to work "x" number of months or I could be held liable (as in getting sued or something like that), right? Or, is there a way I can get out of the contract 2 months into the job. I'll stick it out for the rest of the year if I have to, but I'm really looking to get out of this thing if I can. Any advice? Thanks.
Process of switching specialties as a resident
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The most "noble" thing you can do is stick it out. If you are looking at a really competitive or hard core specialty next, this may be what you need to do.
Switching generally means going through the whole ERAS thing again, unless you come upon a mid year opening. (Such as the one you are about to create.)
The second best thing you could do is find a replacement before you leave. It's crazy, but it happens. (I heard of 2 Duke interns- IM and Psych- who switched last year... reliable source on this one.)
The third best thing is to give your PD ample time to find a replacement. This could mean months, but perhaps only a few.
Usually they will let you out of your contract with few implications, but it could hurt you for future jobs. It is a job, though, not slavery. You can leave.
Talk to your PD. Investigate the specialty you want to go into. Track down some PDs and ask them. Don't be afraid to ask.
10% of us switch, so they are used to this. Good luck. Try not to screw your fellow interns over, but look after your own mental health first!
Switching generally means going through the whole ERAS thing again, unless you come upon a mid year opening. (Such as the one you are about to create.)
The second best thing you could do is find a replacement before you leave. It's crazy, but it happens. (I heard of 2 Duke interns- IM and Psych- who switched last year... reliable source on this one.)
The third best thing is to give your PD ample time to find a replacement. This could mean months, but perhaps only a few.
Usually they will let you out of your contract with few implications, but it could hurt you for future jobs. It is a job, though, not slavery. You can leave.
Talk to your PD. Investigate the specialty you want to go into. Track down some PDs and ask them. Don't be afraid to ask.
10% of us switch, so they are used to this. Good luck. Try not to screw your fellow interns over, but look after your own mental health first!
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camjakb said:
Your best bet is to ride out this year keeping your nose clean and doing your job professionally while you reapply for the match. Tell your program director as soon as you decide. You are contractually obligated for one year of exclusive service and you can be held to this but I can't see how except by suing you for breach of contract. If you have a program lined up that you can switch into now they probably will let you go as nobody want's a disgruntled employee and if your new program will take you then they obviously don't care about the potential legal pitfalls.
You can quit at any time however. Your contract does not bind you to servitude if you dislike your job. The only thing to consider is that it will look bad as you reapply for the match if you quit your previous residency.
This is why it's important to either have something lined up that you can jump into or finish the year.
My program last year took a resident from Neurosurgery who then switched into an open spot (outside the match) in Emergency medicine four months after she started.
Please visit my humble blog. I switched last year and I describe the process in great detail.
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ironmaiden said:
Good post. I just want to point out, however, that if your fellow interns have to cover your call and responsibilities when you are gone, it is your program screwing them over and not you and you shouldn't feel the slightest bit of guilt over it. It is not your responsibility to staff the hospital and most major academic medical centers will not grind to a halt if an intern is around to cover call. If your program adds extra call it just their spinelessness in the face of other services.
Program directors like to throw around the concept of "patient care coming first" to justify screwing you over when it comes to hours but if this were really the case we'd be ashamed to leave the hospital for any reason. Obviously patient care is important but not so important that you exceed 80 hours a week or never get a day off.
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Panda Bear said:
The story behind that is bizarre, weird, and crazy.
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Apollyon said:
Is someone going to tell us that story?
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WatchingWaiting said:
I was peripherally and accidentally involved in the first part, so I have to tell you the honest, official line: we can't talk about it. That is from lawyers on both sides.
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Apollyon said:
And I liked the person involved so what little else I know I'll keep silent on.
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Panda Bear said:
Really? I think you and I are the only two people in the whole place.
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Switching is common. Often people will stick it out for the rest of the year, but if you have to get out now, then I guess you have to do what you have to do.
Quitting without giving notice is the worst thing you can do, because then your fellow co-residents will have to pick up your calls. Depending on your program, this will largely fall to your co-interns. (One could argue that the department should pay for coverage rather than stick it to the other interns...)
If you give your PD a few months' notice, at least that will give her time to locate another intern. (Of course, that new transfer intern will have to come from somewhere. So your actions might very well screw over some other residency program farther on down the food chain...)
The Duke psych resident originally matched to a middling tier IM program in the '05 Match but somehow jumped ship over the summer (after Match Day) and scrambled into the Duke psych program. During the first few months she was looking for a way to backdoor it into the Duke IM program, so when she heard that one of the Duke IM interns was wanting to switch into psych, that was the perfect opportunity -- they just switched places (I think in November or December). Worked out well for everyone concerned.
-AT.
Quitting without giving notice is the worst thing you can do, because then your fellow co-residents will have to pick up your calls. Depending on your program, this will largely fall to your co-interns. (One could argue that the department should pay for coverage rather than stick it to the other interns...)
If you give your PD a few months' notice, at least that will give her time to locate another intern. (Of course, that new transfer intern will have to come from somewhere. So your actions might very well screw over some other residency program farther on down the food chain...)
ironmaiden said:
The Duke psych resident originally matched to a middling tier IM program in the '05 Match but somehow jumped ship over the summer (after Match Day) and scrambled into the Duke psych program. During the first few months she was looking for a way to backdoor it into the Duke IM program, so when she heard that one of the Duke IM interns was wanting to switch into psych, that was the perfect opportunity -- they just switched places (I think in November or December). Worked out well for everyone concerned.
-AT.
