Question about Path elective

[dhm37]

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I've been on the fence about deciding on Path as my specialty of choice, but I'm really leaning towards it now. I'm a US citizen FMG with Step1 in the 90's and excellent evals for clinicals. Step2 is still pending. No research, but a love of Path. I've done all my core clinicals in a US teaching hospital. So, the hospital that I'm currently at offers a Path elective. However, the hospital does not have a residency in Path. So my question is: Will I be at a huge disadvantage doing an elective at a hospital without a Path residency? I assume one advantage is that I'll be able to work with the attendings more directly. However, the disadvantages being no exposure to potential residency program directors, and not seeing a true Path residency in action. I'm really trying to finish all of my clinicals at the hospital I'm currently at as I'm in a bind financially and I have a marriage date coming up quickly. Changing my schedule to do an outside elective and the money involved in relocating are...well let's just say I'd prefer to avoid that. Thanks for anyone with advice. I may be joining your Path mafia soon! hehehe😀

 

[pathstudent]

You know....I would suggest taking the time and cash to travel. It would be good to get some Letters of Rec from a known program, plus to get to "try out" the program and make an impression at the same time.

Otherwise you might as well do something more clinical that is related to path as your fourth year will be your time to see a lot of great stuff.

Don't sweat not having done research. Only a few hundred people go into pathology and I doubt even 20% would be Md/PhD or have done extensive meaningful research.