Reapplying for Residency after Resigning from Residency

[SKP0223]

Hello - I just wanted to get some thoughts from a PROGRAM DIRECTOR OR ANYONE who has reapplied for residency after completing 1 or more years in a residency and then having to resign....

Backstory = My bf was doing residency and completed 1.5 years at his residency program, he was forced to resign from his program due to a poor performance on his in-service exam. He had no other personal issues. He gets along great with everyone - that is why it was a shock from residents & faculty. He had excellent evaluations and was able to get recommendations from majority of his faculty members. He will be applying for the same specialty. I wanted to know the following...

1. What should his PS address? Should the PS address only the residency portion of his life...or additional reasons on why he choose that speciality, etc?

2. Aside from recommendation letters from previous residency faculty, what else should he do?


I would like to help him so any advise would be greatly appreciated - thank you!

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[QofQuimica]

There's something more to this story that you're not telling us (or that he's not telling you). You don't get kicked out of residency for one bad in-service exam score, especially an in-service taken as an intern. Sure, you would probably get put on a strict reading regimen and maybe some kind of academic probation. But there's a reason why we don't take the specialty board exams as interns or even junior residents: we aren't ready to take them yet. So if he really doesn't know, the first thing he needs to do is find out the real reason why he was forced to resign, because you can't fix a problem you don't recognize. He should talk to the PD, his advisor, or some other senior administrative type who can go through his file with him. Then he will be in a better position to address what happened with his PS and LOR writers, as well as to hopefully come up with a plan to improve his weaknesses so this doesn't happen again.

 

[SKP0223]

Thank you Q, I appreciate the advise - definitely gonna pass is on!

His situation is unfair, he was placed on academic probation after the in-service exam for 5 months before giving him the choice to resign or get kicked out. No other exams were administered after the in-service exam for him to show his medical knowledge improvement. He was wasn't even allowed to finish his 2nd year of residency. His PD was not very helpful in showing him how he messed up, in fact he kept bringing the reason for in service exam as main reason!

From what I have read and what you have told me - I agree with you - seems weird that one in service exam can get you out of the program. But those are the facts and instead dwelling on them and beating himself over it - I'm trying to see what things he should address in his application process - as far as his Personal Statement? He already has great LORs from the faculty of his program and was even given interviews for PGY2 spots last Mar/April/May that did not pan out unfortunately.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This tends to be specialty specific. In Internal medicine, we are not supposed to use the ITE for promotion decisions (although with the new milestones, that may have changed). In surgery, this apparently "happens all the time" -- a poor ABSITE score = end of training. Most programs would give someone another chance, take it the next year, if that was the only problem.

I agree with the person above. It suggests that your bf had other problems. Then, when he has a bad ITE exam, that's an easy thing to point to.

 

[MadHopsMD]

Caveat: My story is similar to your BF. Hoping to MATCH this year!!! However different in the following ways:
1) My situation was complicated by personal matters.
2) I have decided to switch specialties.

I would like to know more about your BF, especially
1) What specialty he is applying to? Some specialties are more forgiving than others.
2) His board scores (Step 1, 2, 3) and medical school transcripts. Perhaps that one exam was a fluke? Especially if you have a respectable medical school record.
3) Is he a AMG or IMG/DO? Much much harder to give an IMG/DO another shot. Not fair, but true.

I concur with QofQuimica in the feeling that there is something more that happened here. I have never heard of anyone being forced to resign because of ONE bad in service exam.

Either way, whatever happened doesnt really matter -- as long as your former PD and your BF have a similar story. Because the programs he is applying to expect a reference letter from his former PD, especially if he is applying to the same residency. Their stories should be similar. His previous PD would talk about his negatives but emphasize his positives.

That brings me to your questions:

1. What should his PS address? Should the PS address only the residency portion of his life...or additional reasons on why he choose that speciality, etc?

He definitely should address why he decided to resign. As you say its because his poor academic performance, so I will start with telling how you learned different study strategies, etc etc. Make it truthful and genuine but at the same time focus on your strengths and dont sell yourself short. This is very difficult. Questions to ask:
a. What will you bring/learned from your past experience?
b. Why do you STILL have this passion for this speciality?
c. Why would you do better at this residency program?

2. Aside from recommendation letters from previous residency faculty, what else should he do?

a. Try to get a letter from PD, this looks good when you apply. If not keep him/her in a loop somehow. This is a small world, he/she might get a call from other PDs about the candidate.
b. Try to contact your medical school, you will need to get a deans letter (MSPE). Also your medical school might help you find opportunities. I am doing research with my medical school, with the same speciality I am applying to.

 

[Winged Scapula]

This tends to be specialty specific. In Internal medicine, we are not supposed to use the ITE for promotion decisions (although with the new milestones, that may have changed). In surgery, this apparently "happens all the time" -- a poor ABSITE score = end of training. Most programs would give someone another chance, take it the next year, if that was the only problem.

I agree with the person above. It suggests that your bf had other problems. Then, when he has a bad ITE exam, that's an easy thing to point to.

Agreed.

While it is not unheard of to be fired from a surgical residency for a poor ITE showing, even the most malignant program wouldn't do that after a single exam unless there were significant other issues.

 

[SKP0223]

Thanks all for the comments, MadHospsMD - thanks addressing my questions - totally appreciate it!

 

[grayscaleart]

somewhat similar situation, sans any academic problems. decided to change specialties due to personal reasons. i have not yet submitted my application. i current do not have any LOR uploaded but have attendings agree to write them. is it worth submitting the application now that it's incomplete just to get my application out there? or should i wait until all the components are uploaded which may not happen until late next week?

😕

sorry to ask, probably been discussed ad nauseum but i can't find the relevant threads

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Probably doesn't matter much either way, as programs are unlikely to look at your application until it's complete. Submitting now would start the USMLE processing process. Faculty telling you they are willing to write letters and getting those letters written and uploaded are two different things -- were you clear with them about the time pressures / deadlines? Also, you should have a letter from your PD if at all possible (and positive)

 

[Iamnotme]

Probably doesn't matter much either way, as programs are unlikely to look at your application until it's complete. Submitting now would start the USMLE processing process. Faculty telling you they are willing to write letters and getting those letters written and uploaded are two different things -- were you clear with them about the time pressures / deadlines? Also, you should have a letter from your PD if at all possible (and positive)

I think you should really consider starting some sort of help line/service for students, your advice is generally spot on I would say 99% of the time.