Residency Program Disclosure of Academic Status

[concrete elmo]

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Hello, I am a current resident in a FM program. I just completed my second year in the program, however I am still in PGY-2 status, because I was not promoted to PGY-2 until November of my 2nd year in the program (I'll technically be a PGY2 until this upcoming November). I am continuing to have academic issues, and am currently on academic probation. I have been meeting with my Program Director recently to discuss the outlook for me in the program.

My question is, does my program have the right to disclose my academic status to the entire program? Each year they release a photo-roster of everyone in our program (i.e. attendings, residents, mid-levels); it's basically a poster that has all of our photos on it. They just released the one for the 2017-2018 academic year, and they have placed my picture in the current PGY2 line-up. This poster gets distributed all throughout our office, our hospitals, and in community preceptor offices. It is unfortunate, because I have been trying to keep my academic situation private; however now, people who may not have known that I was having difficulties, NOW KNOW that I am having difficulties, and that I was not promoted. This has made things very unpleasant and awkward for me, because I have to face everyone now (and people HAVE been treating me differently, since seeing this poster).

Last year, during my PGY2 year, there was a resident in the class above me who was also in a similar situation (she was in her 3rd year in the program, but was not promoted due to being on probation, thus she was still a PGY2). However, on the photo-roster, they put her picture in the PGY3 line-up, with the rest of her classmates.

I always thought that programs were not supposed to divulge residents' academic status, and were to keep this private. Have they violated my educational rights, by identifying me as a "repeat PGY2"?

Any input would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[TraumaLlamaMD]

There's no right to privacy regarding your academic year. People would have realized regardless when you didn't graduate with the rest of your class.

 

[concrete elmo]

There's no right to privacy regarding your academic year. People would have realized regardless when you didn't graduate with the rest of your class.

I understand, but still, directly putting it out there that I am still a PGY2 resident, makes OTHER people aware of the situation (who wouldn't have normally been aware) such as the new interns, administrative staff in the office, and community preceptors in community offices we rotate at.

 

[Light at end of tunnel]

Programs can pretty much do anything they want.

Your privacy is very low on their priority list.

 

[Crayola227]

any personal family stuff happen at all?

I would just say "I had some home life issues come up and I had to make up time"

99% of the time this is a 90% true statement if we're talking generalities

I think that's good enough when discussing your personal business with anyone whose business it really isn't

 

[ddjamb]

I feel sorry for your situation. It must be difficult to deal with as no one wants to be the black sheep. Well you are not. I am not answering your question, but if I were you I will worry more about how not to be kicked out, and how to improve my academics than sweating about colleagues knowing that I was not promoted...
I am sure that nobody will ask you what happened...I want to believe that as medical residents people have better things to do than figuring out who got promoted and who was not. But if they ask, I will just reply what I learned from uworld: It will be inappropriate for me to discuss that with you. so go to hell.

get over it and focus on finishing your training. Tomorrow will be a sunny day.

 

[mvenus929]

They cannot disclose that you are on probation or the terms of your probation. But I don't think releasing a poster roster with you listed as a PGY2 technically violates anything.

You can certainly discuss your concerns with your program leadership (the awkwardness between you and your coresidents, etc) because of this, and inquire as to why you were listed as a PGY2 when you will be a PGY 3 for the bulk of the year, but other than that, I don't think you have any recourse at present.

 

[backrow]

When they published the picture were you a PGY2 or a PGY3? Looks to me like they would have been lying to put you in the PGY3 group.

When you get promoted ask them to make a new one and send it out. Your actual level of training is important for everyone to know, from the lowest nurse/tech/etc to the most senior of staff because it is directly related to what you are allowed to do with what level of supervision.

It is very possible that a PGY3 is allowed indirect supervision for say a delivery, but a PGY2 must be directly supervised. If they incorrectly put your level out to folks they may be directly putting patients at increased levels of risk.


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[FlowLimited]

I understand that you're embarrassed and that this is a public hit to your ego, but you need to get past that. Nobody outside your program is studying these posters to see who was or wasn't promoted. Swallow your pride and focus your energy on getting off academic probation.

 

[AdmiralChz]

I understand that you're embarrassed and that this is a public hit to your ego, but you need to get past that. Nobody outside your program is studying these posters to see who was or wasn't promoted. Swallow your pride and focus your energy on getting off academic probation.

Totally agree, while you are clearly looking at that composite often I trust you others aren't. Focus on getting back on track or, unfortunately, you won't be on that composite in the not-so-distant future.

If people DO notice they will think some of the following, probably in descending order of likelihood: Misprint/Mistake, time off for family reasons (usually children), time off for sickness and finally academic trouble.

 

[Crayola227]

to everyone saying it doesn't matter, they really have no idea

it depends on the size of the program and the type of institution you have, how well noticed this is

something like a "doctor in trouble" makes for just the sort of water cooler chatter everyone loves to chin wag on about in the work room
they could also be totally clueless, point is, no one here can say, if the OP thinks that they're getting attitude over it, it's just as likely they are

OP absolutely could be getting all types of blowback from everyone from pharm to PT to nutrition
that does impact your job, and anything that affects your job, well, affects your job

the reality is that you can't do anything about it, I wouldn't just tell people to screw off either, surviving things like probation absolutely partly depends on how well liked you are
anyone that thinks personality and politics don't matter here doesn't know what they're talking about

step very lightly in how you address this with your program, @backrow makes one of the very few good points here that you can gently bring up with your program that is totally logical and not whiny, still, caution

 

[J ROD]

It sucks but what you gonna do. They basically own us as residents. We do talk about the residents that have been set back. Is it a big deal....yes and no. Everyone talks.....just get thicker skin and get through this BS known as residency and move on. Fin......

 

[Ray D. Ayshun]

Perhaps people are treating the op "differently" because of the actions/decisions that caused him or her to not be promoted.

 

[Keona]

It sucks that it's obvious what year you are but it changes supervision and how closely you're monitored based on the Pgy year. If the person previously was on probation but had met all requirements and passed all the pgy2 rotations maybe that's why they moved her on the poster. I think it makes sense to put a pgy2 on the pgy2 spot but know it's got to give you an awful feeling each time you see the poster

 

[rokshana]

I understand, but still, directly putting it out there that I am still a PGY2 resident, makes OTHER people aware of the situation (who wouldn't have normally been aware) such as the new interns, administrative staff in the office, and community preceptors in community offices we rotate at.

Uh when you sign your notes what pgy are you going to write? Or if someone asks what year you are what are you gonna say?
Your pgy year is not a secret, nor should it be... the fact that you are embarrassed that you did not get promoted is the issue and it's your issue...

 

[deleted480308]

Your professional progression is not a secret. Your pgy status says something about your level of experience and responsibility that other employees have a reasonable desire to know.

It stings but it is what it is