residency to pain

[medicineman1]

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Would it make any sense to switch out on anesthesia to Physiatry (out of interest/ and not liking the OR as much as anticipated) if one knew he/she was going to pursue an interventional pain career? Or just go with the flow as gas may be a slight advantage to achieving the fellowship anyway? Are there any July 2007 positions open?

 

[jsaul]

as a great warrior once said---

you must do what you feel is right

 

[DOctorJay]

either way Pain is going to be competitive. would you be happier as an anesthesiologist or as a physiastrist, if you couldn't get into Pain? i think that is the real question you need to ask yourself.

 

[daphilster78]

Hey, I had to respond to this since back as an MS3/4, I struggled between choosing anesthesiology and pm&r briefly, but chose pm&r because i really saw it as something I could be passionate about vs anesthesiology was more just interesting and very pathophysiology oriented, but i didn't like the OR setting. I too want to pursue pain.

You definitely have to do what you see yourself liking the most. Keep in mind that PM&R residency is a diverse training period where you will do work with SCI, TBI, CVA, burns, amputee, sports, in addition to pain. It will definitely feel a lot like inpatient medicine on some wards where the patients aren't even good rehab candidates and are basically like a step down ICU. So you have to work in these diverse settings, and can't streamline it to do only pain related work. But if you like it, go with it. 😀

 

[drusso]

I knew someone who switched from Anesthesiology to PM&R. She didn't have any regrets. I imagine it's all about your personal situation. You'll need to do a transitional year either way. Maybe doing a CA-2 year before you switch will help you nail down some fundamental anesthesia skills though it will prolong your residency one extra year.

 

[medicineman1]

Thanks for the replies. If I were to switch, it looks as if I'd be two years out. Doesnt appear that any programs hold PGY2 positions outside the match, or even to match the year of, so looking at 2008? thats the bummer. any other thoughts?