residents who transferred from another program... how are they treated?

[December10th]

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I am contemplating transferring residency programs for family reasons. My mentor (at different university program) cautioned about being treated poorly because you're new but not an intern, and need to be taught things. Basically she said people might try to screw with me because I'd be new. If I get accepted to the new program, I would transfer in at the end of 2nd year.

Just wondering if anyone had a co-resident transfer in - how long was the adjustment process for them (from your perspective) and how were they treated?

Welcomed with open arms because they're at least a warm body to do work? or dumped on?

 

[deleted480308]

Are you a high performer? Avg? Struggling? Will you have a flawless recommendation?

Any interpersonal problems with staff/co-residents/etc?

That stuff will change the reaction they have to you

 

[jurassicpark]

It all depends. You will not be "dumped" on then is legal for you to carry. It truly depends on the program, the attendings and the residents there at any given time. As sb247 mentioned, it will also depend on how you are as a resident.

I had two residents I know transfer in at various points (one same class, one above) and loved them to death.

I knew of one resident that came in supposedly from a good program. Didn't trust him with a mop.

 

[J ROD]

I think a lot depends on your ability psychiatric wise and being able to adapt along with work ethnic. We had one come in at beginning of 3rd year. She lacked some of those qualities. It went okay.

 

[deleted941485]

This happened to one of my intern friends. His program closed after his first year. Felt like the unwanted step child at his new program.

 

[AMEHigh]

In my program we had 2 transfers. Everything was fine and we welcomed them with open arms. But I'm in a specialty where I think most people are considered nice, so maybe it's different in other specialities.

 

[alina_s]

I transferred within the same specialty after intern year. It was hard getting used to a new system and it was a more demanding program but I don’t think I was dumped on or hazed in any way. I didn’t feel like anyone had less trust in me.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

There was one transfer within my surgery program during my time, and I know the person is well-liked and didn't seem to have many issues adjusting. No one screwed with the person, or treated them any different. No one cared that the person had to be taught the "mechanics" of how things work at a new hospital. The main concern was 1) What were their technical skills like? 2) Is their judgement sound? There were no issues in either case, so the person did fine. Though I suspect that first year or so was pretty stressful for them.

 

[Jolie South]

I transferred after intern year to complete my gen surg residency at a different program. I came in behind on skills bc I did no cases my intern year in a program that treated me like a worthless peon. Other than that, people were nice to me and I did not feel like I was treated any differently than other residents.

Faculty are happy I am back as an attending in a subspecialty.

We had a number of transfers in other than me. All were treated based on their performance. If you worked hard, people treated you well.

 

[alina_s]

I talked to my program director before anyone else and did it fairly early. I was worried about how he might react but he was supportive. When someone left the program I went to, the program director there was also supportive. The timing might vary depending in specialty; in mine (psychiatry), the ACGME requirements can be met in 3 years if you skip electives in 4th year, and some programs have designated spots for PGY-2's to enter. I think earlier was better for me.
I matched at my 3rd choice program and felt like I gave it a good try, but the program director I'd interviewed with had left, the didactics weren't great, and a year had been set aside to find a new program director and there weren't going to be any changes without a permanent director (or maybe in that person's first year). Somehow my perspective on residency programs had changed too and my first one seemed a little old school in the level of supervision we had pretty early on in the ED on call. I knew that I wanted to go to a program that I'd interviewed at and reached out to that program director and I think I was pretty direct about my concerns, and also the reasons that I felt her program would be a better fit.
If you don't have a particular place in mind, transferring will probably require lots of cold calls to find a spot that might be open, and if you're lucky, your program director will have some suggestions. If your program isn't taking new interns, they may be on the lookout for places to send you. There wasn't time for a round of interviews like in the match, and even with my first program being nice about vacation at the end of the year, it was a stressful move. I rented an apartment without visiting.

 

[EaglesAllDay]

I went to a different program as a 2nd year after a prelim year in IM. It def takes you a few months to get adjusted to new things like the emr system, how to navigate the hospital etc. It all depends on how your co residents are to be honest. You definitely feel a bit weird at first since all these other people have been together at least a year and you've joined in. Now almost 7 months in feels like I've been there since the beginning, attendings and other residents/staff were very welcoming. Just work hard, keep up with work and I don't think anyone will care after a little while.