So I made the wrong choice of specialties....

[PunkRockDoc]

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Hi everyone. I don't think I've posted in this forum before, but I've read it a lot. So, my whole purpose of going to medical school was to get into forensic pathology. To make a long confusing story short, I ended up in a family medicine residency this year after applying to both path and family and withdrawing my path application. I made the wrong choice, however, and I want to switch. I was looking for any advice on how to go about switching, and whether or not people think i may have hurt my chances for path by not going into it last year. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...

 

[yaah]

There have been lots of similar threads on this in the past - it is a common thing to do, and many program directors are receptive. When you are switching fields though, you often have to be a bit more of an advocate and aggressive, so that you convince them you really are serious. Some people I think go through the match but a lot look for spots outside the match. Doesn't hurt to contact program directors at places you are interested in.

 

[ilovepath]

talking to some of the residents at my school i've heard stories of 2 surgeons switching to path...............i'm just curious how many ppl out there made the switch and what were ur personal reasons? i know if i was an fp i would blow my brains out...for me taking path over fp is a nobrainer but i'd like to hear some of these on the fence stories.

 

[kbrown]

There have been lots of similar threads on this in the past - it is a common thing to do, and many program directors are receptive. When you are switching fields though, you often have to be a bit more of an advocate and aggressive, so that you convince them you really are serious. Some people I think go through the match but a lot look for spots outside the match. Doesn't hurt to contact program directors at places you are interested in.

is it necessary for one to have some path experience to get in? my partner is in the same situation right now. HATES what she went into and wants to do path. Actually wanted to do path from the get go, but b/c of the lack of rotation options at our program, backed out at the last minute and settled on medicine. HATES it.

Anyhow, 1. when is a good time to start the process of looking for a spot outside of the match?
2. how does one who is already in a residency working 70hr/wk go about getting experience in the field? is it necessary to take a year off to get experience?
3. as far as letters go, same as above. as an intern, she has no electives, but has planned on spending some off time trying to get experience to get a letter. in reading this forum it sounds like there is not a lot of weekend work in path, but that is the only time she has off. so it's gonna be difficult to get time in the lab to get a letter from path faculty.

suggestions?

 

[deschutes]

is it necessary for one to have some path experience to get in? my partner is in the same situation right now.

Necessary - probably not. But if you want your application to be taken seriously - yes.

The reason for this is that most med students do not get any exposure to the day-to-day workings of a pathology service, which is very different from a med school course. There is also the "yuck" factor, which involves being splattered by your choice of formalinized bodily secretions/excretions as well as having to deal with the occasional whacked-out surgical resection specimen...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=224163

The average applicant will have at least done an observership which involved watching surgical specimens being cut in (and maybe even cutting in a gallbladder/uterus etc. with supervision), the handling of frozen sections, and slides being signed out.

Any time is a good time to start calling around asking about openings. Did she do any path electives back in med school? Programs do want to know if an applicant understands the nature of the work.

I know a surgery resident who switched into our program after one year. But he did his med school here and knew the program director.

The best idea I can think of with my semi-asleep brain is for her to do as much rheumatology as she can and try to spend afternoons when she's not seeing patients either in the gross room or at the sign-out scope with the path residents. Alternatively do a month of nephrology, read her ass off about glomerular diseases, and take the renal path service by storm.

 

[dr. maybe]

I am starting to think seriously about switching to pathology. I am currently an intern in a very clinical, patient-friendly field. I would rant on about how hard it is to smile all day (and night), but no one wants to here about that. I am thinking about going to my PD and trying to do a pathology elective in Februrary (that is the first time I will have where I don't feel overly obligated - part of my frustration).
So, if I decided to switch, would I have to wait to go through the match NEXT YEAR or would I be able to get a spot outside the match for next year?
I would love to hear from people who have had this experience.
Thanks!

 

[yaah]

You might be able to find a spot but I wouldn't count on it...

 

[Vaderize]

I'm currently applying for path from anesthesia and it hasn't been an easy process. My first interview went very well but I don't have very many offers. Hoping to get more interviews but it's not "easy", as some may believe it is.

Start looking right away is the best advice I can give you.

Good luck!