Soon to be Unemployed & Scared - Anybody Help!

[90125]

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i'm not sure if anyone has any advice or who i can turn to. im a 2nd yr path resident (i don't want to say where), & im getting thrown out for "lack of progress." i had to scramble to get into this present residency position, and just this March, i tried to scramble again, and now i don't have ANYTHING. ive applied to all kinds of research and path tech positions, but to no avail. i have a spouse and child to provide for, and i have a mortgage hanging over my head (not to mention all the student loans). we're trying to sell the house, but in this economic climate, i don't know if we'll be able to. i was really suffering mentally last calendar year (2008), and i feel like ive been working hard and improving, but the faculty seems to have formed their opinion of me, and they wont change it. One attending told me, "i'm seeing a little improvement in you, but i don't think it will change things much, even over the course of twenty years."
the so-called "resident advocates" here have said there is nothing they can do. meanwhile, in the ob/gyn department at my campus, one resident is repeating an entire year and has the opportunity to take step 3 for a THIRD time, so the dept seems to be accomodating and trying to help her. i just passed step 3 on the FIRST try, and my dept is not wanting to give me a chance. i dont know what to do. i'd be happy to do research, but i don't have any prior experience in it.
i can't believe this is happening to me. i havent committed any crime or cheated on any test. i have spent a great chunk of my LIFE to get to this point, and now, come july, i'll be unemployed. im feeling angry, desperate and hopeless. If anyone out there has any advice on what to do, please let me know.

 

[Converse]

Were you given a fair chance to remediate and improve? If not, perhaps you can talk to the GME to find a solution between you and your program.

 

[DrAwsome]

i'm not sure if anyone has any advice or who i can turn to. im a 2nd yr path resident (i don't want to say where), & im getting thrown out for "lack of progress." i had to scramble to get into this present residency position, and just this March, i tried to scramble again, and now i don't have ANYTHING. ive applied to all kinds of research and path tech positions, but to no avail. i have a spouse and child to provide for, and i have a mortgage hanging over my head (not to mention all the student loans). we're trying to sell the house, but in this economic climate, i don't know if we'll be able to. i was really suffering mentally last calendar year (2008), and i feel like ive been working hard and improving, but the faculty seems to have formed their opinion of me, and they wont change it. One attending told me, "i'm seeing a little improvement in you, but i don't think it will change things much, even over the course of twenty years."
the so-called "resident advocates" here have said there is nothing they can do. meanwhile, in the ob/gyn department at my campus, one resident is repeating an entire year and has the opportunity to take step 3 for a THIRD time, so the dept seems to be accomodating and trying to help her. i just passed step 3 on the FIRST try, and my dept is not wanting to give me a chance. i dont know what to do. i'd be happy to do research, but i don't have any prior experience in it.
i can't believe this is happening to me. i havent committed any crime or cheated on any test. i have spent a great chunk of my LIFE to get to this point, and now, come july, i'll be unemployed. im feeling angry, desperate and hopeless. If anyone out there has any advice on what to do, please let me know.

Did you try applying through the regular match? There were a ton of positions up for the scramble in pathology, and even until recently there were some. Have you tried residentswap? They also have some positions. Have you tried going into a different specialty?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

First, it's not clear from your post whether or not you agree with your faculty assessment. I presume you've been at the same program for both years, and from their statements it sounds like despite you being a PGY-2, you might still be functioning like a PGY-1. Perhaps this could be due to some of the personal issues you mention, but regardless it remains your responsibility to improve your performance.

There is no point in comparing what is happening to you with anyone else. Their situation may be completely different.

It would be important to talk with your PD to determine the following:

1. Would you perhaps do better in another path program? Perhaps your personal problems simply got in the way of you focusing yourself. Sometimes if you fall behind enough, there just isn't a way to catch up. Sometimes a new start is what you need. if so, your PD should feel comfortable talking to other PD's and supporting your move.

2. If not #1, then perhaps path does not play to your strengths. if so, than what are your strengths? What field might you do better in?

3. Have you considered a medical evaluation? Perhaps there is a medical, or undiagnosed psychiatric condition that is impairing your abilities. Although it may terrify you to find this out, perhaps treating it would make you perform at a higher level. If not done previously, I highly recommend you consider getting your own evaluation if possible. If your program has an Occ Med dept, that's the way to go. If you go on your own the physician/pt privilege attaches, and your doc should not speak to your PD without your permission.

 

[bigDinLV]

If you have your internship done, can you get a license and "moonlight" to pay the bills for now until you find another program??

 

[dragonfly99]

disagree with the above comment
Even if he had a license, I don't think the OP is going to be able to find moonlighting work with 2 years of a path residency, and he can't do primary care b/c he's not qualified and nobody will hire him.

ADP's advice is good.

I think now is the time to have a heart to heart with the program director, even if you don't like him/her and/or are feeling hurt. If you still want to do pathology, then see if he/she will support you in tranferring to another program, at whatever level (? to start PGY2 over again). Otherwise, you might need to switch specialties. Is there anything else you'd consider doing? Family practice, occupational medicine, preventive medicine, physical medicine/rehab? I do think you should get a medical evaluation...make sure you aren't depressed, etc. If you are, it would be totally understandable at this low point in your career.

It is good that you passed all the steps, b/c that could help in finding a new position.

I would think that you could find a research position, even if you don't have much experience. That might be something to work on via networking with your current PD and/or other faculty...even if it isn't a great job, any job you could get would be a good stopgap measure and at least keep you from being stressed about not having a job. If your spouse does not work, now might be a good time for spouse to start, at least temporarily.

I think you just need to realistically assess what is going on here...why did you get fired, and whether you are well suited for pathology, and honestly whether your PD is going to black ball any further attempts by you to get a different residency. If he/she is going to say bad things about you, it's going to be hard to get ANY residency and you might be better served to try to go out into the business world, or some other field (not medicine).

 

[tetris]

Were you given a fair chance to remediate and improve? If not, perhaps you can talk to the GME to find a solution between you and your program.

Agreed. Letting a resident go is a very drastic move and should only be used as a last resort, after repeated efforts to remedy the problem have failed.

Are they really justified in doing this to you?

The fact that you scrambled in makes no difference, since you signed on and are part of the team.

 

[ResDame]

Does your institution have a grievance policy? If they do, then have you gone through that process?

Has your PD given you an official letter stating that they will not be renewing your contract for next year?