Specialty has no Residency Dept at my School

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If the medical school I will attend does not have a residency program but does have a regular department for a speciality I am interested in, does that signify that the program itself is weaker or anything like that?

Will it hurt my chances when I apply for residency spots in terms of getting letters of recommendation?

 

[doc05]

yes, it will hurt your chances. don't worry about it though, you'll probably change your mind anyway.

 

[NinerNiner999]

No - it WON'T hurt your chances. You will have to do an away rotation in that specialty, and you should do it at a large institution well known for the field you wish to enter. Do well in school, do research in the field, and show interest. You'll be fine.

 

[Jeff698]

I don't have an EM program at my home school, yet I matched EM without any trouble. I think it makes it more difficult in that you have to go out of your way to learn about the specialty and find LOR writers, etc, but I don't think it hurts your chances.

Overall, it may make it less likely that you'll pick that specialty to begin with because of decreased exposure but if you know that's what you want (and are willing to work for it) you won't be hurt.

Take care,
Jeff

 

[ORS]

Do not worry...
My school has no Ortho program and we matched about ten people in ortho, no Optho program and we matched several in optho, no urology program, no OB/GYN program, no neurosurgery program......We matched numerous peolple in each.
Just do away rotations and you will be fine

 

[doc05]

No - it WON'T hurt your chances. You will have to do an away rotation in that specialty, and you should do it at a large institution well known for the field you wish to enter. Do well in school, do research in the field, and show interest. You'll be fine.

actually, it can hurt your chances, depending on the field.

for EM, it's not a problem. there are plenty of spots to go around.

for certain other specialties (derm, plastics, ENT, rad-onc), if your school doesn't have a program, you WILL be at a disadvantage.

 

[njbmd]

If the medical school I will attend does not have a residency program but does have a regular department for a speciality I am interested in, does that signify that the program itself is weaker or anything like that?

Will it hurt my chances when I apply for residency spots in terms of getting letters of recommendation?

Hi there,
Not having a residency at your school will not really hurt your chances if you work around this fact. You can do audition rotations at top programs and do very well. You need to do these early in your fourth year and get good letters of recommendation. You can also get letters from attendings in the department and the department chairman at your school.

For example, if you school does not have an anesthesia residency but has an anesthesia department, you still need to have a strong letter from the chairman of anesthesia. You should also have strong letters from audition rotations in anesthesia from other schools too. You have the potential to get a couple of letters from attendings at an away rotation done in August or September that can help your cause.

You have to hustle more but you can get what you need. You should also look for a mentor at one of the clinical affiliates for your school if you can't find one at your school.

Good luck
njbmd 🙂

 

[LADoc00]

Do not worry...
My school has no Ortho program and we matched about ten people in ortho, no Optho program and we matched several in optho, no urology program, no OB/GYN program, no neurosurgery program......We matched numerous peolple in each.
Just do away rotations and you will be fine

HUH? What kinda of med school is this exactly? Having no PMR is one thing but all that other stuff is bread and butter dude.

/shakes head

 

[doc05]

HUH? What kinda of med school is this exactly? Having no PMR is one thing but all that other stuff is bread and butter dude.

/shakes head

I'd have to agree on that point. What kind of school has no ortho program? Or obgyn?? -- it's a core specialty, after all!

 

[LADoc00]

I'd have to agree on that point. What kind of school has no ortho program? Or obgyn?? -- it's a core specialty, after all!

Has to be an off shore med school. Has to. Seriously, what the hell would you do for your clinical years? 20 months of family med?

Hahahahaha