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I'm an IM PGY2 (soon to be 3). Some of you may recognize me from my participation on this forum, because I find it more interesting than the IM forum. In any case, for a variety of reasons I am strongly considering applying in the upcoming match for a second residency in Emergency Medicine. I love internal medicine, and fully plan on becoming board certified, but I think to do the things I really love most, I need to branch out and train in EM as well.
I recognize that second residencies are actually harder to get than a first residency due to funding issues. But, I think I should make my best effort at obtaining one and see what happens. (The reason I say I'm strongly considering, and not definitely planning to do this, are that I have to make sure financially my family will be OK with me earning a resident's salary for another three years. I think the answer is yes, but I obviously have to confirm everything.)
My question, that I hope some people on this forum can help me with, is what I should do in the upcoming months to maximize my chances. (I could also wait one year and apply then, which would leave me practicing IM as an attending for a year before starting....I think that this might make me an even less attractive candidate since there would be the concern that I'd have trouble adjusting back from attending to trainee role).
What I have in my favor:
Spotless record in my current residency (which I will plan to complete successfully)
Can get a glowing letter from my PD
Good relationship with the ED at my shop, who know me well from rotations with them as an intern and also as a consultant. I have no doubt I can get glowing letters from them.
What I have weighing against me:
Caribbean grad
Poor step one/good step 2/3
Already got a residency
So, I can throw down the 5K or whatever it costs to apply to all the EM programs in the country. I can ask the ER attendings who know me to introduce me to the PDs where they trained. I think if I get interviews I can do a very good job of articulating good reasons why I want to undertake the training and why I'm a good fit for the specialty. I've been told that I'm well spoken and likable in person, and that I interview very well. I have an established track record of competence and good conduct without any red flags (unless you count my status as a Caribbean grad as a red flag, but I think that is mitigated by my ability to function well in a US residency program).
I hate to make this a "what are my chances" thread, but feel free to comment on that if you have an opinion. But anyone with any advice on things I can do to improve my chances would be really kind and helpful if they responded. If anyone knows anyone who has done this, who'd be willing to talk to me about it, I'd be extremely grateful if you could introduce us.
Thanks for any input you guys can give me!
I recognize that second residencies are actually harder to get than a first residency due to funding issues. But, I think I should make my best effort at obtaining one and see what happens. (The reason I say I'm strongly considering, and not definitely planning to do this, are that I have to make sure financially my family will be OK with me earning a resident's salary for another three years. I think the answer is yes, but I obviously have to confirm everything.)
My question, that I hope some people on this forum can help me with, is what I should do in the upcoming months to maximize my chances. (I could also wait one year and apply then, which would leave me practicing IM as an attending for a year before starting....I think that this might make me an even less attractive candidate since there would be the concern that I'd have trouble adjusting back from attending to trainee role).
What I have in my favor:
Spotless record in my current residency (which I will plan to complete successfully)
Can get a glowing letter from my PD
Good relationship with the ED at my shop, who know me well from rotations with them as an intern and also as a consultant. I have no doubt I can get glowing letters from them.
What I have weighing against me:
Caribbean grad
Poor step one/good step 2/3
Already got a residency
So, I can throw down the 5K or whatever it costs to apply to all the EM programs in the country. I can ask the ER attendings who know me to introduce me to the PDs where they trained. I think if I get interviews I can do a very good job of articulating good reasons why I want to undertake the training and why I'm a good fit for the specialty. I've been told that I'm well spoken and likable in person, and that I interview very well. I have an established track record of competence and good conduct without any red flags (unless you count my status as a Caribbean grad as a red flag, but I think that is mitigated by my ability to function well in a US residency program).
I hate to make this a "what are my chances" thread, but feel free to comment on that if you have an opinion. But anyone with any advice on things I can do to improve my chances would be really kind and helpful if they responded. If anyone knows anyone who has done this, who'd be willing to talk to me about it, I'd be extremely grateful if you could introduce us.
Thanks for any input you guys can give me!