So I am completing my intern year in internal medicine but want to transfer in to psychiatry. I have been contemplating the switch for a few months now but wanted to give IM a chance as I wasnt sure it was IM itself or just intern year. Lots of people have said that it is normal to be unhappy during intern year and I have really given it thought and come to the conclusion that IM is just not a good fit for me. I am going to complete my intern year where I am so as to have completed an intern year and also so that my current program isnt left shorthanded. But the problem is that becuase I haven't applied for PGY2 spots through ERAS when next July comes around I will be out of my current residency without a new one. It feels so risky to leave one program with no new job lined up but I cant figure out any other way to transfer at this point other than trying to scramble or call programs next July. Anyone ever end up taking a year off to reapply after intern year or is there a better way to go about it? Thanks for the help in advance.
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Stuck taking year off?
Started by BolderNewfy
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Since you'll have completed an IM PGY-1, you'd be able to switch into a psych PGY-2 (perhaps with some modifications, to catch up on what you missed in a psych PGY-1 which includes 6 months of medicine anyway). Hence, you don't need to "match" since a psych PGY-2 spot is not in the match. Best option is to contact psych programs directly and see if they'll have a pGY-2 position available in July.
Also, you might be able to work out a situation where you resign your IM spot in March and start in Psych in March. This would allow you to do at least 3 months of psych PGY1 work. Last, if you have any electives as a pgy-1, you could do psych and that would count towards your ultimate training needs.
Also, you might be able to work out a situation where you resign your IM spot in March and start in Psych in March. This would allow you to do at least 3 months of psych PGY1 work. Last, if you have any electives as a pgy-1, you could do psych and that would count towards your ultimate training needs.
wow . Thank you so much for that reply. You have no idea how much that made my day.
You just started intern year in July? Or you finished already, and have been contemplating a switch for the last few months?
just started in July and have been contemplating the switch for a couple months.
What did you discover in those first 2-3 months that turned you off IM so much?
I just dont find IM as interesting as I thought I would. At least at my program internal medicine is synonymous with geriatrics. Every single patient seems to be the same, CHF, A fib, CKD, blah blah blah. Not interesting and not nearly as intellectual as I thought it would be. Just protocols. At least with Psych there is some amount of abstraction and room for creativity.I dont find memorizing the latest guidelines on HTN control in X or Y interesting or intellectual at all.
If I tried to match into something that required a prelim year in medicine such as PM&R would I apply through the match? And lastly if I am not able to find a PGY2 spot and I end up taking a year off, does my chance at matching the next year diminish greatly? Thanks again everybody for the help!
If I tried to match into something that required a prelim year in medicine such as PM&R would I apply through the match? And lastly if I am not able to find a PGY2 spot and I end up taking a year off, does my chance at matching the next year diminish greatly? Thanks again everybody for the help!
