surgical subspecialty to radiology

[AngelaEastcoast]

I am a pgy-1 urology resident at a high tier program, but now want to switch to radiology. Did gen radiology and an interventional radiology elective during med school, top 10 med school, mid of class, HP and Hs on clinical rotations, 230s in step 1, 205/83 on step 2 (taken after match), did a lot of research in med school, talked to program director in radiology at my program, he says it's possible, but hard, since step 2 score is low and will hurt me, so I might need a 3rd option before I apply in case I don't get in. I intend to transfer my pgy1 year. My urology program director is supportive and have a good relationship with them. Anybody have any advice on my situation? Is it really hard to switch? Thanks a lot in advance.

-Kate

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Taurus]

Why do you want to switch out? Urology is supposed to be one of those choice specialties.

 

[f_w]

PGY-1 urology = designated prelim GS

Please don't confuse the degree of inhumane abuse you have to endure at the hands of the higher up surgery residents with the specialty of urology. I know, I am not in your shoes, but before you throw away a urology spot, think long and hard about it. It is such a neat specialty. Nobody except for some crusty old general surgeons is fighting your turf. You are the master plumber, whenever water doesn't flow, you are the man. Lots of people out there who would give their left nut to become a urologist.

Don't get me wrong, I love radiology. But there are a couple of specialties I wouldn't mind trading with. And uro is one of them. Most community urologists have a pretty nice life. You operate at an ASC so you don't have to take ER call, the money is decent if not outrageous and while your patients usually hate to see you, they are still happy if you can help them.

Now, I don't subscribe to the silly game of people on bulletin boards giving others advice on how 'competitive' they are. From my perspective, you might actually be able to improve your competitiveness by staying in uro for another year or two. People with considerable surgical training seem to have it easier to switch into rads than lets say a boarded internist. One angle you can play is to get into one of the 'DIRECT' pathway IR slots. These are essentially for people with 2 years of surgery residency and lead to specific competence in interventional radiology. IR program directors like people with surgical training.

 

[AngelaEastcoast]

urology is pretty cool, but even after I join a private practice group, call is still 1:3 or 1:4, also, residency is 6 years in my program as well as most of the programs out there, finally I feel that women have a more restrictive role in urology, most (99%) of female faculty I met on interviews (my own program as well) are doing either pedi uro or female uro, I don't like to be restricted, I was too idealistic maybe during med school.

 

[f_w]

urology is pretty cool, but even after I join a private practice group, call is still 1:3 or 1:4,

Welcome to the real world. Unless your group has nighthawk coverage, you will still look at call in radiology. And different from uro call, you will spend most of it in the hospital these days (in the real world uro call is nothing like during residency. You just carry the beeper a week at a time. If you get called you just say 'get a CT, give him pain meds and I'll see him in the morning' or 'WHAT, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A FOLEY IN'. ).

also, residency is 6 years in my program as well as most of the programs out there,

So is radiology for most people. The majority of graduating residents do a 1 year fellowship.

finally I feel that women have a more restrictive role in urology,

I can imagine that the frat-house athmosphere in some uro residencies is surpassed only by ortho. Although I haven't experienced the GU residents as the same kind of knuckleheads as the ortho guys.

most (99%) of female faculty I met on interviews (my own program as well) are doing either pedi uro or female uro, I don't like to be restricted, I was too idealistic maybe during med school.

But is that because they have to, or because they want to ? It is my understanding that both of these areas are underserved. Pedi because it doesn't make money, female because guys just don't like looking at sagging uteri all day.

Again, do what you think is right. I can just give you my 5 cents worth of opinion.

 

[AngelaEastcoast]

Hi:

F_W, I really appreciate your advice and I will think hard about it. It's a big decision for sure. Now my question is this: is the switch easy with my creditials? I think I have a high possibility of matching in rad if I haven't already started my residency in uro and haven't taken step 2. I am sure that there are other surgical subspecialty residents who have done the switch before, would you guys share your experience?