Switching from GS to EM as pgy2

[Kuba]

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After much consideration, I've decided to make the switch from surgery to EM. I have not yet told my PD but have gotten a token from med school for eras. I will tell my PD once I have a clearer plan.

What do I do about a SLOR? I have no EM faculty to vouch for me.

Is it too late in the cycle? I'm guessing no, but it's worrisome.
I'm switching osteo GS and trying to get acme EM, preferably 3 year in NYC area.

Should I look for programs that may take me earlier than the start of next year? Is this possible?

I believe i would have been a strong applicant as a trad applicant but now I'm a little concerned since I haven't planned this as well.

Sorry for the long post. I tried to search but wasn't getting enough answers. Thanks in advance EM community!

 

[NERDY]

Did you do an EM rotation as a med student? Does your med school have EM faculty who can help you?

 

[Kuba]

I did, at community hospital... And no med school EM faculty unfortunately

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

I think it is a little late for this cycle if you have no SLORs even. The people that I know who switched into EM from other things did it at the same program.

 

[FSU2013]

One of my faculty members did this at the end of his pgy3 year. He did it by finding programs that were expanding, but were accredited for the new spots after the application cycle. He didn't start thinking about it until late in the spring and didn't miss a beat. Good luck!

 

[fahimaz7]

You'll be fine man. Don't get discouraged by the gunners on this site that are nervous about you taking their spot at a residency location. Follow your dreams and make it happen. If you were competitive 12 months ago you will be now.

 

[NERDY]

I did, at community hospital... And no med school EM faculty unfortunately

Can they write you a SLOR?

 

[EM4Reals]

Can they write you a SLOR?

a SLOR has to be written by an attending at a residency program with rotating medical students

 

[fahimaz7]

a SLOR has to be written by an attending at a residency program with rotating medical students

The doc he rotated with was affiliated with a medical school and most likely holds an Associate Professorship with the program.

 

[Textbookversion]

The doc he rotated with was affiliated with a medical school and most likely holds an Associate Professorship with the program.

This is DO he was probably just some rando community preceptor.

 

[Kuba]

Yes, he may have an assistant professor status, but that is not affiliated with a residency program. More likely just a community preceptor as mentioned. This is the biggest hurdle probably. I guess I may be able to take a week vacation soon if I have my PDs support in order to try to rotate and obtain a slor, but I guess legally would have to be observership?

 

[omgwhtamidng]

a SLOR has to be written by an attending at a residency program with rotating medical students

I just want to clarify this bit of information that I also believed to be true.

I called the CORD office myself to ask this question and was told that it does NOT have to be filled out by an attending at a residency program. Board certified EM attending - yes, but no such requirement regarding presence of a residency program.

Of course a program director would be the ideal person to get a SLOR from, but this is by no means a requirement. As per the question on the SLOR regarding ranking, that is simply left blank.

Hope this helps someone out there.

 

[gman33]

Many people will speculate on if you can get a spot this year.
That info is pretty useless.
If that is what you want, apply today to every program that you would consider attending.

Wanting a 3 year spot in NYC is nice, but that is very limited.

As for the SLOR, ideally you want this done by a PD or student clerkship director.
The whole point of it is to compare you in relation to other students from the same site.
Someone else may be able to fill it out. Doesn't mean anyone will take it seriously.

Good luck. Hope you get a spot somewhere.

 

[FSU2013]

I think the whole SLOR thing is a little overblown on SDN (like most things). I go to a school without a residency and didn't decide to apply to EM until it was too late to do an externship. I had my clerkship director for our EM rotation write me a SLOR (even though by SDN standards that would not constitute a SLOR, lol) and I've gotten a ton of interviews.

 

[FMtoEM]

Switched specialties, no SLOR, 1 letter from new grad EM attending only....had 14+ interviews...matched.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

I just want to clarify this bit of information that I also believed to be true.

I called the CORD office myself to ask this question and was told that it does NOT have to be filled out by an attending at a residency program. Board certified EM attending - yes, but no such requirement regarding presence of a residency program.

Of course a program director would be the ideal person to get a SLOR from, but this is by no means a requirement. As per the question on the SLOR regarding ranking, that is simply left blank.

Hope this helps someone out there.

This is from the CORD website: The SLOR was developed by CORD to provide a global perspective on an applicant's candidacy for resident training. ONLY Emergency Medicine Faculty may complete a SLOR. Unfortunately this continues to be a controversy. I have asked PDs who have said they only want to see these filled out be an academic program. I have medical students (many of them) but do not have an EM resident. I do not fill out SLORs until I see or hear more convincing evidence that it is appropiate for me to do so...

EM faculty = Residency program. You can be faculty without an EM program, but you will be (typically) be Surgery Faculty and not EM.

For the OP... although a SLOR is HIGHLY encouraged, if you have great step scores and are not a jack*** when you interview, I think many PDs will overlook this. You DO NEED a good 'LOR' from your current program/PD. Also, you said you wanted to stay in NYC; I would try to apply a bit more broad than that if at all possible.

Ideall you want to go on 10 interviews, but that will be VERY tough as a current resident. I would still apply broadly and then pick and choose the programs you interview at very wisely....

Good Luck to you; glad you 'saw the light'!

 

[Kuba]

Talked to the PD today, he was very supportive and promised to help me however he could. I am going to try to get a SLOR through multiple sources. I did an EM rotation PGY1 and I think some of the EM staff may hold faculty appointments elsewhere. Thank you all for your input. Working on the ERAS tonight. I think I may submit it tonight also as a bare bone ERAS (no PS, letters, etc.) I have a copy of my original ERAS when I applied for surgery.

 

[Lanolin]

Talked to the PD today, he was very supportive and promised to help me however he could. I am going to try to get a SLOR through multiple sources. I did an EM rotation PGY1 and I think some of the EM staff may hold faculty appointments elsewhere. Thank you all for your input. Working on the ERAS tonight. I think I may submit it tonight also as a bare bone ERAS (no PS, letters, etc.) I have a copy of my original ERAS when I applied for surgery.

Does your current program not have an EM residency? We have 2-3 EM residents who had a former life (IM/FM)....

 

[Kuba]

Does your current program not have an EM residency? We have 2-3 EM residents who had a former life (IM/FM)....

Unfortunately, no..

 

[appleofyouri]

Hi there, So I'm a PGY-3 surgery resident who decided this fall to switch to EM also, so I have some insight on what you're dealing with.

For one, there are a few spots open in the country if you don't have geographical restrictions. More might open up through the year. By far the easiest option if your program doesn't have an EM residency.

It seems like an uphill battle getting a new spot in the match rather than alternate routes, so I would echo other posters comments that you should try to find a program that was allocated an extra spot for next year. Even after talking to my program director, I couldn't figure out what those spots were, but maybe you can through word of mouth.

I basically discussed my situation at great length with two EM program directors and it has been wonderful having some guidance in real time. I reached out to friends in EM programs and they helped connect me with their PD. I was able to change my schedule last month to get a rotation that provided a SLOR, and I do think its important to have you application be complete to be competitive in the match. (I still don't feel particularly competitive as there are a ton of applicants this year)

My point though is that it is not too late, but you are certainly pushing it. I would recommend discussing your feelings with your PD, because he/she can certainly advocate for you if they choose to, and a letter from a leader in your program is necessary. Switching programs brings up all sorts of red flags, even if you are a lovely hardworking person who just isn't interested in surgery any more, so you need people to be on your side.

Best of luck!