Switching from surg?

[pamplona2009]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey I know this question has been asked before but Im not sure what the current answers would be...the only thread I found in the search were from 2007...so here goes.

US citizen IMG here from caribbean school, have very high board scores, and did a rotation in ER with a LOR that i used during my application season, but applied for general surgery. Am currently in a prelim year at a top 5 program but have decided that gen surg is not for me and since i had a good experience with ER in my 4th year, am wondering about switching into it. I have trauma coming up in october and an EM elective in Nov, not sure if thats too late to garner LORs in addition to the one I have. I also can probably get a letter out of some attendings that I am working with now.

Just wanted opinions on my chances, and what should I be doing if I would like to get a spot in EM. Any thoughts, input, opinions welcome. Thanks in advance, i appreciate your time.

 

[pamplona2009]

um seriously?
BUMP

 

[FoughtFyr]

um seriously?
BUMP

I think your question has a few "issues" that have prevented people from responding. An IMG in a "top 5" surgery program certainly sounds impressive, but if you truly have overcome the odds to land a prime GS spot as an IMG, then one has to question the reasons behind your switch. I would think to land a Hopkins, Mayo, Harvard, Yale or other prestigious spot as an IMG, one would have to demonstrate not only a fair amount of acumen for the field but also demonstrate dedication to the surgical art. So why leave now?

Second, EM is actually quite selective these days. Far more so than GS. The heavy, "top 5" surgical programs are not likely to take one of their prize pupils wanting to leave very well, and given both the selectivity of EM and its bias towards those who shown dedication to its practice, what you are suggesting is risky. What happens if you announce your intention to leave but don't find a spot in EM?

As for your chances - use the search and stickies. That is a common question around here. That said, as discussed above, I see a few quick concerns for your application...

- H

 

[tkim]

applied for general surgery. Am currently in a prelim year at a top 5 program

Applied for GS but only got a prelim. If I'm misreading this I apologize, but it sounds as if you tried to get a categorical but only got a prelim surg year. Or scrambled. I mean, it would sound more plausible if you matched categorical surgery and now after a year decided you want EM. But that's not what it sounds like.

In any event, apply broadly and hopefully something might shake out. Good luck.

 

[deleted65604]

Apply to 50 programs and emphasize trying to make personal connections with residents and attendings on the interview trail. If you come across personable, then someone out there might want to give you a spot on the list. If you do land on a few lists, you will be near the bottom, just because of your foreign medical school background. You are going to need luck, augmented with lots of interviews and great people-skills, topped off with a couple of programs mis-gauging their own desirability.

 

[gman33]

If there is an EM program where you are now, try to make some contacts. The value of connections should not be ignored.

 

[pamplona2009]

thanks for the responses...truth be told I didnt match into EM the first time around as I didnt get advice in time to get letters in the SLOR format (not to mention finding places with residency programs attached is hard as a caribbean student) and applied to a top program in the hopes of doing well my prelim year and hopefuly looking good for my reapplication. My program has a very good record of placing their prelims where they want to be and there was even a journal article written about it so I went with that with the hopes I could apply again. I know, confusing and annoying but thats part of the IMG parcel and im willing to work hard to overcome it.

With that said, looks like I should start making phone calls and seeing who can help me. Any other ideas?

 

[tkim]

thanks for the responses...truth be told I didnt match into EM the first time around as I didnt get advice in time to get letters in the SLOR format (not to mention finding places with residency programs attached is hard as a caribbean student) and applied to a top program in the hopes of doing well my prelim year and hopefuly looking good for my reapplication. My program has a very good record of placing their prelims where they want to be and there was even a journal article written about it so I went with that with the hopes I could apply again. I know, confusing and annoying but thats part of the IMG parcel and im willing to work hard to overcome it.

With that said, looks like I should start making phone calls and seeing who can help me. Any other ideas?

Okay, so your thread title is rather misleading then. You didn't decide to switch to EM, you didn't match into EM and went for a prelim surg spot. Just get those SLORs, and apply broadly.

 

[darkmansaad]

I assumed that was something a 4th year student did?

 

[tkim]

well how would I get a slor if im stuck doing surgery rotations all year in my intern year 🙂

I assumed that was something a 4th year student did?

Are you posting from another account? You both kind of sound the same - except from this other account you only talk about matching gas. Listen, gas and EM are about equal in competitiveness, so if you really want gas, then you should go for it.

 

[darkmansaad]

huh? nah im just posing a rhetorical question, seems like the OP is at a conundrum. I wish him the best of luck.

 

[tkim]

huh? nah im just posing a rhetorical question, seems like the OP is at a conundrum. I wish him the best of luck.

uh, okay.

 

[deleted109597]

As a person who actually did a surgical prelim before my EM residency, and went through the match that year, I have a little more authority on this than, oh, everyone else who posted here.
1. If you have a SLOR from 4th year, use it. Most of my SLORs were from medical school as well.
2. Use an elective month to do ED as a doctor if you have the opportunity. A little late in the game to ask, but you can try.
3. Interviews were difficult. I frequently left post call at noon, drove to the airport, flew to some city, sleeping on the plane. Would go to the dinner if they had one and I got there early enough. Crash at the hotel. Interview next day, then fly home. Usually I was on call the next day. I managed 10 interviews, and only drove to 3 of them as geographically I was limited.
4. Your PD is your biggest asset here. They see you perform as a doctor, not how someone thinks you will perform as a doctor. Get them on your side. They can make phone calls for you as well.
5. Above all, you still have to work hard at your current residency position, because if you mail it in, they can bite you with phone calls as well.