In need of advice. I recently early matched into a competitive specialty but am concerned that I made a mistake. I am considering my options, which at this point may be few. I plan to start my internship in categorical general surgery and look for anesthesia PGY2 postitions along the way. I also plan to rematch next year as I am certainly willing to lose my first year and do a second intern year if I feel this will make me happy. Any other options at this point? Could I possibly switch into anesthesia after the NRMP match this year if I contact the programs that I am interested in? Also, how strict are the PGY1 requirements for anesthesia as far as having my surgery year count toward my board certification? Appreciate any input.
switching into anesthesia
- Thread starter BJtide
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your post would be better served in the anesthesiology forum. great people over there with good attending input.
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Moving the the Gas Forum....
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I can't really tell you the logistics of "matching again" this year after the NRMP match - I think you may be under contract for next year with the place you already matched to.
HOWEVER, I do know that tons of people eventually see the light and switch into anesthesia. Lots of programs hold positions outside of the match for PGY2s from other specialties. My school (and hopefully my future program...) matches 8 in the match, and saves 4 for outside the match - those positions usually go to surgery residents (or whatever. Last year there was a urology and a g-surg who switched in I think) or practicing physicians (we have like 4 residents who have actually already been critical care attendings, now they want to be anesthesiologists)
If you think you will be unhappy in the specialty you chose, it is never to late to switch. you may be stuck at the program you matched into for next year, but it will not be impossible to switch to anesthesia.
best of luck!!!
HOWEVER, I do know that tons of people eventually see the light and switch into anesthesia. Lots of programs hold positions outside of the match for PGY2s from other specialties. My school (and hopefully my future program...) matches 8 in the match, and saves 4 for outside the match - those positions usually go to surgery residents (or whatever. Last year there was a urology and a g-surg who switched in I think) or practicing physicians (we have like 4 residents who have actually already been critical care attendings, now they want to be anesthesiologists)
If you think you will be unhappy in the specialty you chose, it is never to late to switch. you may be stuck at the program you matched into for next year, but it will not be impossible to switch to anesthesia.
best of luck!!!
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If you had scores good enough to get into an early match specialty, you should have no trouble getting into a good anesthesiology program at a pgy-2 level.
Sorry, i meant going through the match process again next year. My plan is to get some letters of rec from my home anesthesia program since I obviously won't be able to get outside letters and hope that its enough.
Will most of my general surgery year which consists of 6 months of my matched specialty and 6 months of general surgery count toward the PGY1 year?
Will most of my general surgery year which consists of 6 months of my matched specialty and 6 months of general surgery count toward the PGY1 year?
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1. Search the forums on how to switch. Lots and lots of posts there.
2. Meet with the anesthesia PD at your home school to discuss this.
3. Since you will be applying as a PGY-1, you can go outside the match.
4. Reapply through the match, and at the same time, send a CV and cover letter to every program you could possibly want to go to.
5. Rember that the match is currently filling PGY-2 spots to start in 2009, so if you go through the match, instead of outside, you couldn't start until 2010, unless the program offered you an early start.
6. Consider scrambling and telling your categorical program that you'll only be there a year. Contracts are only year by year anyway.
7. See #1.
2. Meet with the anesthesia PD at your home school to discuss this.
3. Since you will be applying as a PGY-1, you can go outside the match.
4. Reapply through the match, and at the same time, send a CV and cover letter to every program you could possibly want to go to.
5. Rember that the match is currently filling PGY-2 spots to start in 2009, so if you go through the match, instead of outside, you couldn't start until 2010, unless the program offered you an early start.
6. Consider scrambling and telling your categorical program that you'll only be there a year. Contracts are only year by year anyway.
7. See #1.
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pretty sure your pgy1 year should count, since lots of people switch after a year of surgery or whatever (not sure what your specialty is though)
I think in anesthesia for your cby you need 1 mo of ER, and I think 2 mo of CC (you should double check, I'm pulling this from memory), and a certain number of months of inpatient "medicine" (pretty sure surgery counts). I know some programs split cby and ca1 years though (like 6 mo intern year, 6 mo anesthesia, then 6 mo intern stuff again, 6 mo anesthesia, or along those lines), so I think if you "missed" some requirement in your pgy1 year you could make it up during ca1
hope this helps
I think in anesthesia for your cby you need 1 mo of ER, and I think 2 mo of CC (you should double check, I'm pulling this from memory), and a certain number of months of inpatient "medicine" (pretty sure surgery counts). I know some programs split cby and ca1 years though (like 6 mo intern year, 6 mo anesthesia, then 6 mo intern stuff again, 6 mo anesthesia, or along those lines), so I think if you "missed" some requirement in your pgy1 year you could make it up during ca1
hope this helps
