Switching specialties OUT OF MATCH specifically

[Mikedini]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey, so I'm a transitional year going into PMR. Originally I was gunning Anesthesia as a med student, even did an audition ... got a LOR and applied for it and had a few interviews. But the next month in 4th year I did a PMR rotation and thought "OMG this is what I should be doing". So I withdrew my application from Anesthesia and applied PMR late in the game and ended up matching.

Anyways, I'm a transitional year now at a program that Is not the same as my PMR program and I did a PMR rotation and a couple related ones (Ortho, Neuro) and I decided I dont want to do this anymore and I really just want to go back to Anesthesia... my first love. I miss it.

My main question is, and is aProgDirector can chime in thatd be appreciated, is if I find out there is an open PGY-2 position to start this year in anesthesia (July 2013) and is not participating in the MATCH or even ERAS would it still be considered a match violation as per the NRMP to contact that program about their opening and applying for it?

Ideally what I'd want to happen is at least have my resume and application out there to the program so that I can get a sense of if they would accept me or not at which point I'd inform my future PMR program immediately.

Thanks

 

[Sheldor]

Hey, so I'm a transitional year going into PMR. Originally I was gunning Anesthesia as a med student, even did an audition ... got a LOR and applied for it and had a few interviews. But the next month in 4th year I did a PMR rotation and thought "OMG this is what I should be doing". So I withdrew my application from Anesthesia and applied PMR late in the game and ended up matching.

Anyways, I'm a transitional year now at a program that Is not the same as my PMR program and I did a PMR rotation and a couple related ones (Ortho, Neuro) and I decided I dont want to do this anymore and I really just want to go back to Anesthesia... my first love. I miss it.

My main question is, and is aProgDirector can chime in thatd be appreciated, is if I find out there is an open PGY-2 position to start this year in anesthesia (July 2013) and is not participating in the MATCH or even ERAS would it still be considered a match violation as per the NRMP to contact that program about their opening and applying for it?

Ideally what I'd want to happen is at least have my resume and application out there to the program so that I can get a sense of if they would accept me or not at which point I'd inform my future PMR program immediately.

Thanks

You've signed a contract with your PMR program and so you are obliged to start that residency and then give notice. I forget how many days you are required to work though. (90?)

In other words, Your best bet would be to apply in this up coming match or apply for the following year outside the match.

 

[Residentcool]

Hey, so I'm a transitional year going into PMR. Originally I was gunning Anesthesia as a med student, even did an audition ... got a LOR and applied for it and had a few interviews. But the next month in 4th year I did a PMR rotation and thought "OMG this is what I should be doing". So I withdrew my application from Anesthesia and applied PMR late in the game and ended up matching.

Anyways, I'm a transitional year now at a program that Is not the same as my PMR program and I did a PMR rotation and a couple related ones (Ortho, Neuro) and I decided I dont want to do this anymore and I really just want to go back to Anesthesia... my first love. I miss it.

My main question is, and is aProgDirector can chime in thatd be appreciated, is if I find out there is an open PGY-2 position to start this year in anesthesia (July 2013) and is not participating in the MATCH or even ERAS would it still be considered a match violation as per the NRMP to contact that program about their opening and applying for it?

Ideally what I'd want to happen is at least have my resume and application out there to the program so that I can get a sense of if they would accept me or not at which point I'd inform my future PMR program immediately.

Thanks

You can't do this. Sorry to tell you, but you can't apply for spots in 2013 through the match and you have to do 45 days of your current contract before you can switch in order to prevent a violation. You also cannot send your application for programs given that technically ALL positions have to go through the match for 2013 and you'll have to wait until the match is over for any positions that are left over and then you can inquire I believe, but you still have to wait 45 days, even if the program is willing to accept you and your program is willing to let you go. Technically, programs cannot have some in and some out of match positions, that is also a violation. (Seems like everything is a violation, not sure who came up with these rules). Although I have seen numerous programs advertise positions for out of match while they still have the match going on so not sure what's happening there.

If you accept a position while you have a position for 2013 you will lose BOTH and be banned from the match. Don't do it. I'd like to switch as well, but I'm waiting until I've completed my 45 days in order to prevent any issues with the match.

 

[Residentcool]

You've signed a contract with your PMR program and so you are obliged to start that residency and then give notice. I forget how many days you are required to work though. (90?)

In other words, Your best bet would be to apply in this up coming match or apply for the following year outside the match.

Sadly there isn't any more "outside the match" unless a position becomes unexpectedly available. I don't know who came up with these rules for advanced positions, I think the don't make sense and should really revert back. I don't think applicants or programs like it.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

All of the above is basically correct.

What you "should" have done is decided this a month ago and submitted a request to the NRMP to waive your match. Had you done so before Jan 15th and had you stated that the reason was that you were no longer interested in PM&R, then they would have granted you a waiver. Then, you'd be free to apply for anything you want.

Now, you are basically stuck starting your PM&R program, and then giving them 90 days notice. Note that you don't need to stay 90 days if they don't want you to -- you have to give them 90 days notice, but they can theoretically release you anytime.

But the above posters are correct, that this keeps you from participating in this year's match and SOAP.

 

[Residentcool]

All of the above is basically correct.

What you "should" have done is decided this a month ago and submitted a request to the NRMP to waive your match. Had you done so before Jan 15th and had you stated that the reason was that you were no longer interested in PM&R, then they would have granted you a waiver. Then, you'd be free to apply for anything you want.

Now, you are basically stuck starting your PM&R program, and then giving them 90 days notice. Note that you don't need to stay 90 days if they don't want you to -- you have to give them 90 days notice, but they can theoretically release you anytime.

But the above posters are correct, that this keeps you from participating in this year's match and SOAP.

It's apparently just 45 days that you have to be in the program, no need for 90 and I don't think that you need to tell them in advance. In my understanding, even if you say tell the program and even if you have someone who would take your spot, you still have to do 45 days even if they are ok with you leaving. That's what I was told. You can also do 45 days and on the 46th day just leave or tell them you are leaving at that time. Of course I'm not suggesting anyone do that; is it terribly unprofessional and I'm sure would lead to a bad reaction from the program, but just speaking of technicalities to avoid violations.

 

[Noegrus]

#firstworldproblems

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It's apparently just 45 days that you have to be in the program, no need for 90 and I don't think that you need to tell them in advance. In my understanding, even if you say tell the program and even if you have someone who would take your spot, you still have to do 45 days even if they are ok with you leaving. That's what I was told. You can also do 45 days and on the 46th day just leave or tell them you are leaving at that time. Of course I'm not suggesting anyone do that; is it terribly unprofessional and I'm sure would lead to a bad reaction from the program, but just speaking of technicalities to avoid violations.

You are correct, I checked the NRMP match agreement. It's 45 days.

 

[Residentcool]

You are correct, I checked the NRMP match agreement. It's 45 days.

Something which I'm still confused about though is whether one can apply for spots after SOAP is complete on the Friday of Match week. Is that ok? And after both match and SOAP are done, say something pops up the week after SOAP or in the weeks after match/SOAP. Are those ok to apply to? This is very confusing!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

After SOAP, it's a free for all. As long as you haven't matched/SOAPed into a spot, you can do anything you want.

 

[Residentcool]

After SOAP, it's a free for all. As long as you haven't matched/SOAPed into a spot, you can do anything you want.

What I don't understand is, for those of us who do have matched positions, when is the earliest we can apply for a position? Say somethign becomes available at a program in July or August or whatever. Can we apply for it? My understanding is that spots that become available during the year don't need to go through the match as long as they start by February or something like that. I realize we have to stay 45 days in the current program, but can we at least apply? Say the other program is ok with waiting 45 days or however long. Is that ok?

I don't personally get what the whole point of eliminating outside the match positions is, at least at the PGY-2 level. It makes things complicated!