switching specialty!!! Is it possible???

[IMGCAN]

Hi all,


Is it possible to switch from one specialty to another in second year residency in Canadian Medical school...


Moderators please answer this Q

Thanks,
IMGCAN

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[Blake]

It's been done before, but it's rare, and being an IMG could make this even harder.

I personally know 3 residents/attendings who switched after their intern year, but it's anecdotal...

 

[IMGCAN]

Hi Blake,

Thanks for the info. I know it's going to be difficult.. But still I wanted to know. I have to make up my mind then..

How about switching to family medicine from a speciaty right from the beginning...🙂 Let me put in this way.. A person who wanted to switch from a specialty to family medicine in Canada, he gets an interview call from FM I am sure definitely they will ask why do you want to switch???How and what to answer in an impressive manner.

Thanks,
IMGCAN

 

[Blake]

No idea on how to answer that. Hell, I don't even know how I'll convince anyone to take me in a residency program next year (you can tell how much I enjoy interviews)...

I know 2 surgery residents who tried to switch to family medicine after their intern and 3rd year of residency. The IMG didn't manage to do it, but it could have been due to other factors.

Good luck !

 

[IMGCAN]

Hi Blake,

Thanks for the reply.

Still no good answers... Let us wait and watch

Cheers,
IMGCAN

 

[tussy]

It is possible to switch, but don't depend on it. First - it depends on your funding. If you match thru carms and are in a fully funded position, then you could theoretically switch and take your funding with you. However, if you match to fam med then you only have 2 years of funding and wouldn't be able to switch into anything else. If you match to a 5 year royal college program, then you could switch to another 5 year program or to a 2 year fam med program.

In order to switch, you have to apply to the program you want to switch into and they have to accept you, then you have to convince your current PD to let you out of your program (when you accept a position it's basically a contract and they don't have to let you out of it).

Knowing people who have done it, it is a long stressful process and there are no guarantees.

 

[HDMTX]

It's a very trying process... and can result in a negative outlook from your current program director if he/she finds out... but I know a few interns in my year who switched to various specialties including rads... usually you have to be pretty stellar or having compelling reasons to do so or an inside connection or two.