the old switcharoo...

[BolderNewfy]

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I read on here that someone managed to secure a categorical spot without the PD knowing. Im not trying to screw over my program but I want to transfer. The problem is that every program requires that you get a letter from your PD just to apply. If I tell my PD that I want to go into a different specialty they will immediately begin looking for a replacement(which is expected). But it is possible that I could tell my PD, call many programs and there may not be any openings and I could end up out of residency. So is there a way to at least apply to other programs without first losing your current spot?

 

[Law2Doc]

If you read that other thread, you will see that most are pretty skeptical of the claims that the OP matched from a categorical IM internship to a second year psych program without telling the PD; I wouldn't look at that as real. You can probably informally meet with other PDs about their thoughts on how realistic it might be to switch fields, but to actually pull the trigger and do so, you are going to have to let your PD know.

 

[peppy]

I agree that you might be able to start asking around, but to actually apply to a different program without telling your PD would probably cause problems.
I was looking for a categorical program after having finished an internship. One of the other programs I was considering actually called my PD to ask about me. Luckily my PD was aware of my plans and happy to support me. Imagine how much trouble it might cause if a program you wanted to switch to called your PD before your program knew you wanted to leave.

 

[clement]

what's wrong with taking a year off after intern year beside mounting interest on loans? I don't think it looks bad in the same way as it might look bad to have a gap in your education when in med school...i think most programs would understand that you needed to resign (especially if you're not on probation or bad terms with current program)...obviously if you're switching btwn two specialties that are vastly different, it doesn't make sense to tie yourself up by doing another year of pgy2 in your original residency which you would not get credit for and not have time to interview, etc...plus I hear something about how you may have acgme funding issues, say if you start in a 3-year program and want to switch to a specialty that is 4 years long..you are only originally funded for 3 years in that case, the new program would get paid less for you...but I know of people that have still been able to switch from a 3-year program AFTER they used up two years of residency funding to a 4 year program as a pgy1...the only thing to think about is are you going to piss of a PD by letting them know with one month's notice that you are thinking of leaving? if they're a decent PD, they won't be vengeful and write you a bad letter, basically has to be a letter of "good" standing anyway, not an epilogue about how great you are. Might be to one's advantage to leave now because you're program might be willing to work with you and let you stay a while longer in case they can't find anyone with only 4 week left until July 1?

 

[BolderNewfy]

sorry to revive this thread but have a few more questions. So i finished my intern year, and ended up telling the PD that I dont think I can see myself practicing in internal medicine and I am a little concerned about it. The residency sucks big time, and if I am not interested in practicing in IM, be it private practice or as a hospitallist, then it makes no sense for me to complete the residnecy. I have no particular interest in specializing and would do it only as a means to escape general IM. I told my PD i want to reapply to psychiatry programs. He didnt care much as I had already signed my contract for PGY2. He basically offered no assistance and told me to apply after finishing my PGY2 year. Problem is that my schedule for the next few months goes something like this....

general IM wards, general wards, ICU, Oncology( worse than IM wards).

This is my schedule for september through december. I dont see any way that I am going to be able to complete an eras app, apply to programs and fly away to interviews with that schedule. Its as if my program isnt trying to help me out at all.

So my question is, is there anything I can do about this. I feel like I just want to quit and take the time to complete a really good app for next year. And I feel like I am being forced to complete this PGY2 year. If I quit and dont get a good letter from my PD am I screwed. I dont know what I am supposed to do about this. Please help.

 

[notdeadyet]

I had already signed my contract for PGY2. ...
I feel like I just want to quit and take the time to complete a really good app for next year. And I feel like I am being forced to complete this PGY2 year. If I quit and dont get a good letter from my PD am I screwed.

You signed a contract for your PGY-2, so you'll have to do PGY-2. It's already started, do it's not like your PD is going to let you break contract now. You can just push for a few days off here and there to target your application to programs. Alternately, you can finish out PGY-2, then take a year out while applying.

With a contract you signed promising to complete PGY-2, you're not exactly drowning in options right now...

 

[DrAwsome]

sorry to revive this thread but have a few more questions. So i finished my intern year, and ended up telling the PD that I dont think I can see myself practicing in internal medicine and I am a little concerned about it. The residency sucks big time, and if I am not interested in practicing in IM, be it private practice or as a hospitallist, then it makes no sense for me to complete the residnecy. I have no particular interest in specializing and would do it only as a means to escape general IM. I told my PD i want to reapply to psychiatry programs. He didnt care much as I had already signed my contract for PGY2. He basically offered no assistance and told me to apply after finishing my PGY2 year. Problem is that my schedule for the next few months goes something like this....

general IM wards, general wards, ICU, Oncology( worse than IM wards).

This is my schedule for september through december. I dont see any way that I am going to be able to complete an eras app, apply to programs and fly away to interviews with that schedule. Its as if my program isnt trying to help me out at all.

So my question is, is there anything I can do about this. I feel like I just want to quit and take the time to complete a really good app for next year. And I feel like I am being forced to complete this PGY2 year. If I quit and dont get a good letter from my PD am I screwed. I dont know what I am supposed to do about this. Please help.

Dude, why don't you get an outside the match spot now!?! What do you want to do? There are a number of spots outside the match currently asking for PGY-2 residents, from neuro to PMR, EM, rads, anesthesia either now or in 2013, etc. Why not get one of those?! I think it's rather simple.

 

[notdeadyet]

Even outside the match spots will want a PD letter, no? And how would he get one breaking contract?

And as desperate as those outside the match spots might be, there will be a fair bunch of applicants and I would think someone actively breaking contract would be way low on the list of people I'd offer a contract to.

OP- you'll walk into a way better program if you honor your contract.

 

[DrAwsome]

Even outside the match spots will want a PD letter, no? And how would he get one breaking contract?

And as desperate as those outside the match spots might be, there will be a fair bunch of applicants and I would think someone actively breaking contract would be way low on the list of people I'd offer a contract to.

OP- you'll walk into a way better program if you honor your contract.

how do you think outside the match spots work? (And i don't mean that in a snippy way). Usually people with gaps are red flagged for whatever reason, so it's a lot more likely that someone actively ina program will have a higher chance of matching vs someone who has been sitting around for years

 

[notdeadyet]

how do you think outside the match spots work?

My bad, I was more referring to the new scramble rather than the onsey twosey thing.

I still figure he'll have a lot more enticing professional opportunities as someone who doesn't break contract than he will as someone who does.

 

[BolderNewfy]

is resigning the same thing as breaking contract? I offered to stay as long as the PD needed to find a replacement but he is not even looking....

 

[DrAwsome]

is resigning the same thing as breaking contract? I offered to stay as long as the PD needed to find a replacement but he is not even looking....

Dude, there is no point in you leaving right now. Find a position, then leave. It would be silly for you to leave with no position, no income, nada. Have you started looking?

 

[gutonc]

is resigning the same thing as breaking contract? I offered to stay as long as the PD needed to find a replacement but he is not even looking....

Your contract will state what the requirements are on your end for giving notice. That said, your PD knows you don't want to be there (which may not have been the best approach but it's too late now) so if you walked into his office tomorrow and said that you wouldn't be coming in on Friday, I doubt he'd be shocked. Pissed off? Of course. Shocked? Unlikely.

And of course he's not looking to replace you. You haven't told him you're leaving yet...just that you want to leave. There's a big difference.

As to your earlier post on how to deal with your schedule and applying this year, that's something you need to take up with whoever makes up or manages your schedules. If it's the Chiefs or an associate PD, perhaps you can figure out some switches to help you out. If it happens to be the PD, well then you're pretty f***ed aren't you?