Thinking of switching

[Dr.Butcher]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am a student in a surgical residency thinking of switching to Pathology. This is primarily because I was always interested in path/research career but did something else because I thought I would miss having patient interaction. I have really grown past those fears and have realized I made a mistake... Unfortunately, I didn't rotate in Path prior to finishing med school and was wondering if anyone had any ideas how I could best prepare for next years' path match?

I am an MD-PhD so I have plenty of research experience, and was wondering if I should post-doc vs. do a transitional year. Again, any ideas?

Let me know. Thank you.

 

[mlw03]

i don't think a TY would help you, nor would a post-doc. i think you'd be best served by trying to do (at least) 1 month-long rotation (ie, like a med student) in pathology so that a) you're sure you like pathology b) you have the experience to help prove a and c) you'll want at least 1 letter of rec from a pathologist, preferably 2.

 

[yaah]

I would say getting experience in pathology through whatever means. Rotating, spending time in a department, research projects, whatever. A transitional year would basically be a complete waste. If you are open to sudden decisions and not tied down to certain areas, you may also have success in the scramble for this current cycle. The fact that you have no real exposure to path is probably the major thing you need to overcome, although if you are a US grad and don't have any real skeletons in the closet many programs will probably like you anyway.

 

[gschl1234]

I am a student in a surgical residency thinking of switching to Pathology. This is primarily because I was always interested in path/research career but did something else because I thought I would miss having patient interaction. I have really grown past those fears and have realized I made a mistake... Unfortunately, I didn't rotate in Path prior to finishing med school and was wondering if anyone had any ideas how I could best prepare for next years' path match?

I am an MD-PhD so I have plenty of research experience, and was wondering if I should post-doc vs. do a transitional year. Again, any ideas?

Let me know. Thank you.

At one of my interviews I met an MD/PhD who did a surgical intership year, never did a path rotation and matched path at the same institution he was at for surgery. Maybe you should talk to the people in your path department. Similarly, there are 2 former ob-gyn residents now at the path program at my medical school. One was a former resident at the same institution and the other matched from outside. Neither have PhD's.

 

[SLUsagar]

At one of my interviews I met an MD/PhD who did a surgical intership year, never did a path rotation and matched path at the same institution he was at for surgery. Maybe you should talk to the people in your path department. Similarly, there are 2 former ob-gyn residents now at the path program at my medical school. One was a former resident at the same institution and the other matched from outside. Neither have PhD's.

I'd really question that program that took the surg res w/o having done any path.

 

[EtOHWithdrawal]

I'd really question that program that took the surg res w/o having done any path.

I hear this all the time.
Why should pathology programs avoid people who have no experience in path?
It's a training program, ffs.

 

[mlw03]

just to play devil's advocate (not that i fully agree with SLUsagar's comments about that being a sorta red flag), pathology is so different that to accept someone into a residency with no significant exposure to the day to day workings of a pathologist is risky. one could make similar arguments for radiology, anesthesia, or rad onc. if i were a PD i'd like to see a pathology rotation done by an applicant, but the absence of one wouldn't preclude an interview (where i'd certainly follow-up on the issue).

 

[jux]

Assuming you didn't do your PhD in English, you probably have more pathology experience than most applicants. A majority of what you do in a lab will apply to what you will do as a resident. I have less lab experience (1.5 years as a neuroscience tech), and my job description was pretty similar to what it is now in residency. The main difference is that I was grossing mouse brains and I had to make the formalin and stain my own slides. There was also much more dedicated ultimate frisbee time and less dedicated preview time.

I don't know this first hand, but I thought MDPhDs were lottery picks for Path programs? I would offer every MDPhD with a decent application an interview if I was a PD.

If I was interviewing you, my main concern would be your loyalty and commitment (and it would be with anyone who was leaving their program), but with your science background, I would be less worried.

 

[SLUsagar]

just to play devil's advocate (not that i fully agree with SLUsagar's comments about that being a sorta red flag), pathology is so different that to accept someone into a residency with no significant exposure to the day to day workings of a pathologist is risky. one could make similar arguments for radiology, anesthesia, or rad onc. if i were a PD i'd like to see a pathology rotation done by an applicant, but the absence of one wouldn't preclude an interview (where i'd certainly follow-up on the issue).

notably agree with latter comment. I wouldn't withhold an interview based on a complete lack of experience in the field of pathology, but the person may be bright as hell (perhaps, even an apparently god-like mudphud) and successful, hell they might be even be good at path in the beginning, but key to me is commitment....you certain wonder if the person will stick it out. I'm familiar with several situations where such a person bolted, not having realized what all path truly entails. Yes, this could indeed apply to some ******* as well, but I'd rather have in my class a person of mediocre/above avg intelligence but the work ethic and willpower of a superstar...you gotta believe that in the end it will pay off and they'll be successful. Regardless, it sure makes for a better experience as a co-resident to have a person like that aboard. I'd hate to be in a class where we accepted a potential genious but with Hugh Jass red flag knowledge that he/she could very easily bolt and leave you hanging.