Transferring during residency

[loonybin]

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Hi guys,

I have a question from a friend who is unhappy in the city he ended up in. Is there a way to transfer residency programs within internal medicine? How late into the residency can one transfer?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[disorder]

Hi guys,

I have a question from a friend who is unhappy in the city he ended up in. Is there a way to transfer residency programs within internal medicine? How late into the residency can one transfer?

Thanks so much for your help!

it's three years. tell your friend to tough it out.

 

[umean2tellme]

Your "friend" should just suck it up and make the most of the situation. Trying to switch residencies usually ends up being a bad idea. SDN is littered with posts of people who were unhappy at one program, decided to transfer to another program, and ended up getting fired/not having the contract renewed. Now they are ultimately screwed trying to find yet another program to take them. The grass is always greener on the other side. If he didn't like the city the program was in then why did he apply there in the first place?

 

[infarct]

Hi guys,

I have a question from a friend who is unhappy in the city he ended up in. Is there a way to transfer residency programs within internal medicine? How late into the residency can one transfer?

Thanks so much for your help!

usually a bad idea...suck it up

 

[gutonc]

Hi guys,

I have a question from a friend who is unhappy in the city he ended up in. Is there a way to transfer residency programs within internal medicine? How late into the residency can one transfer?

Thanks so much for your help!

If there are issues with the program, that's one thing. If the city sucks...you just gotta deal with it. And remember that when applying for fellowships.

 

[loonybin]

Wow, such understanding and compassionate responses!

As per my friend, the program is great and he was quite enthusiastic about the area at the beginning. After a year, however, he has found that he really does not fit in and is quite unhappy. A simple and honest mistake really, one any of us could have made. He simply wanted to know what the options were for transferring.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Wow, such understanding and compassionate responses!

As per my friend, the program is great and he was quite enthusiastic about the area at the beginning. After a year, however, he has found that he really does not fit in and is quite unhappy. A simple and honest mistake really, one any of us could have made. He simply wanted to know what the options were for transferring.

Dude stop saying "my friend" and just say "I".

Apply again if you want but realize there could be consequences if you do.

 

[VentdependenT]

You can switch but dont make it about the program or the city. this friend is dicking over the program that he chose. Your friends classmates will get screwed with extra calls and extra coverage for call months and clinic. If you friend makes it about family or fiance then it should be fine. Burned bridges in academic medicine can haunt one in the future.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Wow, the answers here are quite negative.

It is quite possible to transfer residencies. Much depends on how the resident is doing. If they're struggling and think that transferring will "fix" things, that's complicated. If they are doing well, then transferring can happen. It is late in the year to consider this -- chances are programs have already built schedules for next year. If they've built you / your friend into the schedule, telling them now that you've decided to change will not go over well.

 

[MedicineDoc]

I transferred from neuro to a really great unopposed FP program that i thought was 10 x better than my IM prelim scut year. Couldn't stand that program. Dishonest megalomaniacs without all that much to teach was my honest impression of the IM program and indifferent Neuro attendings in a subject I wasnt really interested enough in to focus on. Wound up an FP hospitalist which despite other people's disdain in the IM forum appears to be what I enjoy the most. Don't really like outpatient and not interested in limiting the scope of what I see.

 

[goprisko]

Hi,
My hospital filed Ch11 Bankruptcy last Jan. Last week the Prog Dir. said they have enough
money to last until July. They are praying for a miracle. I am doing well in the program
and they gave me a new contract 2 weeks ago, covering my next, PGY-2 year. My program is a categorical IM residency program. I am a member of CIR.

So, like it or not, it appears that I must find another PGY-2 slot.
I prefer working in a rural setting. I worked in rural Namibia. I lived and did research in China. My step1 - 229 first attempt Step2CK - 255 first attempt, passed step2CS on first attempt. Have good LORs from US physicians. Did a clinical rotation before residency with the Louisville AHEC. That one was my best clinical rotation experience wise.

Please revert with constructive suggestions.

Nata

 

[Instatewaiter]

Hi,
My hospital filed Ch11 Bankruptcy last Jan. Last week the Prog Dir. said they have enough
money to last until July. They are praying for a miracle. I am doing well in the program
and they gave me a new contract 2 weeks ago, covering my next, PGY-2 year. My program is a categorical IM residency program. I am a member of CIR.

So, like it or not, it appears that I must find another PGY-2 slot.
I prefer working in a rural setting. I worked in rural Namibia. I lived and did research in China. My step1 - 229 first attempt Step2CK - 255 first attempt, passed step2CS on first attempt. Have good LORs from US physicians. Did a clinical rotation before residency with the Louisville AHEC. That one was my best clinical rotation experience wise.

Please revert with constructive suggestions.

Nata

This is a bit of a different story than the other guy. When you leave a program it looks suspicious. When the hospital closes and you are in good graces, it is does not look suspicious. Now, you're probably not going to get a PGY2 at MGH but look on resident swap and seee if you can find an open PGY2 position.

Make sure you have your program director behind you and get a few letters of recommendation from your attendings.

Good luck