Transferring From EM

[QuietFlight]

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I am a first year ER resident at a well known/respected program and am quickly coming to the realization that I am better suited for the FP specialty. Could anyone provide me with any advice/suggestions on what steps I would need to take to transfer into a family medicine residency and if this would even be a possibility. I am unsure if I would have to begin the entire ERAS process again or if it would be possible to finish my PGY1 year and then transfer into a FP program as a PGY2. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[deleted6669]

just a thought-
you might be eligible for a pgy2-4 em residency.
good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Apollyon]

just a thought-
you might be eligible for a pgy2-4 em residency.
good luck whatever you decide.

I think you missed it - person states they're an EM-1, and want to go into FM.

Although I think that the person gets a double ding for "ER" and "FP".

 

[smq123]

I am a first year ER resident at a well known/respected program and am quickly coming to the realization that I am better suited for the FP specialty. Could anyone provide me with any advice/suggestions on what steps I would need to take to transfer into a family medicine residency and if this would even be a possibility. I am unsure if I would have to begin the entire ERAS process again or if it would be possible to finish my PGY1 year and then transfer into a FP program as a PGY2. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Are you a brand-new PGY-1 who is having second thoughts, or are you just finishing your intern year? If you're a new intern, I'd wait it out a month and see how things go....just make sure that you're not having second thoughts because you're scared of being an intern, and not because you're not a good fit for the specialty.

Transferring into FM is certainly possible, either halfway through intern year or as a PGY-2. Whether or not you could do so in your particular case would involve a lot of discussion with potential future PDs, though.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Are you a brand-new PGY-1 who is having second thoughts, or are you just finishing your intern year? If you're a new intern, I'd wait it out a month and see how things go....just make sure that you're not having second thoughts because you're scared of being an intern, and not because you're not a good fit for the specialty.

Transferring into FM is certainly possible, either halfway through intern year or as a PGY-2. Whether or not you could do so in your particular case would involve a lot of discussion with potential future PDs, though.

Strongly second what smq123 said --- Intern year was a royal biotch for me.....you can read about it if you wish in the Intern forum....it was just ugly -- large part of it was me, rest was a malignant program.....However, it seems like after July 1, I crossed some imaginary boundary line and starting to pick up traction. My confidence is growing (interestingly - I'm doing my EM rotation and it's really boosting my confidence and 'is this patient sick enough to admit' sensor) and so is my speed in clinic. I found that I don't hate FM, just my program and being an intern. Now the new interns are the chum in the water for the sharks, not me. Cold but true.

I've considered EM, but my personality, mindset and interests make me realize that I'm a Family Medicine doc through and through and don't really need/want to be anything else....

Make sure it's not just being an intern or your program that's making you want to bail on a specialty....

 

[lilnoelle]

I'm in the same situation as you, except I just started my PGY2 year and want to switch from EM to FM. I haven't made the plunge and commited to do it yet, though my PD is aware that I'm considering the switch.

For me the struggle is getting my family (specifically my husband) behind the idea. And its gonna be a huge deal to uproot my family/kids and move again when we have no savings available to pay for the move.

I'm sincerely hoping theres a way a spot can be added for me at the program in my city so we don't have to move.

 

[MJB]

I'm in the same situation as you, except I just started my PGY2 year and want to switch from EM to FM. I haven't made the plunge and commited to do it yet, though my PD is aware that I'm considering the switch.

For me the struggle is getting my family (specifically my husband) behind the idea. And its gonna be a huge deal to uproot my family/kids and move again when we have no savings available to pay for the move.

I'm sincerely hoping theres a way a spot can be added for me at the program in my city so we don't have to move.

Sorry to hear you're going through this! I hope everything works out for you all. I know all too well how hard moving the family across the country is. We just did it again, and it takes a major toll...in more ways than one.

 

[lilnoelle]

I'm in the same situation as you, except I just started my PGY2 year and want to switch from EM to FM. I haven't made the plunge and commited to do it yet, though my PD is aware that I'm considering the switch.

For me the struggle is getting my family (specifically my husband) behind the idea. And its gonna be a huge deal to uproot my family/kids and move again when we have no savings available to pay for the move.

I'm sincerely hoping theres a way a spot can be added for me at the program in my city so we don't have to move.

I'm quite a bit further in the process of trying to transfer. I have the support of my PD and my family. Now I'm trying to find a spot. It doesn't appear that there are many open positions. Is there a way to find spots that I'm not aware of? I know my current program created a program for a qualified EM resident that needed to transfer locations for personal reasons. Is anyone else aware of FM programs that might be willing to do so?

 

[MeowMix]

I know my current program created a program for a qualified EM resident that needed to transfer locations for personal reasons. Is anyone else aware of FM programs that might be willing to do so?

Programs cannot just create a spot, they also have to find funding. If they want to exceed their allowed number, they have to apply for funded expansion (very hard) or get money from non-medicare sources (very hard).

I think you will need to advertise widely, network - and know where/when you can actually move, if a slot opens up.