Transferring Residencies

[OneDirectionFan]

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I'm an intern (so not yet established at my residency program). However, due to personal reasons (spouse), I would like to transfer to another IM program.

My questions are:
1. How feasible is this? I'm just a few months into my intern year. I don't know if my PD would necessarily be able to help me transfer since he barely knows me (I did med school elsewhere).
2. When is a good time to tell the PD-- is earlier better or wait a little more until I've established myself here?
3. Lastly, any tips? I'm a little nervous about approaching my PD and about this entire process...

Thanks.

 

[Winged Scapula]

This question has been asked about 14,637 times and there are numerous threads which deal with it. I suggest using the search function. But in general...

1) there is no such thing as "Transfer"; if you desire to change programs, there must be an open spot and your PD must be willing to let you go (out of your contract if you are leaving this year) and the other must be willing to take you. But first point is: there must be an open spot if you are considering coming in as a PGY-2. If you are thinking about restarting as a PGY-1, get cracking on your ERAS/NRMP app.

2) so I'm guessing you ranked this program, even knowing it would take you away from your spouse. I would not expect your current PD to be sensitive to this issue.

3) when you tell depends on what your plans are. Are you sticking it out and trying to leave after you finish this year, or are you contemplating quitting during PGY-1?

 

[OneDirectionFan]

1) No need to be so harsh. If this thread irritates you, don't read it 🙂. The threads I found didn't address all of the questions I had. (And I'd be grateful if someone would answer them.)

2) Wasn't my spouse then! But good point, he will have the same question. I will make sure to address this.

3) Sticking it out! "Transferring"- for lack of a better word- would only be possible if I finished out the year!

 

[Winged Scapula]

I'm not personally irritated in the least but rather suggesting that using the search function is:

A) recommended by all forums
B) recommended specifically by SDN
C) likely will answer your question
D) results in other users not being irritated by seeing the same question over and over

1. Feasibility: highly dependent. I'd like to think that most PDs don't want someone who isn't happy. If you're a good resident, he won't be thrilled about losing you, but you have a legit reason to want to move.

2. You are going to need a letter from your PD to be eligible for any position. There is no good time to tell him/her but you don't want to wait until the end of the year; you want your PD to be able to find someone to fill your position when you leave. Of course, you tell them early, they find someone and you don't find another position. Thems the chances you take. Honestly, you will find a variety of suggestions on how to do this by doing that search I mentioned earlier - there is no one right way, which is why reading those threads will give you lots of ways to handle it.

3. No specific tips but unless your PD is really out of the loop, they may already be expecting this. After all, if they know you recently got married and your husband doesn't live here, I would imagine they've already thought about this possibility.

4. Of course, "transferring" as a PGY-2 is only possible if you finish the year, but you've got to accept the possibility that you won't find a PGY-2 position in your field, near your husband. You have to decide whether you are willing to start over again, as a PGY-1 or even in a different specialty. You also have to decide, if there is a dearth of PGY-2 positions, are you going to apply through NRMP again?

Transferring, to me at least, implies a lateral move (i.e., same PGY level).

On a side note: why can't your husband move to be closer to you?

 

[OneDirectionFan]

Okay thanks.

To answer your question-- the idea of him moving-- it's somewhat complicated. Lol, that's not really answering your question.

Also, ours is a big program, so he actually doesn't know my marital status.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Okay thanks.

To answer your question-- the idea of him moving-- it's somewhat complicated. Lol, that's not really answering your question.

No it doesn't, but its none of my business. Given the amount of work and stress this move will cause *you*, seems like a fair question though.

Also, ours is a big program, so he actually doesn't know my marital status.

You'd be surprised at how "high school" residencies are. The PD may not know now, but perhaps you've confided in Person X about your situation, they innocently tell Resident Y, who in a conversation about married residents, tells PC 1 who mentions you to PD. Hospitals are dens of gossip mongering.

A big program is good though; you are less likely to be missed (not in an insulting way, just that manpower being down a resident is less of an issue than a program with 2 residents).

 

[wooster201106]

...1) there is no such thing as "Transfer"; if you desire to change programs, there must be an open spot and your PD must be willing to let you go (out of your contract if you are leaving this year) and the other must be willing to take you. But first point is: there must be an open spot if you are considering coming in as a PGY-2. If you are thinking about restarting as a PGY-1, get cracking on your ERAS/NRMP app.

...4. Of course, "transferring" as a PGY-2 is only possible if you finish the year, but you've got to accept the possibility that you won't find a PGY-2 position in your field, near your husband. You have to decide whether you are willing to start over again, as a PGY-1 or even in a different specialty. You also have to decide, if there is a dearth of PGY-2 positions, are you going to apply through NRMP again?...

Assuming he/she completes and receives credit for their PGY-1 year, and no open PGY-2 positions are to be found in the region, is it even possible for them to reapply/restart at the same level? It would make no sense to have to repeat a year for which you've already received credit. If a program were really that interested in taking the OP couldn't they just seek RRC approval for an additional temporary PGY-2 position?