Transitional Year - How much responsibility?

[plusminus]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a little worried about the transitional year. Exactly how much responsibility do you have during the tough transitional year rotations (Medicine, EM, etc.)??? For someone who wants to go into Radiology it is a little stressful thinking that the buck will stop with me during this period. Especially given that much of what I will learn during the TY will NOT apply to my overall career goals and thus I am not sure a strong "gung-ho" motivation to learn will be there.

Any insights into this?

Thanks.

 

[deleted87716]

Exactly how much responsibility do you have during the tough transitional year rotations (Medicine, EM, etc.)???

I trained at an FM residency that also housed a transitional program. The transitional interns are given the same responsibilities as any other intern. All interns are supervised, however. The buck doesn't stop with you unless you let it. When in doubt, talk to your attending or an upper-level resident. As for your own motivation, that's up to you. If you work hard and do your best, you'll actually have an easier time of it than if you try to slack off and just "get by." If you're one of those guys, don't count on having many friends to bail you out or do you any favors. What goes around, comes around.

 

[McDoctor]

I am a little worried about the transitional year. Exactly how much responsibility do you have during the tough transitional year rotations (Medicine, EM, etc.)??? For someone who wants to go into Radiology it is a little stressful thinking that the buck will stop with me during this period. Especially given that much of what I will learn during the TY will NOT apply to my overall career goals and thus I am not sure a strong "gung-ho" motivation to learn will be there.

Any insights into this?

Thanks.

What makes you so sure that much of what you learn will not apply to your overall career? Most radiologists would agree that studies are best interpreted within the context of a patient's overall clinical history. Don't you think some OB exposure is prudent if you are going to interpret ultrasounds? Virtually every field of medicine, except maybe psychiatry, relies on radiology to some extent.

You should focus on what can be potentially gained from the transitional year. I tend to agree that internship is easier if you work hard and show motivation to get something useful out of it, because attendings will respect you more and make your life less miserable.

 

[plusminus]

I have to agree with you that it will make anybody a better doctor. However, all of the radiology residents I have talked to basically speak about the TY as something they just tried to get over with in order to get to the radiology residency. I have also heard this sentiment expressed by residency directors. Yes exposure is good, we all know this. But on the flip side, if you were set on doing OB or doing Medicine, I am not sure you would want to do a year of Radiology and Pathology JUST to get exposure. Sure it would make you a more rounded physician but I suspect you would want to dive into your field ASAP.

 

[McDoctor]

I have to agree with you that it will make anybody a better doctor. However, all of the radiology residents I have talked to basically speak about the TY as something they just tryed to get over with in order to get to the radiology residency. I have also heard this sentiment expressed by residency directors. Yes exposure is good, we all know this. But on the flip side, if you were set on doing OB or doing Medicine, I am not sure you would want to do a year of Radiology and Pathology JUST to get exposure. Sure it would make you a more rounded physician but I suspect you would want to dive into your field ASAP.

I'm a little biased being in family medicine in that I'll always think primary care should be emphasized. I see your point, though. I'm reminded of an opthalmologist who once told me every family doctor should do several months of optho and that every disease imaginable has an intraocular manifestation, blah...blah...blah...etc...
Every field thinks his or hers is most vital, and the transitional year is like a year of family medicine for the most part. But since it is a necessary evil right now, I still think you should approach it with motivation to learn something useful as opposed to "something to get over with". Like KentW said, it'll be a smoother year if you work hard.