Transitioning from IR to Anesthesia as an MS3

[erh454]

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Hi all,

I am a third-year medical student who recently completed the medicine and surgery rotations. From the beginning of MS1 to the beginning of MS3, I have always been interested in IR; I am involved in multiple IR-related activities, including research, at my school and nationally. However, during my surgery and medicine MS3 rotations, I realized that I have a huge appreciation for physiology/pharmacology and may want to transition into anesthesia. How possible is it to make this switch, given that all of my activities scream IR? For context, I have finished 4 of the 6 core MS3 rotations, plan to take Step Two in June 2025, and will apply to residency in August/September 2025. If this transition is realistic, what steps do I need to take to become a competitive anesthesia applicant?

Thank you for your insight and advice!

 

[Master the Match MD]

Kudos to you for taking the time to reflect on your experiences and reevaluate your career goals—it’s not easy to shift gears after being so involved in a specific field like IR. Switching to anesthesia is certainly possible, but does require you to be strategic.

If you haven’t already, try to arrange an anesthesia elective or shadowing experience. This can give you a chance to make connections with faculty who can write you strong letters of recommendation. If your school has an anesthesia interest group, make some meetings, attend conferences, connect with a research mentor and see if you can do, maybe a case report.

When it comes time to write your personal statement and prepare for interviews, focus on how your interests in physiology, pharmacology, and patient care naturally led you to anesthesia. Highlight the transferable skills and experiences from your IR activities that will make you a strong anesthesiologist.

Finding mentors in anesthesia—whether at your institution or nationally—can provide you with invaluable guidance and support throughout the application process.

Transitions like this can feel daunting, but they’re not uncommon. Residency programs value authenticity and will appreciate that you’ve taken the time to thoughtfully consider your career path.

I’m happy to connect if you have any questions! Here's an article with more resources!

Best of luck—you’re already on the right track by reflecting and planning ahead!