Value systems: Internal Medicine vs. PM&R

[PMnRJunkie]

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I applied to 21 PM&R programs because I did not really know how I would fare among some of the more respected programs around the country. Although I have not heard from three of them, I am excited to note that I have already been offered 17 interviews.

I think I always understood that PM&R had a different value system than other medical specialties, but never has this distinction been more apparent than now -- as I struggle to get PGY-1 interviews.

Granted, my Step scores are relatively average, and I didn't Honor any third year courses, but I find it really odd that my application is strong enough to warrant 17 interviews in strong Physiatry programs, but I have to practically beg for PGY-1 position in Internal Medicine. Should I be flattered that PDs consider me as a good long-term investment, but a weak indentured servant?

I generally have a pretty good attitude about things, but I'm wondering how much I'm going to be laughing if I have to scramble for a Surgical Internship in March. It would also be nice to have PGY-1 and PGY-2 in the same location -- especially considering I have a family, which makes it difficult to make repeatedly around the country, but I'm starting to lost faith in this outcome as a possible reality.

Oh, well, these things happen I suppose. 🙂 Anyone else having similar problems?

 

[Admiralk83]

Hey,

I've been hearing the same thing from other interviewees. From what i understand, prelim medicine positions are geographically competitive. Are you applying mostly in large cites, or some smaller places? FYI, i applied to about 15 transitional years and 5 prelim med years. I tried to apply to some "less competitive ones" as in not located in NYC or philly. I have 7 transitional interviews and 3 prelim. My scores are average as well. Let me know if this helps!

 

[topwise]

Think about who your competition is for the different positions:

For PM&R spots, you're competing with other med students who are applying for PM&R, who are obviously the most awesome of all med students but perhaps not the ones with the highest grades/scores.

Whereas for prelim/transitional spots, you are competing with people who are applying for derm, rads, EM, neuro, etc... people who generally are a lot more competitive. You're not competing with people applying for IM or peds spots, because they're applying for the categorical spots. And while a future radiologist may not make the best intern in the world, their scores alone may get them the more coveted PGY1 spots.

 

[TRAMD]

I did my prelim year in family medicine and loved it. I asked all the programs that I applied to if that was ok and they all said yes except for one that only allowed categorical positions. It was a unique situation that got that for me but it might be something worth looking into.

 

[predodoc]

I did my prelim year in family medicine and loved it. I asked all the programs that I applied to if that was ok and they all said yes except for one that only allowed categorical positions. It was a unique situation that got that for me but it might be something worth looking into.

Im also having issues with getting prelim and trans year interviews. I wouldnt mind doing a FM year, and would even prefer it over some places Ive applied, but how do you get a 1 year spot if a program only offers 3 year spots?

 

[Llenroc]

Well, it's kind of a dick move to go to a 3 year program and then leave after a year. Also, you can't apply to Family Medicine spots as preliminary spots. Even the least desirable FM residencies in the country have a whole host of (foreign) applicants desperately willing to go there.

 

[Ludicolo]

I believe TRAMD independently worked something out with his FM program outside the match. It may be worth exploring, but this is not normally done. As Llenroc said - you cannot simultaneously match at both an advanced PM&R program and a categorical FM program done with the intention of just staying for one year. You are not allowed to put categorical programs down on your supplemental ROLs.

 

[TRAMD]

Well, it's kind of a dick move to go to a 3 year program and then leave after a year. Also, you can't apply to Family Medicine spots as preliminary spots. Even the least desirable FM residencies in the country have a whole host of (foreign) applicants desperately willing to go there.

They certainly didn't seem to mind. They really appreciated having me there (but did wish I could have stayed). The residency was well aware from the start that I was doing only a transitional year. They would rather leave spots unfilled than fill them with undesirable applicants and were glad to have good transitional residents to assist with the workload. They did this every year with 1 to 3 residents, but always ones from my med school. This was a good FM residency that rarely admitted foreign grads. There were 20 total residents in the program (could have up to 24) and none were foreign grads. There was one foreign grad from the year before I started but he was American and went to SGU in the Caribbean.

I believe TRAMD independently worked something out with his FM program outside the match. It may be worth exploring, but this is not normally done. As Llenroc said - you cannot simultaneously match at both an advanced PM&R program and a categorical FM program done with the intention of just staying for one year. You are not allowed to put categorical programs down on your supplemental ROLs.

All true. I had worked with this residency as an MS3 on my FM rotation and simply called the PD and asked him about doing a transitional year as I didn't yet want to leave the area. He told me they would love to and this was worked out outside the match. I never ranked any intern years and only ranked advanced positions in the match. There were two people that did this the year before me that went into ophtho and derm and one the year after me that has already matched into an advanced spot in radiology.

 

[TRAMD]

Basically, this was an ideal situation for me but may not be for everyone. I was just throwing out my story as an idea of something to look into.