What to do get a fellowship?

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

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Hello all, this is for the more senior members of this board: I'm starting a peds residency at a military hospital in July. I've decided that I really want to do peds ID. This idea isn't quite what the Navy had in mind when I signed up 4 years ago, so my most likely option is to do my residency, pay back my 4 years and then look for a fellowship. It's not ideal, but at least I don't have the debt of my classmates.

Anyway, what do I need to do to try and get that fellowship that's so many years away? I'm not sure, but I was going to try and find a research month during my years as a Sr. resident to work @ the local children's hospital lab. I'm keeping my ears/eyes peeled for apportunities as I begin (obviously, most of this is for after PGY1). Will a 4 year break b/t residency and fellowship apps hurt me? Any advice?

 

[chhsu]

Hey, it's never too late. I have a peds faculty member in my school who was a hospitalist for quite a number of years. He's going back to training in PICU at UT Houston this July. I think programs are very lucky to have physicians with a number of years of experience under their belt. It benefits not only the fellow, but the fellow's colleagues (i.e. fellow's fellows), the program, patients, etc. No way, it's never too late to go back to fellowship.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Hello all, this is for the more senior members of this board: I'm starting a peds residency at a military hospital in July. I've decided that I really want to do peds ID. This idea isn't quite what the Navy had in mind when I signed up 4 years ago, so my most likely option is to do my residency, pay back my 4 years and then look for a fellowship. It's not ideal, but at least I don't have the debt of my classmates.

Anyway, what do I need to do to try and get that fellowship that's so many years away? I'm not sure, but I was going to try and find a research month during my years as a Sr. resident to work @ the local children's hospital lab. I'm keeping my ears/eyes peeled for apportunities as I begin (obviously, most of this is for after PGY1). Will a 4 year break b/t residency and fellowship apps hurt me? Any advice?

In general, a break can sometimes be a bit challenging to explain, although programs increasingly are understanding of "career changers" (due to family reasons, money, etc) and will recognize that they are good bets to be stars as fellows due to their practical experience.

In your case, service to our country as a member of the military, whether in the US or overseas, will, in my opinion, make this whole issue a completely moot point. I strongly believe that all programs will respect and understand your path and you'll be considered at least as strongly as a recent graduate. So just do is to do a good job throughout and you'll be fine.

Meanwhile, try to pick up some longitudinal clinical research in pedi ID. It's doable in most places. Even stuff like following the incidence of nosocomial infections in a PICU/NICU/CVICU will be good. Try to get involved in a couple projects over time. If you're interested, usually it's possible to get faculty who want "hands" to go through charts, etc, to agree.

Good luck!