What to know for fellowships

[Med4ever]

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Hey all, can I get some info about what is important to consider when choosing a residency keeping in mind fellowship.

1. Should you do your residency at a place that offers the particular fellowship of interest?
2. Should you go somewhere OTHER then the place you trained for fellowship?
3. Should you go to a place that has a great fellowship program even if the residency program isnt top noch?
4. Should you not do a residency at a place that doesnt offer that particular fellowship?

I have come across confliciting opinons for these questions so anything you guys think please share 🙂

 

[impetigo]

I've heard that you have the best chance of getting into your own residency program institution's fellowships. This is probably only important for those who wish to go into pain, since every other fellowship is not difficult to get into at all from what residents and attendings have told me. Our school's pain program took all of it's fellows from our own residency. But then again, I wouldn't go to a weak program just based on that alone.

Curious what those "in the know" think about this too.

 

[Med4ever]

Ya these questions are relating to pain. I guess I should have added that. Also anybody think pain is going/should be 2 yrs?

I've heard that you have the best chance of getting into your own residency program institution's fellowships. This is probably only important for those who wish to go into pain, since every other fellowship is not difficult to get into at all from what residents and attendings have told me. Our school's pain program took all of it's fellows from our own residency. But then again, I wouldn't go to a weak program just based on that alone.

Curious what those "in the know" think about this too.

 

[Med4ever]

Ya these questions are relating to pain. I guess I should have added that. Also anybody think pain is going/should be 2 yrs?

bump

 

[UTSouthwestern]

It's headed that way, but unlikely to be in effect until 2008. Even then, I think it would be a very unpopular decision that may be fought.

 

[timtye78]

Most interviews I went on seemed to imply an 'insider's advantage' if you decided to train as an anesthesiologist there and then your pain/cardiac/ob fellowship. Obviously, just as doing an elective rotation for a month can alter your chances for the good (as well as bad), spending four years at an institution and doing well, would do well for you at your 'home' institution if you applied.

That being said, I am sure there is an application/interview process. I would bet on the fact they would review every application they receive and weigh their options. On the other hand, it doesn't seem like many residents are much interested on signing up for another year(incl call at OU) at $40K odd, when private offers exceed $300-400K! It seems like the fellowships are readily available if you want one, you seem to have a good shot at your home institution, but the competition in most places seems so low that if you were relocating I do not believe it to be a problem. One definite advantage seems to be doing your residency in a university setting rather than a private hospital, although these are uncommon.

 

[Stinky Tofu]

Hey all, can I get some info about what is important to consider when choosing a residency keeping in mind fellowship.

1. Should you do your residency at a place that offers the particular fellowship of interest?
2. Should you go somewhere OTHER then the place you trained for fellowship?
3. Should you go to a place that has a great fellowship program even if the residency program isnt top noch?
4. Should you not do a residency at a place that doesnt offer that particular fellowship?

I have come across confliciting opinons for these questions so anything you guys think please share 🙂

1. That shouldn't be your main reason to go to that residency program, but there's no doubt that your best chance at a Pain fellowship is at your own institution.
2. I assume you meant should you go somewhere other than the place you trained for residency? If that's what you meant, I think the only reason to do this would be if you can get into a better fellowship eslewhere.
3. I can't think of many great Pain fellowships that have a mediocre residency program. Irregardless, I would say no.
4. I don't think you should definitely not do residency at a place without a Pain fellowship, but as mentioned before, you'll have a tougher time landing a fellowship and will probably need to be more flexible with where you go later.

Just as a reference, most MGH, BWH, BIDMC, and SRH (PM&R) residents were offered spots at their home institutions or at one of the other Harvard-affiliated programs.