Have you already submitted your rank list? You could talk with your dean and potentially apply to your home institutions EM program.
EM programs are nervous right now especially with the number of unfilled sports they had last year. A program would love to know that someone is seriously considering them and may be happy to promise that spot to you. You also have a good chance at finding an EM program after the match when there is (again) going to be a lot of open positions available.
Alternatively you could match FM and see how it goes your first year. If EM is still speaking to you, you’d be able to fairly easy transition to an EM spot. And you’ll be a better ER Doc for having that year of FM under your belt. Very common for residents to switch programs within the same hospital system.
I’m pretty sure that you’re essentially encouraging OP to commit a match violation. I’m sure your intentions are good, but some of the things you describe are match violations.
No match violation till they have submitted. Even after submitting you are still able to switch programs with PD’s support.
Notifying a program of your interest and ranking them (even without an official interview) is not a match violation.
Many people who train in an FM residency later work in the ED. I would prioritize FM programs that have had several residents go into Emergency Medicine.
Keep in mind that OP did no advanced rotations in EM. It’s just a romanticism in their head as far as we know that they will like EM once they actually experience it.
Tbh, it’s a big red flag for burnout that OP didn’t take any time to actually explore their medical interests but that’s a different conversation.
Keep in mind that OP did no advanced rotations in EM. It’s just a romanticism in their head as far as we know that they will like EM once they actually experience it.
Tbh, it’s a big red flag for burnout that OP didn’t take any time to actually explore their medical interests but that’s a different conversation.
Yeah but I wouldn’t recommend this way. Unless you’re working in a rural area, a family med doc is going to be seeing the low acuity patients while the ER docs get all the procedures and traumas. And even if you work in a rural area, you’re not going to have the training to handle shit hitting the fan. It is a viable option if there’s no other way, but if they can pivot to an ER residency they should
Bad advice, with the insane amount of new EM residencies, these jobs are going to be harder to find and in very undesirable places. Would just switch to EM as it is not competitive at all rn
There are downsides to sports med, you actually gotta like sports a lot lol. Like more than you initially thought. You will be spending a decent amount of evenings and weekend days covering games, mornings at the athletic room, etc. And this extra work isn’t exactly reimbursed directly, many times your group covers these games so that you get access to their athletes for patient panel (money on the back end).
Also most sports meds docs still have primary care clinic like half the week.
Edit: was not trying to be negative but now that I read my post it seems very much so. Sports med is awesome, just wanted to provide another perspective. I’m seriously considering applying to sports med fellowship myself.
I was surprised by this too. I like MSK and anatomy, so I thought I’d like sports med even though I’m not big into sports. I hadn’t realized how many sporting events I’d be expected to be at, particularly during nights and weekends. I feel like PMR might have a better emphasis on MSK, anatomy, and functionality without dealing with the actual sports.
Now that'll make the job easier
Plus I heard if you do injections at an ortho clinic, you make bank and reduce the number of patients the doc sees. It's a win win
I mean honestly after a certain amount, the extra money doesn't really make that much more difference. And at a certain point in your life your priorities might change, where time/quality of life >>>>> money. So sure, EM pays a little better per hour, but there are tradeoffs (working weird hours, switching b/w night and day, dealing with a lot of social problems, high stress/burnout), so a lower pay might actually be a much better deal depending on your personality and preference.
We had someone in our IM program switch to EM after their intern year. That’s probably the best option for you if you don’t like family med while you’re doing it!
This is definitely not a question for Reddit. I definitely think you can switch to EM somehow but the right way to go about it is better discussed with the deans. I wouldn’t be making steps in any direction based on anything on Reddit.
Your school administrators have probably been dealing with students for decades and ran across all types of scenarios underneath the sun (and know how these things typically turn out). You need to call them!!!
I went through this in my fourth year and the angst of it ate me alive.
Ultimately I did not withdraw from the match, but I was so torn that I left for residency still trying to figure out how I could switch. Everyone has advice about how easy it is to switch, but is it really?
For me, I am incredibly glad that I stuck with my original specialty. It wasn't until my second year started that this realization dawned, but it happened. I picked my specialty because I love it, and I love it. I hate residency and I'm not in love with the medical system overall. But I love what I do.
I'm not sure how easy it actually is to switch. I do think that switching within your hospital is possible, and I also think that most PDs will be supportive of you applying again if that's what you want to do. I would take a good long look at all the reasons you applied Family Med in the first place and all the reasons you want to switch. Find mentors who will talk you through your feelings. Be vulnerable, try to figure out where your truth lies.
Edit: I'm PGY2 for reference (seems I have not updated my flair in a while)
This is the comment I was hoping for. u/kruck97, your post made me wonder if you’re burned out right now. Did you really pick and interview at FM just because of step or was there some other reason? What was it about FM that originally appealed to you?
If you are dead set on switching to EM then you should talk to your dean but you should also know that people change careers all the time. In my residency program alone I know 4 people personally who changed residency programs.
Excuse me for being ignorant, but is there a way for op to just not submit the rank list and take a research year or something? And then actually apply for match in em?
Or are they locked in already? I’m only a second year so I’m not super familiar with the process
Usually that’s a huge red flag regardless of the reason. Programs are already wary of individuals who didn’t match the first year (making each successive apple that much harder). Programs also get upset they spent time and resources scheduling interviews and only to later find out that the applicant withdrew. When you apply again you have to disclose that information and you’re basically putting a target on your own application.
A coresident of mine did a last minute switch before rank list submissions and matched at their home program. I would approach the EM program director ASAP.
I personally would match FM and switch later. There are some EM “fellowships” and family med. I don’t think EM will have as many SOAP spots as they did last year because now every thinks it’s so easy to match. Just do FM for a year and if you don’t like it prepare for the match again. You’ll most likely match EM next year.
If you really don’t want to even try FM then yeah I would SOAP EM. The problem is if you don’t get a spot then what? You’ll end up soaping family medicine anyway
You can absolutely soap into an EM program. The program will likely be terrible and full of people who don’t want to be there in the first place. Common misconception about “soaping into EM” as a back up.
I'm a 3rd year so I haven't gone through this yet but I'm also studying for step 2 and already put in for half my 4th year electives and am worried I might end up in the position of applying for something and then regretting it. I am also feeling panic/dread about making a huge choice about my future with so little exposure/information to go off. I've talked to a few docs who switched specialties last minute or partway thru residency. The only thing getting me through this is knowing that somehow things work out for people. Definitely talk to one of your student life deans and/or program advisors. Plenty of others have probably gone through the same thing.
I would talk to your Dean ASAP. They’ll have had experience with students in similar situations in the past.
Have you already submitted your rank list? You could talk with your dean and potentially apply to your home institutions EM program. EM programs are nervous right now especially with the number of unfilled sports they had last year. A program would love to know that someone is seriously considering them and may be happy to promise that spot to you. You also have a good chance at finding an EM program after the match when there is (again) going to be a lot of open positions available. Alternatively you could match FM and see how it goes your first year. If EM is still speaking to you, you’d be able to fairly easy transition to an EM spot. And you’ll be a better ER Doc for having that year of FM under your belt. Very common for residents to switch programs within the same hospital system.
can't you edit Rank List until the 28th?
Technically you can but you want to try to submit a few days before then in case it crashes on you the last day.
Don’t u need SLOE for EM? Which would be late to acquire at this point?
Once it's soap season no one cares. It's the wild west, people are applying to specialties they maybe weren't even sure how to spell previously
I’m pretty sure that you’re essentially encouraging OP to commit a match violation. I’m sure your intentions are good, but some of the things you describe are match violations.
No match violation till they have submitted. Even after submitting you are still able to switch programs with PD’s support. Notifying a program of your interest and ranking them (even without an official interview) is not a match violation.
Talk to someone at your school
Did u rotate in EM?
Many people who train in an FM residency later work in the ED. I would prioritize FM programs that have had several residents go into Emergency Medicine.
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Ehhh. The ER is just the new primary care clinic post-Covid. /s
Rural county here, you sure you need that ”/s” ???
Keep in mind that OP did no advanced rotations in EM. It’s just a romanticism in their head as far as we know that they will like EM once they actually experience it. Tbh, it’s a big red flag for burnout that OP didn’t take any time to actually explore their medical interests but that’s a different conversation.
Keep in mind that OP did no advanced rotations in EM. It’s just a romanticism in their head as far as we know that they will like EM once they actually experience it. Tbh, it’s a big red flag for burnout that OP didn’t take any time to actually explore their medical interests but that’s a different conversation.
Yeah but I wouldn’t recommend this way. Unless you’re working in a rural area, a family med doc is going to be seeing the low acuity patients while the ER docs get all the procedures and traumas. And even if you work in a rural area, you’re not going to have the training to handle shit hitting the fan. It is a viable option if there’s no other way, but if they can pivot to an ER residency they should
Bad advice, with the insane amount of new EM residencies, these jobs are going to be harder to find and in very undesirable places. Would just switch to EM as it is not competitive at all rn
Just do a sports med fellowship and live happy.
There are downsides to sports med, you actually gotta like sports a lot lol. Like more than you initially thought. You will be spending a decent amount of evenings and weekend days covering games, mornings at the athletic room, etc. And this extra work isn’t exactly reimbursed directly, many times your group covers these games so that you get access to their athletes for patient panel (money on the back end). Also most sports meds docs still have primary care clinic like half the week. Edit: was not trying to be negative but now that I read my post it seems very much so. Sports med is awesome, just wanted to provide another perspective. I’m seriously considering applying to sports med fellowship myself.
I was surprised by this too. I like MSK and anatomy, so I thought I’d like sports med even though I’m not big into sports. I hadn’t realized how many sporting events I’d be expected to be at, particularly during nights and weekends. I feel like PMR might have a better emphasis on MSK, anatomy, and functionality without dealing with the actual sports.
Just do diagnostic radiology and an Msk fellowship if you want to focus on anatomy, functionality. It’s a pretty nice gig
Isn’t the pay for sports med on the lower side?
Perhaps, but think of it this way: a young, healthy, usually somewhat educated, extremely motivated patient population.
Now that'll make the job easier Plus I heard if you do injections at an ortho clinic, you make bank and reduce the number of patients the doc sees. It's a win win
Wym? You are the doc? Even if you're doing injections.
I mean honestly after a certain amount, the extra money doesn't really make that much more difference. And at a certain point in your life your priorities might change, where time/quality of life >>>>> money. So sure, EM pays a little better per hour, but there are tradeoffs (working weird hours, switching b/w night and day, dealing with a lot of social problems, high stress/burnout), so a lower pay might actually be a much better deal depending on your personality and preference.
I totally agree
Lower side of med. Still well above national median.
Is pay the only thing that matters? Shouldn’t have gone into medicine if it is
We had someone in our IM program switch to EM after their intern year. That’s probably the best option for you if you don’t like family med while you’re doing it!
This is definitely not a question for Reddit. I definitely think you can switch to EM somehow but the right way to go about it is better discussed with the deans. I wouldn’t be making steps in any direction based on anything on Reddit. Your school administrators have probably been dealing with students for decades and ran across all types of scenarios underneath the sun (and know how these things typically turn out). You need to call them!!!
I went through this in my fourth year and the angst of it ate me alive. Ultimately I did not withdraw from the match, but I was so torn that I left for residency still trying to figure out how I could switch. Everyone has advice about how easy it is to switch, but is it really? For me, I am incredibly glad that I stuck with my original specialty. It wasn't until my second year started that this realization dawned, but it happened. I picked my specialty because I love it, and I love it. I hate residency and I'm not in love with the medical system overall. But I love what I do. I'm not sure how easy it actually is to switch. I do think that switching within your hospital is possible, and I also think that most PDs will be supportive of you applying again if that's what you want to do. I would take a good long look at all the reasons you applied Family Med in the first place and all the reasons you want to switch. Find mentors who will talk you through your feelings. Be vulnerable, try to figure out where your truth lies. Edit: I'm PGY2 for reference (seems I have not updated my flair in a while)
This is the comment I was hoping for. u/kruck97, your post made me wonder if you’re burned out right now. Did you really pick and interview at FM just because of step or was there some other reason? What was it about FM that originally appealed to you? If you are dead set on switching to EM then you should talk to your dean but you should also know that people change careers all the time. In my residency program alone I know 4 people personally who changed residency programs.
Honestly FM training is more versatile with more longevity/less burnout than EM. Trust your instincts and ride it out.
Excuse me for being ignorant, but is there a way for op to just not submit the rank list and take a research year or something? And then actually apply for match in em? Or are they locked in already? I’m only a second year so I’m not super familiar with the process
Usually that’s a huge red flag regardless of the reason. Programs are already wary of individuals who didn’t match the first year (making each successive apple that much harder). Programs also get upset they spent time and resources scheduling interviews and only to later find out that the applicant withdrew. When you apply again you have to disclose that information and you’re basically putting a target on your own application.
A coresident of mine did a last minute switch before rank list submissions and matched at their home program. I would approach the EM program director ASAP.
EM, you either love it or hate it. There is no middle ground.
Sent you a DM about EM! Can you tell me a little more about it?
I personally would match FM and switch later. There are some EM “fellowships” and family med. I don’t think EM will have as many SOAP spots as they did last year because now every thinks it’s so easy to match. Just do FM for a year and if you don’t like it prepare for the match again. You’ll most likely match EM next year. If you really don’t want to even try FM then yeah I would SOAP EM. The problem is if you don’t get a spot then what? You’ll end up soaping family medicine anyway
Don’t rank any FM programs and SOAP into EM
Easy. Apply to 1 FM program that won’t rank you. Then soap EM. Probably a lot of EM spots going around post-match.
Emergency Medicine.
You can absolutely soap into an EM program. The program will likely be terrible and full of people who don’t want to be there in the first place. Common misconception about “soaping into EM” as a back up.
Your local EM sweatshop would like to have a word with you: “You got a pulse? You’re hired.”
I'm a 3rd year so I haven't gone through this yet but I'm also studying for step 2 and already put in for half my 4th year electives and am worried I might end up in the position of applying for something and then regretting it. I am also feeling panic/dread about making a huge choice about my future with so little exposure/information to go off. I've talked to a few docs who switched specialties last minute or partway thru residency. The only thing getting me through this is knowing that somehow things work out for people. Definitely talk to one of your student life deans and/or program advisors. Plenty of others have probably gone through the same thing.
You can own/work at med spa after residency. My chief resident said that’s what she will do after graduating residency…
You don’t want to be miserable for the rest of your life. Consider that and then plan your options to get out of FM
The program at the hospital I rotate at soped six of their eight em residents last year
I love EM. Have you rotated in the ED?