Hi advice, and thanks for your questions.
Your friend is in a tough spot - I've been in a similar position
myself. His best chance and option is to get a position practicing
medicine for July of this year. His geographic limitations are
somewhat constraining and may limit his chances of ultimately getting
a position for this year unless he is willing to relocate. That being
said, there are more FP positions (and FP is less competitive that
Ob/Gyn) in the southeast.
It would also help him to decide whether he wants to focus on Family
Practice or Ob/Gyn. FP is more aligned with Medicine and Ob/Gyn is a
surgical specialty. If he doesn't decide, he could end up doing a
second internship (i.e., if he does a Medicine internship to prepare
for FP and ends up wanting Ob/Gyn, he would need to do s Surgery
internship and vice versa). That being said, some FP programs might
allow a surgery internship to count for the PGY-1 year training. No
Ob/Gyn program would allow a Medicine internship to count for the
PGY-1 training. So, while a Surgery internship might be more
challenging than a Medicine internship, it would keep more doors open
for him later.
So, if he wants to keep both options open, the best option would seem
to be to seek a Preliminary (as opposed to Categorical) surgical
internship position. There are quite a few programs who hire lots of
Prelim Surgery residents, many of them FMG's, to help staff their
programs. They often have a very high work load at the PGY1 level, but
don't need that many more advanced residents, so they hire Prelims for
1-2 years. Many programs ultimately offer their best Prelims a
position as categorical Surgery residents or work with them to help
them get into their chosen specialty (e.g., Ob/Gyn or FP). This can
include more elective rotations on this service, etc. How much Ob/Gyn
you might be able to do would be something to discuss with the program
director when interviewing for a position. Even if you don't get to
do any Ob/Gyn, it is still a good "foot in the door" position for
surgical subspecialties, provided you can make a strong enough
impression and the program is not hyper-competative.
_______________
So, you probably already received a list of unfilled programs
throughout the country. If not, here's the 2006 list:
http://www.mdsecrets.com/unfilledprograms06/unfilled%2006.pdf
or here:
http://ez-files.net/download.php?file=d886cb28f26773ef022fcb7acaeee154
The positions under Surgery (P) are the Preliminary Surgery positions:
There are a total of 9 positions in Georgia (2 at Atlanta Medical
Center, 5 at Emory, and 2 at Morehouse).
There are 7 positions in North Carolina (2 at Carolinas Medical, 1 at
New Hanover, 2 at Pitt County Memorial, and 2 at Wake Forest Baptist)
There are a total of 19 positions in South Carolina (4 at Greenville
Hospital, 10 at MUSC, 2 at Palmetto Health, and 3 at Spartanburg).
MUSC has a particularly large prelim program with a total of 18
positions. It would be worth calling or e-mailing them even if they
state that they are full.
There are a total of 6 positions in Alabama (1 at Baptist Health, 1 at
Carraway Methodist, and 4 at Univ. of South Alabama). U. of South
Alabama filled none of their 4 prelim positions and would be worth
calling.
There are 3 positions in Mississippi, all at University Hospital in Jackson
There are 13 positions in Florida (2 at Mt. Sinai, 5 at Orlando, 4 at
Univ. of Florida Jacksonville, and 2 at Univ. of Florida Shands). The
Univ. of Florida program at Jacksonville filled none of their 4 prelim
positions and would be worth a call even if they appear to be full.
Likewise with the Orlando program, which filled only 1 of their 6
positions.
Here is their contact information:
GEORGIA:
ATLANTA MED CTR-GA
Surgery-Preliminary 1112440P0 4 2
ACGME: 4401222080
Tel: (404)265-4411
Email: amcgensurg@gmail.com
Fax: (404)265-4989
EMORY UNIV SOM-GA
Surgery-Preliminary 1113440P0* 6 1
ACGME: 4401221079
Tel: (404)727-0093
Email: lynda.watts@emoryhealthcare.org
Fax: (404)727-3316
MOREHOUSE SCH OF MED-GA
Surgery-Preliminary 2099440P0* 3 1
ACGME: 4401221397
Tel: (404)616-1425
Email: ftucker-lively@msm.edu
Fax: (404)616-6281
NORTH CAROLINA:
CAROLINAS MED CTR-NC
Surgery-Preliminary 1527440P0 2 0
ACGME: 4403612246
Tel: (704)355-3176
Email: general.surgery@carolinashealthcare.org
Fax: (704)355-7833
NEW HANOVER REG MED CTR-NC
Surgery-Preliminary 1534440P0* 1 0
ACGME: 4403631249
Tel: (910)343-2516 x 232
Email: nancy.mcdowell@coastalahec.org
PITT COUNTY MEM HOSP/BRODY SOM-NC
Surgery-Preliminary 3057440P0* 2 0
ACGME: 4403611248
Tel: (252)744-5262
Email: surgeryed@ecu.edu
Fax: (252)744-3156
WAKE FOREST BAPTIST MED CTR-NC
Surgery-Preliminary 1537440P0 5 3
ACGME: 4403631250
Tel: (336)716-4241
Fax: (336)716-5414
SOUTH CAROLINA:
GREENVILLE HOSP SYS-SC
Surgery-Preliminary 1683440P0* 4 0
ACGME: 4404511317
Tel: (864)455-7886
Email: sburns@ghs.org
Fax: (864)455-1320
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SC
Surgery-Preliminary 1680440P0* 18 8
ACGME: 4404521315
Tel: (843)792-3072
Email: wethersf@musc.edu
Fax: (843)792-8286
PALMETTO HEALTH RICHLAND-SC
Surgery-Preliminary 1681440P0 2 0
ACGME: 4404521316
Tel: (803)256-2657 x 351
Email: mwehunt@gw.mp.sc.edu
Fax: (803)933-9545
SPARTANBURG REG HEALTHCARE-SC
Surgery-Preliminary 1685440P0* 3 0
ACGME: 4404531318
Tel: (864)560-6285
Email: slully@srhs.com
Fax: (864)560-7320
ALABAMA
BAPTIST HEALTH SYSTEM-AL
Surgery-Preliminary 1903440P0* 5 4
ACGME: 4400121020
Email: valorie.lee@bhsala.com
CARRAWAY METHODIST MED CTR-AL
Surgery-Preliminary 1006440P0 4 3
ACGME: 4400112021
Tel: (205)502-6230
Email: gsres@carraway.com
U SOUTH ALABAMA HOSPITALS
Surgery-Preliminary 1852440P0 4 0
ACGME: 4400111024
Tel: (251)471-7990
Fax: (251)471-7022
Email: acerulli@tufts-nemc.org
Fax: (617)636-5498
UNIV MASS MED SCHOOL
Surgery-Preliminary 3050440P0* 6 0
ACGME: 4402421139
MISSISSIPPI
UNIVERSITY HOSPS-JACKSON-MS
Surgery-Preliminary 1957440P0 3 0
ACGME: 4402721165
Email: surgapp@surgery.umsmed.edu
Fax: (601)984-6892
FLORIDA
MT SINAI MED CTR-MIAMI-FL
Surgery-Preliminary 1105440P0 4 2
ACGME: 4401122075
Tel: (305)695-1255
Email: lmenende@msmc.com
ORLANDO REG HEALTHCARE-FL
Surgery-Preliminary 1107440P0* 6 1
ACGME: 4401111076
Tel: (407)841-5142
Email: surgeryresidency@orhs.org
Fax: (407)648-3686
U FLORIDA HSC-JACKSONVILLE
Surgery-Preliminary 1101440P0 4 0
ACGME: 4401121073
Tel: (904)244-3903
Email: kathy.garvin@jax.ufl.edu
Fax: (904)244-3870
U FLORIDA PROG-SHANDS HOSP
Surgery Prelim - 100286 1824440P0 5 3
ACGME: 4401121072
Tel: (352)265-7973
_______________
Many of the above positions are likely filled. It is definitely worth
contacting programs that are "full," because positions often open or
are created at the last minute. I actually got such a position myself
that worked out well. I would also contact programs that did fill
their preliminary positions for the same reason - sometimes people
drop out before the Scramble, but too late to post the position.
Sometimes money becomes available to fund another position. The work
load in most Surgery programs is pretty high and they usually want as
many PGY1's as they can get to help with the large amount of scut.
===================
Ideally, you would find a preliminary surgery position at a program
with a good Ob/Gyn program that has a history of not filling.
Unfortunately, Ob/Gyn has become very competitive and more difficult
for men to enter than women. There were very few unfilled Ob/Gyn
positions this year. The only position in Georgia was at Memorial
Health. You can see the other positions on page 19 of the above PDF
file with open positions.
==========================================================
Perhaps an easier route is to pursue a Family Practice position, if he
is not set on Ob/Gyn. Over the past few years, FP programs have been
filling at very low rates - so much so that some in the field are
concerned that FP may be in danger as its own specialty. Strong
programs such as UCSF fill easily every year, but there are many
programs that routinely don't fill. This leaves a large vacuum, with
fewer residents trying to do more and more work in these programs. It
also means that these programs have funding for more residents than
they currently have and could potentially take you on as a preliminary
person if they have ACGME approval for such a position.
You can find unfilled FP positions starting on page 3 of the PDF cited above.
In Georgia, there were 5 positions (1 at Memorial Health and 4 at
Phoebe Putney Memorial). Phoebe Putney (SW Georgia FP Residency
Program) filled only 2 of their 6 positions and would be a good place
to contact.
There were 15 open positions in Florida (1 at Bayfront, 10 at Florida
Hospitals in Orlando, 1 at Jackson Memorial, and 3 at Tallahassee
Memorial). The Florida - Orlando program filled only 6 of 16
positions and would be worth a call or e-mail.
In Alabama there were 11 positions (2 at Montgomery, 2 at NE Alabama,
2 at Univ. of Alabama, and 6 at Univ. of South Alabama). Univ. of
South Alabama filled 0 of their 6 positions. NE Alabama filled none
of their 2 positions.
There were 5 unfilled positions in Mississippi (4 at North Mississippi
Medical and 1 at University Hospitals in Jackson). North MS filled
only 2 of their 6 positions.
Here is contact information for the above programs:
GEORGIA
MEMORIAL HLTH-UNIV MED CTR-GA
Family Medicine 1971120C0* 2 1
ACGME: 1201211095
PHOEBE PUTNEY MEM HOSP-GA
Family Medicine 1020120C0 6 2
ACGME: 1201221525
Tel: (229)312-8877
Email: kcollins@ppmh.org
Fax: (229)312-8743
FLORIDA
BAYFRONT MED CTR-FL
Family Practice 1911120C0* 8 7
ACGME: 1201111090
Tel: (727)893-6156
Email: fp.web@bayfront.org
Fax: (727)553-7340
FLORIDA HOSP-ORLANDO-FL
Family Practice 1102120C0* 16 6
ACGME: 1201111088
Tel: (407)303-2814
Email: jeannie.lee@flhosp.org
Fax: (407)303-2885
JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSP-FL
Family Medicine 1104120C0* 8 7
ACGME: 1201121087
Email: smanning2@med.miami.edu
TALLAHASSEE MEM HEALTHCARE-FL
Family Medicine 2926120C0 9 6
ACGME: 1201111086
Tel: (850)431-5714
Email: linda.collier@tmh.org
Fax: (850)431-6403
ALABAMA
MONTGOMERY FAM MED RES-AL
Family Medicine 3082120C0* 3 1
ACGME: 1200121624
Email: Lnorred@Baptistfirst.org
NE ALABAMA REG MED CTR
Family Practice 3047120C0* 2 0
ACGME: 1200121636
Tel: (256)231-8877
Email: atwilley@rmccares.org
U ALABAMA SOM-TUSCALOOSA-AL
Family Practice 2955120C0* 12 10
ACGME: 1200121027
Tel: (205)348-1370
Email: uatfprp@cchs.ua.edu
Fax: (205)348-2695
U SOUTH ALABAMA HOSPITALS
Family Practice 1852120C0* 6 0
ACGME: 1200111024
Tel: (251)434-3484
Email: fpres@fammed.usouthal.edu
Fax: (251)434-3573
MISSISSIPPI
NORTH MISSISSIPPI MED CTR
Family Medicine 1218120C0 6 2
ACGME: 1202721558
Tel: (662)377-2261
Email: htaylor@nmhs.net
Fax: (662)377-2263
UNIVERSITY HOSPS-JACKSON-MS
Family Medicine 1957120C0 10 9
ACGME: 1202721181
Email: fcleveland@familymed.umsmed.edu
==========================================================
A third possibility would be to work with someone in a program that
your friend might be interested in joining as a resident next year.
This usually involves helping out with some type of research, etc.
The best choices are usually chairpersons or program directors, since
these people usually have more say in the rank list each year.
Unfortunately, most research is done at the larger academic centers,
which are more competitive for both Ob/Gyn and FP. It can still be
worth a shot, however, if the other options above don't work out. The
more sure option would be to find a research position at a place that
didn't fill all their spots this year. If you work there and they
like you, you are likely to be ranked highly. Programs don't like to
not fill their residency spots year-after-year. It makes people
wonder what's wrong with the program and makes people not apply there.
Center Watch has a general description of research being done at
Memorial Health in Georgia:
http://www.centerwatch.com/professional/pro937.html
Here is a link to their FP program:
http://www.memorialhealth.com/education_2/residency_family_medicine.html
Their research page doesn't have a lot of details on projects that are ongoing:
http://www.memorialhealth.com/education_2/residency_family_research.html
Their faculty page gives a few more details on projects that specific
faculty are interested in:
http://www.memorialhealth.com/education_2/residency_family_faculty.html
The Southwestern Georgia FP program (Phoebe-Putney) doesn't seem to
have a hospital-based link to their program. There is, however, an
off-site web site for the program:
http://www.fmresidency.com/
Here is their faculty page:
http://www.fmresidency.com/faculty.html
An *excellent* resource for finding out details about FP programs is
the American Association of Family Practice (AAFP). Their database
has a tremendous amount of information on programs, including how many
filled positions they have at each level of training, how many
positions they filled this year, salary, day care availability, types
of rotations, fellowships offered, call schedule, web links, contact
information, etc.
http://www.aafp.org/residencies/
______________
Finally, another option might be to look at posted open positions at
Find-a-Resident, a service of the AAMC (American Association of
Medical Colleges). It's a pay service, but you can see how many
positions at each level are open before paying for membership.
http://www.aamc.org/students/findaresident/
You may also be interested in these Google Answers:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=444910
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=724891
==========================================================
I hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to request
clarification prior to rating. Best of luck to your friend during
this tough time.
-welte-ga |
