IM Subspecialties

[GeorgeMD2B]

How difficult is it for an Internist to subspecialize after residency? Are post residency fellowships competitive to the point that it is difficult for certain IM subspecialties? I am particularly interested in Hematology/Oncology but I am wondering if this field will be difficult to get into as an IMG.

[stephew]

the difficulty as always depends upon competitiveness; med onc is medium. Its probably do-able if you do a good job as a resident.

[teratos]

As steph said, med-onc would probably be in the "medium" category. A few of my Caribbean colleagues have gotten onc fellowships at good university programs. One is at NIH. If you work hard you can get it. Just look at steph (Don't be embarrassed to be in the spotlight, steph ), she's doing rad onc at Hopkins. A very competitive residency at a very competitive program. G

[Picard]

Cardio, pulm, and GI's are probably the three hardest fellowships to get because they are procedure oriented (and thus profitable). With that said, SGU grads out of our IM programs have gotten all three... and my co-chief is heading into Pulm/critical care after taking a year off this coming year (to make money in a real job before going back to resident-level salary again)

Heme/Onc is not a very difficult fellowship to get. Here in California, they are becoming even less popular because many programs are adding an additional year of bench research to the fellowship and making their fellows obtain Ph.D. at the end of the fellowship.

P