Thread: the return

havent posted on this thread for a while....but looks like this years saba match already has an anesthesia match at a university hospital in a major metropolitan area

hard work ALWAYS pays off...and settling for 2nd best never does!

Originally Posted by darkmansaad

I only took it to avoid "settling" for crappy anesthesia spots in bad locations.

Oh, really? What might you consider to be "crappy anesthesia spots in bad location?" One like mine?

where did u match sundevil?

Originally Posted by SunDevilDoc

Oh, really? What might you consider to be "crappy anesthesia spots in bad location?" One like mine?

Originally Posted by SunDevilDoc

Oh, really? What might you consider to be "crappy anesthesia spots in bad location?" One like mine?

Haha no, one like I interviewed at the first time that had an RRC review cycle of 6 months that seemed somewhat amenable to IMGs. I decided I'd rather go somewhere else even though the location was good.....even though the PD gave me good vibes. The program also made me travel to other sites regularly for rotations like Pain, Regional, etc...another red flag. One of the reasons I took my chances again...

And when I say bad location, thats highly subjective to the person. I live in the middle of nowhere now and some of the other residents think its one of the greatest places on earth so I think location has to be balanced as far as individual wants/needs in addition to being realistic about competitiveness as an IMG.

Although I should say for most people, I would take the spots you can get, Anesthesia is really hard to get. I got a spot I wanted the 2nd time around due to a high amount of ridiculously hard to factor variables. I def sorta lucked out. Im just happy to have what I wanted at this point and am not questioning how and why anymore haha

Originally Posted by buddababa

where did u match sundevil?

I matched to University of Arkansas. Other than slogging through my intern year with surgery specialities, I'm very happy to be here, love Little Rock, and looking forward to starting CA-1 year in July.

Originally Posted by darkmansaad

Haha no, one like I interviewed at the first time that had an RRC review cycle of 6 months that seemed somewhat amenable to IMGs. I decided I'd rather go somewhere else even though the location was good.....even though the PD gave me good vibes. The program also made me travel to other sites regularly for rotations like Pain, Regional, etc...another red flag. One of the reasons I took my chances again...

And when I say bad location, thats highly subjective to the person. I live in the middle of nowhere now and some of the other residents think its one of the greatest places on earth so I think location has to be balanced as far as individual wants/needs in addition to being realistic about competitiveness as an IMG.

I'm glad you found the right match for you. I remember talking to you when you were going through the mess of finding the right anesthesia program. Glad you could be near family in the city you like.

Originally Posted by darkmansaad

are you drunk? This post sounds suspiciously like something from the mind of a 3rd year med student who thinks they know what goes on at the resident level and resident selection.

Do you think its feasible to join an anesthesia program and try to transfer out during your CA-1 year? How are you going to ask for absences off to interview? Do you think your program director will be happy with you/actually let you transfer without any problems? And if you dont do you think you'll get any support for fellowship or finding employment? Wherever you end up is where you will spend your 3-4 years. For me those years are my late twenties which I dont feel like spending in the middle of nowhere.

Secondly when I say crappy I dont mean quality. Theres very few "bad" programs in anesthesia, most are right in the middle with 5% being at the top and bottom. Location defines competitiveness, and try looking for carib grads matching in the big cities such as chicago, NYC, boston, cali, miami. They number about 5-7 a year in a good year and thats from ALL carib schools. To my knowledge there have been no saba grads matching into any of the major cities including the one I matched into, New York City. I owe that to the fact that most hospitals dont know what Saba is. Personally it was VERY important to me that I live back home in NYC, almost so important that I was considering not matching into anesthesia if I did not. If its not that big to you, I'm sure you can end up in a rural location training, your life whatever. Where are these plenty of spots available in nyc for anesthesia swaps? Show some facts, anesthesia is tough to match into for IMGs your not gonna swap your spot in Iowa for a spot in NYC, thats sheer folly. Also might I add, I interviewed at this program last year and did not match. I needed a year at a top notch hospital with research and letters from physicians that were STELLAR.

And yes it doesnt feel good to not match. And yes, prelim surgery is not a cakewalk, esp at my program. The point of my post was that you can get it done if you REALLY want. I really wanted anesthesia in nyc and busted my ***. Like I said, saba grads work hard. And as for my headache for not knowing where I will match...that is completely in my control. I got done what I needed to to make sure I stood a good chance at matching and now its done.

If your a resident, you are poorly informed. If you are a student who has not applied for/gone through the match, stop posting on this topic you have no idea what your talking about. Another example of saba noobs dispensing advice that they have heard about anecdotally.

seems like i pinched a nerve. I will try not to be too condescending here in my reply:

firstly, drinking and getting drunk is for losers. suits you, since you're doing gas - biggest druggies on this planet...haha

secondly, why dont you go on SDN and see how many people want to switch. its like boobs in a strip bar - abundant. go check it out. too bad you did not have an anesthesia program at that time to even TRY to switch.

thirdly, i already matched in a top program with an excellent fellowship track record, and will be doing cards...so im def. not a third year medical student.

fourthly, anesthesia is extremely competitive as an IMG instead of jeopradizing your future and securing A spot is clearly way more important than having nothing.
I cant believe these simple facts have to be explained to you.
No wonder you went 'hiding' as you say it, since you were still coming to terms with NOT matching the first time and trying to figure out what went wrong.

fifthly, you just wasted thousands of dollars again applying through ERAS. NOT smart. Even you can attest to that. Unless you grow money in your backyard, this alone is a good enough reason to STFU and do things right the first time instead of rationalizing it.

sixthly, you PREMATCHED. we all know what kind of programs pre-match. NY is known for some very malignant programs that pre match, perhaps you are in one of them. good luck to you anyways. A lot of programs are univ. affiliated, doesnt mean jack.

seventhly (this numbering is getting ridiculous, but ill do it for fun anyways) Mayo is known to be IMG friendly, everyone knows that. that is why you ended up there, didnt you. sure, your PD might have noted how 'excellent' it is, but if a program matches a lot of IMGs, its generally not THAT competitive of a program.

Eighthly, you can create a poll and see how many people would CHOOSE surgery pre lim at a top tier program over categorical anesthesia at mid tier accredited program. I can guarantee you the results.

ninthly, all residency programs MUST comply with ACGME criteria to actually exist as a program. that standard is maintained throught ALL residency programs. its like saying you either go to SABA or NYU. You could be a better student coming out of SABA than NYU purely based on what you want to do with your life and what you expect of yourself. Sure NYU will provide you with a headstart, but it doesnt mean you dont have to work for it.

lastly, be happy that you matched into anesthesia eventually. but the fact that you did not match the first time with great scores should be enough of a reason for you to tell people not to be picky and be practical and see how difficult its getting to match.

again, congratulations that you matched. you should be thankful and humble...

Originally Posted by seattle

Darkman-

Nice to hear of your update after a long while. Looks like things worked out well at Mayo and now onto anesthesia in NYC. Great!

Everything you stated is accurate. On a side note, I have seen individuals here locally, who did transfer from a nowhere location to a big city major anesthesia university based program...but it is VERY RARE and in such cases the individual had strong connections. But you are correct, other than those rare circumstances it is almost impossible and RD's do not look favorably on such requests.

Hope you keep updating on your progress in the NYC residency. Best wishes!

Na uh, Im not a medical student.

FAIL.

Originally Posted by rokshana

well said...moving around between specialties and programs isn't like it was before when there were more residency spots than applicants...yes people do move, but there is usually a good reason...family reasons, true change of heart, spouse gets a job elsewhere...

people make different decisions based on what is important to them and what they are (or not) willing to get said spot...some are willing to take what they can get right away...others will spend a yr or 2 or 3 doing research or by doing a prelim yr as a stepping stone...none of those choices are wrong...it just depends on the person...

anything is possible...it all depends on you.

like how someone matched at the university of toronto for plastic surgery.

like how some saba student matched into anesthesia during scramble because he played it right...

and you should go check out SDN and see resident swap. switching is definitely possible since matching and ranking is still not an exact science and a lot of time, people end up where they dont want to irrespective of how great a program is. PDs know this, and if you find a suitable person who wants to switch, all you need to do is write a letter and explain and thats all.

PDs need a body, a resident, a work horse, thats all...who can provide manual labour and run their department swiftly. and if they can find someone who can do that with a smiley face after switching with someone, they are up for it.

Originally Posted by SunDevilDoc

Oh, really? What might you consider to be "crappy anesthesia spots in bad location?" One like mine?

LOL.........

NY programs are KNOWN to be crappy. Most of them anyways.

tonnes of residents, horrible nurses, horrible attitude of people...not enough learning. just scut and more scut...

no thanks.