switching into ortho

I've never heard of an example before, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. I would do some serious research before continuing down that path.
It happens often that someone didn't match in ortho and then, during their intern year in gsurg, spots open up and they take them. But an entire switch in direction is not too common.

I saw someone try last year without any luck. This individual did manage to burn some bridges though. Be sure to use discretion when talking about this at your institution.

I know of someone that did 3 years of path and switched to Ortho. Talk about a 180. So it can happen, just gotta do it right. Research is key, and make sure you have a good reason why you want to switch.

How would you recommend going about doing it then? If one has solid Step 1 and Step 2 scores and matched into another competitive speciality, should it really be tough? i suppose you have to explain your point of view, but should at least your numbers get you through the door for an interview?

I think if your numbers are good and you can get some rec letters from surgical people (which may be hard if you've already done 1+ years of something nonsurgical) then you should be able to get interviews. You would probably have to be willing to accept a pgy-1 spot as the advance positions are very few and highly sought after by lots of people constantly on the watch for them opening. I don't think that simply doing a year or two in some other specialty confers any certain disadvantage though.

mo. It can be done. I know a current attending who switched from gsurg to ortho. Best decision he ever made. Ortho is the schizznit and I haven't seen too many unhappy pods. If you want it I have no doubt you can do it especially with competitive scores and you leave your tool belt at home for the interviews. Good luck. I am curious what field you would like to transfer out of if you're willing to throw it out there.

It can be done, but it ain't easy. I switched from gen surgery after two years as a categorical, without ever applying to ortho before.

The best way of going about this (so I was told by those in the ortho world I talked to - mostly senior residents, staff, program directors, etc) is to do a year of ortho research and apply thru the match. This year will give you the opportunity to learn some ortho, establish a relationship with a program, get recommendation letters, etc. No program is interested in an outsider with no ortho experience, letters, etc. Trust me, I found this out the hard way.

There are programs out there with research positions that have a history of matching people out of their labs. This is the best option, in my opinion. It is important, obviously, to seek a place that will not use you as their lab geek for a year and then leave you hanging come match day. Unfortunately, I know of no program that will give you a guaranteed position in writing after the research year (except Wake Forest, and that is TWO years in the lab) because of the "Rules of the Match". Some places will even let you opt out of repeating the intern year, if you did a surgical internship and start after the research year as a pgy-2.

The bottom line is do your homework before you quit your current residency, get a research position on paper at a program that has a history of taking people out of their labs, and talk to everyone at that program you can from interns to the chair to see if it is a place that you can trust to come through come match day.

Obviously, you need to work your ass off in the lab as well. This kind of commitment is what program directors look for. They want to know you are serious. I quit my job with a wife and two kids to support, with no guarantee of a residency position on paper. There is definitely risk involved, but you can find a program that will come through for you.

No one should go through life doing something they don't want to do just because it may cost you an extra year or two to get where you want to be. If you want it bad enough, the risk is worth it.

Start by e-mailing all the program directors in places you would be interested in going to and just tell them your story and what you want to do and why. That's how I got started.

Good Luck

Well what if you decide after matching into a residency that involves a transitional year, like
radiology, optho, er, etc. Can you tailor your transitional year to have rotations in ortho in
some of your first months and then apply for a pgy-1 spot in the match in
september of your transitional year? That seems like an option that would give you
flexibility to be an intern in ortho for a couple of months.

Or do you pretty much have to do a prelim surgical year?

Understandably, it must be tougher to switch to ortho after you're knee deep in your
categorical residency, but should it be easier while you're still an intern?

Just some thoughts....