Day 21: First Year Resident Drops out

Well today while we were rounding, the chief resident came and met us, and told us that one of the first years had dropped out, and that their was a spot open. Within the same hour of her droppping out, there were already people calling and asking for interviews. I couldn't believe it. We were shocked. she had come from another country and had already done her residency. It was kinda shocking. She was very timid and shy, and she never really spoke to any of us. So no one really knows what happen. One guess was that she had a problem with the language. When the nurses would cal her, she would tell them to please page the senior. At least that is what someone said. She also had some trouble at home. She was a single mother raising a teenager. And that is never easy. So I hope that she is ok. It must have been really devastating for her. You spend your entire life to get here. And then you are not able to finish. Its really tough. ANyways hopefully she will be ok. THe program said that they are going to go back to their match list and choose the next few persons on the list. This year they pre-matched about 5 of us and use the match for like 3 of us. Out of the list of 50 people on their list, seems the program only used the first 6. So the list is very long. drmike

New replacement Resident

Well As fast as the word went out that their was a free spot. They were able to fill it up. They chose a person (male) that had already done an observation at the hospital. Boy that guy was happy. He said that last year he had only gotten 1 interview, and that was from this program that he did an observation with. Geesh, its almost unreal. But seems like some people are very lucky and blessed. MOst programs do not accept observership these days, and bad news is that some states NOW,only allow actively enrolled students to do observership. This will cause a lot of IMG's to not be able to do observership. I think they said it has to do with legal issues and stuff. NOt sure, but when i heard that you have to be a student to do observership, I couldn't believe. Its not fair. In the hospital there are like 3 students that I have seen that are doing rotations. This hospital that I'm doing residency also is keen on people doing research. The guy that got residency went and did some reasearch and had a publication, so that was also a key that helped him get the spot. I suspect that it was only a minor point. It was already around the 2-3rd week, and the program realy needed someone that knew the hospital. It really helps to have someone that knows the hospital, because their really is no time to teach someone where everything is. The program wnated someone that was ready to go, and he was it. Before you run off to do observation, remember, each hospital is different. SOme programs, don't want observationship, or research. SO don't think this sitaution applies to every program. Programs, are very particular, and others are not. Its your reponsibility, to find out what the program you are applying to wants. Sorry for the short update. BYe
GOd bless
Dr.Mike