I am current 4th year medical student interested in Anesthesia. Unfortunately, my interest in anesthesia is solely based on what I think I can see myself doing and enjoying as I was unable to have a formal rotation in Anesthesia during my 3rd year. I had a rotation set up in April of my 3rd year which was cancelled due to coronavirus. As a DO that does not have a home institution with an anesthesia program, I was unable to get my first rotation in Anesthesia until late September. ERAS opens before then, and my anesthesia rotation will end about 3 days prior to residency programs being able to view my application. I know these circumstances have not been encountered before, but does anyone have any advice on how to handle this situation? I appreciate any input and can provide more details on my situation as needed, thank you!
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
4th Year Medical Student Advice
- Thread starter KnicksDO
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2009
- Messages
- 374
- Reaction score
- 238
Your home institution may not have a formal anesthesia program, but they must have OR's. See if you can shadow some anesthesiologists in those ORs even if it's not an official rotation.
Thank you for the response. The hospitals I have contacted are not allowing visiting students in any capacity until late august or late September depending on the hospital. If they are allowing visiting students, they must be from within a certain radius of their hospital with a legal address.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
- Messages
- 555
- Reaction score
- 1,464
Submit app with 3 letters. If I remember correctly, you are allowed to submit 4. Try to secure a letter by the end of 3rd week. Have that letter uploaded ASAP. Update program PRN.
Apply to backup FM, IM etc.
Apply to backup FM, IM etc.
Do you think this will be looked down upon by program directors? Such that, will it appear like an impulsive last minute switch if my anesthesia rotation ends on October 18th and they view my application on October 21st leading to my commitment to the field long term to be in question?
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
- Messages
- 555
- Reaction score
- 1,464
I am not a PD so I don't know what they think. I do think that you are overthinking it. It doesn't seem like you have much control over any of it at this point anyway, it certainly does you no good stressing out about it.
D
deleted697127
Do you think this will be looked down upon by program directors? Such that, will it appear like an impulsive last minute switch if my anesthesia rotation ends on October 18th and they view my application on October 21st leading to my commitment to the field long term to be in question?
Your school must have someone appointed as an advisor for students going into anesthesia. Touch base with them and make sure they know that you haven’t been able to get firsthand experience in the field. They may not be able to get you in the OR if there are rules against it with the pandemic, however, they likely will be able to discuss your views on the field and if they make sense. I would strongly urge you to submit on time if you definitely want to go into anesthesia. I do not think the circumstances of the pandemic will be held against you. Just make sure you know what the field entails. If you’re on a surgery rotation, ask if you can hang out on the other side on a day off for an hour or something.