Tag: acceptance

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Failed Course And Switched Schools: Is It Possible To Get Into Radiology Residency ?

course failure

Question About Failed Course And Acceptance To Radiology Residency:

 

Hello Dr. Julius,
I am an applicant for this year’s DR residency cycle. I’m in a unique position and would value your opinion. I began medical school at a DO program but am now graduating from a foreign MD program. In essence, I was not able to satisfactorily perform osteopathic manipulations. And, I couldn’t pass the final lab at the end of year 2. Instead of repeating the year, I transferred to an offshore school with US-based rotations on my original four-year timeline for graduating.

Nonetheless, I have otherwise satisfactory pre-clinical grades, clerkship scores, and decent board exams, without any other failures or professionalism concerns. My failure of the class and switching school is a large red flag in my profile. I’m very candid about all of this in my application but would like to know your initial impression as a program director if this scenario came across your desk.

Thanks for your time!

 

Answer:

Unfortunately, I have to say that you will have an uphill battle after your failed course, not to say that getting into residency is impossible. One of the red flags that most radiology residencies look for is why you have changed schools. And, if you couldn’t pass a particular class, most residencies will want to know why.

In radiology residency, you will need to perform procedures in interventional radiology and body imaging. You will need to develop a reasonable explanation of why you can perform these technical procedures competently even though you had a failed course of osteopathic manipulation. Maybe, you can demonstrate that you performed well in another technically based rotation and get recommendations in that area. That would certainly help your case. Nevertheless, your goal should be to explain to residencies why you can safely complete procedures, especially since that seems to be the reason why you were unable to complete your DO degree.

Hope that helps a bit,
Barry Julius, MD

 

 

 

 

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Radiology Acceptance And Increasing Time Since Medical School: A Negative Correlation?

acceptance

Dear Dr. Julius,

Thank you, Dr. Julius, for including me in your network. I understand how difficult it is for you to take time out of your busy schedule, and I do not mean to be a pain. Here’s my question… I applied for radiology and internal medicine. Subsequently, I matched in internal medicine this year (score 247,248, pass). I am keenly interested in radiology and will apply for the match after six years (3 years of residency, three years of J1 waiver, and ten years since graduation). Also, I am working on various research projects in radiology. Will the year of my graduation many years ago negatively affect the possibility of acceptance to radiology residency? I would be highly thankful if you could guide me and give me your insight.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

A Concerned Applicant

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Dear Concerned Applicant,

Concerning your question, the number of years out does make a difference in the application process and changes the acceptance rate. Unfortunately, some programs have screening criteria that prevent graduates before a specific year from getting an interview. Why does this happen? I think many program directors don’t want to hassle with some issues that come with more experienced candidates. These may be unexplained gaps in time, foreign visa issues, changes in the USMLE tests, and more. That is not to say that all programs have this screening criterion.

More importantly, however, the more significant issue is not the number of years. Instead, it is the number of years you have completed your residency program already. Once you hit the three-year mark, the government may not fund your position. And the lack of funding translates into programs that will not grant you an acceptance due to the costs to the hospital. That is, some residency programs have less need for funding than others due to external sources. So, it is not impossible to find a radiology residency. But it isn’t easy.

In your situation, your best bet is to get to know the radiologists and program directors in the hospital at your residency. Also, as you are doing, participating in research at an institution with a radiology residency may give you more of an inside track. Again, you will still potentially find it difficult because radiology has become more competitive in the past couple of years, especially for foreign grads. Presently, programs can select applicants more discriminately from American medical schools without a J1 status than in previous years.

My recommendation to you is to continue to pursue the possibility of trying to get into a radiology residency if you have the means to do so. On the other hand, go through the application process with a sense of realism that you might not gain acceptance. The good news is that you obtained a residency slot in an internal medicine program! Congratulations! As a J1 visa holder, you have achieved something many others can only dream about. Luckily, now, you have a fallback position.

Good luck with the pursuit of your goals,

Barry Julius, MD