Hi ladies.
Essentially, here is the long and short of my situation. I matched to a small DO surgery program. Thought about it for almost a year before committing. Have a husband and daughter who is 3. Husband is fully supportive. My problem...when I committed, there were different residents (who have since graduated) and a completely different tone to the program. Now, our "chief" - who is only 1 year ahead of me - has become someone I simply can't stand. I wanted to be at this hospital because of the lack of cut-throat atmosphere and the comraderie of the residents. Now, this joker has turned things upside down. It's to the point that the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when he even talks in lecture. There are 2 of us surgery interns and I like the other guy very much. This resident has already started playing us against eachother and is just an overall jealous, insecure person. The problem? He kisses so much a$$ and does so much extra work that...well, how do I complain about him? The attendings LOVE him because he does so much butt-kissing scut for them. However, the rest of us all get to hear him complain about how hard he works, how all his time is at the hospital, and how he never gets to see his famly. I would estimate 30% of the time spent there is his OWN fault. He steals procedures that us interns need to be learning to do...central lines, intubations, art lines. Seriously, I will walk in with an attending to get ready to do a procedure FOR THAT ATTENDING...and this idiot has already gowned, gloved and set everything up. It's like he has ESP that there is a procedure going on.

Also, one of our surgeons has pulled out of the teaching rotation. Feels that he wants to come to work and not have the pressure of teaching day in and day out. And, I think he has that right. So.....the program overall is at risk and this situation may not be settled for several months. So I stay/go/stay/go????

So, 2 major issues there that were NOT there 1 year ago.

Overall, I am most concerned about working with that person. He sucks the life right out of me. I probably burn a thousand calories making myself have a conversation with him at times. I spoke to the DME last night and I am not the only intern/resident having this problem with this individual, which was comforting to know it's not all me!

Here's the kicker....I've been approached by IM to jump over to their program. As miserable as I am with regards to that joker...it's tempting. I could do an entire residency and fellowship in the same amount of time it would take me to simply complete a gen surg residency. I've also been approached by FP, but that's out of the question...hated FP. I didn't realize my discontent was so obvious! (to everyone but the surgery program!)

To me...it really doesn't matter. I really like most aspects of medicine. I love the hospital, not the office...so a critical care fellowship would be an option after IM. Also, IM would offer me more choices with respect to fellowships that would make my life more family friendly. As of now, with my committment to surgery, we have decided to not have more children.

I chose surgery because I had wonderful experiences on my rotations. I was approached by the chief and an attending my 3rd year regarding the program.

Now, I just feel that things aren't the same. It used to be so laid back and fun with the other residents. This guy....seriously...I don't know what I'm going to do. I want to give it a shot, but I don't want to have to re-do my entire intern year if it doesn't work out. Any feedback would be helpful. To put things in a little more perspective...I have received calls and emails from people I know who went to undergrad with this person....each one of them says "have you thought seriously about how you are going to be able to work with him?" If only I'd seen how he was a year ago!!!

Essentially, I need objective opinions. My ONLY reservation regarding jumping-ship is that I feel personally committed to one of the attendings who point-blank asked me last year "if we offer you the spot, are you going to take it?"....I don't want to let this attending down...but, I can't be miserable the next 4.5 years, either.

You need to take this higher up and be brutally honest...meaning tell them that if things keep going how they are you *will* seriously consider leaving their program. They need to know how BAD things are and if you are not the only one then ALL of you need to join forces and go together. There is so much power in numbers. If the whole program is suffering because of one person no matter how much he/she is liked then the word gets out and they will be having a difficult time getting competitive folks come next year. The word does get out. All this can be done with "proof" of incidents and accounts of events you need to write down specific issues and dates/times. Also if you are NOT getting trained what is the purpose of a residency? if this jackass is doing everyones procedures? what a moron.

hi double elle-
sorry to hear you're going through this. i remember some of your previous posts, and i'm sorry to hear this is an ongoing problem. there are a few things i don't understand- how big is your program? how many chiefs do you graduate each year? you say you're an intern but this guy is your "chief"? i don't get it. our teams usually consist of all years from pgy1-5. if other folks in your program are having problems with this guy, can you approach a senior resident ie pgy5 that you trust to talk to him? that sort of behavior would simply NOT BE TOLERATED by anyone and would quickly be handled by our chief residents or program director.

also, do you have to work with this guy on every rotation? it's quite possible for me to go through the entire year without ever working with some other residents, so maybe you can request to specifically not work with this character. i would even consider meeting with your program director to work around your schedule rather than have this resident negatively affect your education.

there are ALWAYS bad apples in every bunch regardless of where and what you do, so i would hesitate to empower one crummy individual to change the course of your career!

Wow, what a difficult situation. It sounds that not only are you conflicted about the situation itself but it seems that you might also be re-evaluating your choice in specialties. So, this might be a blessing in disguise? Bottom line: do what you believe to be best for you - have NO consideration about letting down an attending. Sad to say, but it seems that we women seem to worry about not letting someone down. Forget that! Plenty of folks change residencies, leave "high powered" careers after being "mentored", etc. In the long run, if you do decide to leave surgery, you can find a short, sweet and diplomatic way of communicating with the attending and then move on. However, if you want to continue in surgery with this program, the advice given by others here seems good. And of course, you could look for another surgery program? Although, easier said than done... Keep us posted!

No, I would't want to do surgery anywhere else. I chose this program because of the lack of competative nature and no cut-throat-ness. However, those residents have since graduated and I'm left with this goom-ba. I will talk to the attending I feel I am closest with when he returns next week. I simply have to be honest about my concerns. Something needs to be done soon, because I haven't slept in days because of this. I officially change over to being a "surgery intern" Jan 1 (in DO world, 1st 6 months is the traditional rotating part). Perhaps, when I am actually back in the OR and around all those guys again...I will feel more comfortable putting that resident in his place (tactfully, of course). I will keep you posted.

I had a similar chief in fp. Probably many of us did in whatever specialty right? A-kissing and arranging to look like they are doing extra work (when it's work any of us would gladly do) and machiavellian politics is exactly how they got to be chief in the first place. it's probably the same in most places, just a lucky few that aren't. can you try and beat him at his own game (while pretending to be his ally?)sounds awful but i think many residents take that route with their chief. i made the mistake of constant battling sticking up for what i thought was right etc. i got no where and was more miserable in the long run. if i knew of a less malignant program in IM i would have switched to get away. still chief isonly for1 year right? i hope you can find a solution-maybe a different program-and not leave surgery.