This is an interesting post...kind of as a side-note to this subject, I've noticed that a lot of docs are going back and retraining in new specialties....at least where we live. Of our hospitalists, two have left after working for a few years to go back and do fellowship and one is going back and doing a whole new residency (radiology) with the reason that it is unfair that he is "smarter and better" than the radiologists and earns 1/3 what they do :rolleyes: . So...he matched and is started radiology in July....go figure.

kris

The intern is the first year resident (no matter the specialty). Some specialties have decided that they don't want brand new just outta school interns training in their specialty (for various reasons), so they require the new grad to "go get some experience" in the form of an internship. Since it is required in order to begin training in that particular area..it does count. It's all in the way you view the years. Pediatrics, for instance, requires 3 years....anesthesia requires 4 (one year prelim, and 3 additional years in anesthesia).

I'm not sure I'm making myself understandable.

I think I get what you are saying now, depending on where you go for your residency, it maybe 3-4 years of residency including internship, for EM anyway. Right?

Okay, now Im loaded with more questions:
1. I totally am confused with the matching of residencies, dont you have to go and interview rather than you just being randomly picked according to your choices?

2. Fellowship is after residency? If so, what is the point? Is it required for some specialties?

The Match.

As a 4th year medical student you finalize your decision as to which specialty you're going to pursue. (I don't remember exact dates but) sometime in the late summer of your 4th year you submit your application to ERAS (the central application receiving computer center via internet). The programs which you've selected to receive your application, receive it...and subsequently (hopefully most) offer you an interview. Interviews are in the late fall/winter. During these interviews the programs mostly try to sell you their program.

In February (or so) you decide which programs you liked...and rank them in order of preference. You input these desires into the central computer (NRMP match website).

At the same time...the programs rank in order of preference the applicants they like most.

The computer goes thru both lists and *matches* the applicants (4th year students) with the programs that chose them (and vice versa). This is a computer doing all of this...

In March the results are made known to both the programs and the students.


Fellowship.

Some (most) specialties break-down into *sub*specialties. For instance....medicine...you do 3 years of residency (intern year included)...and graduate...pass a test. Congratulations, you are an internal medicine specialist. Stop there and do general internal medicine.

But say, you're really into cardiology. Well, you apply for a fellowship in *cardiology* and do an additional (I think it's 2 years, but I'm not sure)...take a test...and congratulations, you are a cardiologist (a subspecialist of internal medicine).

The specialty of emergency medicine has subspecialtes in toxicology, sports medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, EMS, wilderness medicine....etc.

Oh, I see. I understand now, thanks for the wealth of information!

some other helpful websites for understanding this process are:

www.nrmp.org

www.meded.umn.edu/students/residency/index.htm

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3159.html
which is the American Medical Association website...if you just type in www.ama-assn.org and go to physicians and then medical education there is a wealth of info including "becoming a doctor" and the residency data base "FRIEDA"

I also recommend Kenneth Iserson's book "Iserson's Getting into a Residency: A Guide for Medical Students" which can be purchased through Amazon.com (support Mommd!). This book can not be read too early!

Good luck!

Mya and momsurg, you two are a wealth of information...wow, thank you so much. It's nice to have someone explain things to you.
thanx,
Diana