Has anyone done a second residency? I am a Pediatrician but don't want to do this for the rest of my life (or very much longer). I am considering a second residency. I am interested in Psychiatry and Pathology. Pathology holds more of my interest though. Has anyone done a second residency? If so, can you tell me about your experiences? Are there any Pathologists on the board? I am interested in Clinical Pathology because I really, really, really do not want to do autopsy. However, is it better to train in both Clinical AND Anatomic Pathology in terms of job availability? Also, is there an ability to work part time in Pathology?

Thank you for any information you have.

I can't speak from experience myself, but I do know I've had a couple of (fabulous) attendings in medical school who've done second residencies and speak glowingly of the decision to do so. At least one of them had been in practice for nearly a decade first.

I'm sure there's some selection bias in who I ended up seeing... but it certainly hasn't hurt them professionally, I don't think!

Also, welcome to the forum!

HI-I knew a few residents who did second residencies and did not regret their choices, one went from FP to ER. One was from OB to FP. It is definitely possible..good luck!

I have been hearing that second residencies aren't funded? Anyone know where I can find out more info on that?

What's really upsetting is that I didn't know myself well enough in medical school to know that I was headed down the wrong path. I wasn't true to myself and didn't listen to my cues. Whenever I said I was not happy with what I was doing people would come back with, "Well, how could you NOT like it?" And this was about everything...medicine, my choice of profession, my job, etc. I felt like there was something wrong with me. Now that I am a mom and see how my stress is impacting my child and our interaction, I realize that I needed to listen to my true feelings. He is more important than any job and I need to make sure he's well taken care of. Staying with what I am doing will not accomplish that.

I am thinking of contacting the local Path dept residency program and setting up an informal meeting to discuss all of this.

i do know of a fp resident who quit fp residency after intern year and then was able to do a path residency. i don't know how funding worked out. meeting with the path residency program sounds like a great idea!

Well, just did some research and found out that Path jobs are hard to come by and most people need to do a fellowship after residency to be marketable. Wow, that's a lot more years of study!

How about psychiatry? There is a dire need for child psychiatrists-with your peds background, you'd be ideal!

The psychiatrist I worked with this year was originally a general surgeon. He was bored with that and became a trauma surgeon instead. That grew old and he did a plastics fellowship. After years of practice, he went back to do a psych residency.

I also know an internal med doc who returned to do a psych residency. All are happy.

I think psych would be interesting but I would in no way be interested in child psych full time. I actually don't enjoy treating kids (and their parents) with psychotropic drugs. I would love to work with adults in this though.

Oh, I just have to reply! Check out the Pediatrics Portal Programs -- it's now in it's 3rd year nationwide --

pediatricians apply and do 3 years of a residency-fellowship and leave board eligible for general psych and child psych (normally a 5-6 year stint)

you might cut general psych down to 3.5 years (from 4) if you have enough neurology documented in your training.

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2nd residency funding, i think, depends on how much gov't subsidy the particular program gets.
(but peds portal is INTENDED to be a second residency program)