The Complete Residency Program Switch Process Part II: The Procedural Guidelines
Jan 27, 2023
Published by Kathrin O'Neill
Upon examining all the prerequisites, misconceptions, and initial preparations that you must do in Part I of this guide, perhaps it might be time for you to proceed with the actual procedure of how to switch residency programs upon concluding that you are capable and ready to make such a move. Of course, years of preparation will not take anything away from the fact that the entire procedure is exceptionally challenging still but rest assured that if you were able to prepare yourself mentally and through other means that would strengthen your core and resolve, you can go through this process with minimal problems – or better yet, none.
Before we dive into the jargon-filled world of applications, it might be wise to first provide you with a rough perspective of just how challenging the actual switch process is going to be. Suppose you have already consulted your program director upon deciding that you are not satisfied with your current program. In that case, you might already be familiar with the pressure you will feel when you stand by your commitment to follow your dreams instead of going with the conventional flow of time. Of course, this is not to say that your colleagues will judge you based on your decisions, but it somehow still boils up within you even if you do not feel it firsthand – and that is entirely normal. Feeling the pressure and feeling anxious about the switch is a natural thing to feel, especially if you value your work ethic and your commitment to the previous program that you have taken (in fact, be afraid if you did not feel any remorse at all in leaving halfway through the program, leaving them with the responsibility to look for another trainee).
However, what you need to note in this scenario is that the actual process might be even more complicated in the sense that you would now have to process all the documentary requirements, request for recommendation letters and evaluations, and generally reach out to the connections that you have built for years to ask them to lend you their help in looking for the right program for you. While these all might only seem like tedious work when examined firsthand, what makes this process so draining is the fact that it is entirely systematic and time-sensitive – forcing you to chase deadlines and aim for specific periods to grab an available slot from a particular institution. Fret not, though, as this guide will give you the necessary information to follow in ensuring that you are aware of how each process should be handled accordingly.
Despite all these grim descriptions of how the process works, you need to remember that nothing is ever impossible if the proper preparations are made for each step. Although the process is undeniably tricky, the purpose of connections, preparations, and gauging the playing field will go a long way nonetheless in ensuring that your progress is as smooth as butter throughout.
Consulting Your Current Program Director
The Post Graduate Medical Education (Office) is often considered as the first point of contact for residents who are planning to transfer programs as they are the ones who would technically “advise” you as to how to proceed with the entire transition process. However, the whole process would remain in your hands as you are taking charge of the transfer itself – requiring you to process your own documents, possibly look for available openings, and generally just handle all the necessary paperwork for the transition that you are planning to take. As such, the typical first point of contact that will often happen is with your home program director – the one who oversees your current training program and the one who will ultimately provide you with the evaluations and recommendations that you will need later.
From this point alone, you might already be feeling the anxiety that we have raised beforehand, considering that this individual is the one that handles and evaluates your performance within the institution. After all, utmost commitment is expected out of you, and transferring to another program seems like a breach of this promise and, ultimately, a mark on their perspective of your dedication and work ethic. With all these things running in your head, some residents opt-out of talking to their program director entirely as they could not handle the immense pressure of having to be blunt about their dissatisfaction with the program – and that is okay. In fact, talking with your current program director is a simple manner of courtesy instead of a requirement, as you should have access to your in-training evaluation records already through the PGME office. However, suppose you are serious about your work ethic, dedication, and commitment to your current training program. In that case, it might be wise to consult your program director as they could ultimately lend a helping hand later if you seem to be struggling in copping that open spot in another institution.
According to the PGME Office, their best advice when consulting with your program director about a potential shift is to do it when you already have secured the spot in the institution that you are planning to apply in as failure to secure a spot later might leave a mark in their perspective of your commitment to your current training. In addition to that, it might likewise compromise your future in the program, especially if the program director seems to carry a vendetta for those who are dissatisfied with how they run their program, albeit this is rare due to it being extremely unprofessional. Nevertheless, before you consult your program director and seek out their help in processing your documents or smoothing out the application process, perhaps it might be wise to reach out to potential programs first and then talk to your program director so that they could put in a good word when the institution calls your current training director.
We know how nerve-wracking this process might be for many, but what you should never forget is that this feeling is normal. You might be surprised by how supportive most program directors are in ensuring that their residents are receiving the best training they could ever get. Suppose you are feeling anxious about talking to your program director. In that case, you may consult the PGME office, you may speak to your trusted colleagues, or you may ease into the topic to give them enough time to process your decision and look for a potential replacement for your spot. Always make sure to keep these conversations professional as this is a procedural step nonetheless – one that could make or break your future career, mind you.
Swap Options Available
When looking for possible swap options that might be available for you, there are four types of swap options that you could encounter during your search:
Internal Transfer
In the simplest sense, an internal transfer is a transfer of programs within the same university, and this might be the easiest one to process out of all four options due to its proximity to your current program location. The policies for this transfer would ultimately depend on the university or institution’s guidelines, but this would generally entail less paperwork and overall ease due to the connections already in place within the university.
If you are planning to opt for the Internal Transfer Process, you have two sub-options in how to proceed with the transition itself: you could either utilize the institution’s internal transfer procedure or use a “Matching” process through external means while still narrowing down your preferences to the current institution that you are in. The earliest period when you could apply for an internal transfer is usually the first day of your PGY1 Year (January 1), but some institutions would often allow transfers until six months before your residency period ends – ensuring that you would be getting the most out of your residency training if you are already in too deep. The process would take months for sure, but this is still shorter in contrast to cross-university transfers that would only be processed months after your finish your transfer.
Some institutions send detailed emails to their students about the transfer process to outline their options during their residency training, but there are likewise some that depend on the student’s initiative to begin the transition process. If you feel like the internal transfer process is the option for you, you should perhaps check out your university’s policy regarding this transition.
Transfer Between Different Universities or Areas
If you initially requested for an internal transfer within your university, but no available slots were present for you to apply in, you could opt for a transfer between universities and institutions instead wherein you could be transferred directly through your university’s applicant list, or you could look for potential programs yourself by examining the available positions in other institutions. Of course, this would entail a requirement for electives, but if you chose to stay within the specialty of your current program, then perhaps the amount of time you will spend in finishing your electives will be drastically reduced.
Upon having a potential spot open in your target institution, the board will have to meet to discuss whether there is sufficient funding to accept your application and whether they would be willing to take your request for transfer into their residency program. This entire procedure’s timeline would often be provided to you by the PGME office. Still, for a rough perspective, you should expect the whole process to last for at least a year due to various discussions regarding funding, opening available spots, and the time required for you to take the elective courses before you are entirely accepted.
If you feel like the transition is taking too long to proceed, you could always couple this option with another transfer method to hasten the process while providing you with multiple options for your transfer.
Internal + External Transfer
The Internal + External Transfer can be likewise referred to as the “Match” process wherein you utilize a Matching database to allow your details to automatically be matched to open positions in various universities and institutions. Considering that the choice of the matching program is dependent on the individual, the process is entirely variable and subject to the matching process’ guidelines.
What you need to note with this process, however, is that despite its relative ease (considering that you would simply have to file for a transfer), the process is extremely time-consuming due to the lack of available spots in contrast to the massive influx of applicants for the matching process. In a sense, you are competing with various applicants for the limited number of slots available through the database – and this is also utterly dependent on the cycles of the matching process you have selected to apply in.
Transfers for Residents with a Pending Return of Service Agreement
Processing the transfer of residents who underwent an initiative with a Return of Service Agreement (ROS) could be pretty complicated in the sense that the guidelines are somehow or even highly different in each scenario – making this situation highly variable to each student who is taking a residency program at a particular institution. If you would like to be sure about how the transfer process will proceed, you could always consult your program director or check out the guidelines of your university’s training policy to clarify your options for transfer.
Establishing Connections and Sending Out Applications
When looking for possible openings in various institutions, your search might be limited by multiple facts that will hinder the availability of slots and your capability to cater to the available slots at hand. Apart from their capacity, funding, and general criteria, the scarcity of the available programs could even be made scarcer with the geographical limitations that are undeniable a concern in many aspects. As such, it might be efficient for you to utilize various databases that highlight available residency training programs within your vicinity to hasten your search and application process by weeks or even by months if the circumstances within your area are incredibly dire.
Some databases that you could utilize may include the American Medical Association (AMA) Residency and Fellowship Database, FindAResident, or even ResidentSwap, but all these options may vary, and you could include more depending on what is available, authorized, and perfect to your liking and search criteria.
For instance, you may likewise opt for a more personal approach wherein you would be utilizing your connections to contact the program directors of certain institutions to reach out and inquire about possible openings. Apart from letting them know that you are a potential candidate, you are also broadening your scope and making your options even more flexible if your database of choice falls short in its search for possible openings.
You may also consult your program director – if you are comfortable letting them know about your transfer – as they may have access to forums that might occasionally post-training openings that you could apply in. Of course, this would entail that you trust your program director enough to let them know about your future prospective, but this would ultimately be a manner of courtesy anyway to let them know that you would be leaving your current program. Just ensure that your director’s perspectives would not compromise your transfer as this could endanger your future in your next or your current program if you fail to apply in another institution (this is rare, of course, due to it being highly unprofessional).
Oh, and as the last tip when sending out applications, ensure that your CV is kept concise, neat, and updated to only highlight the critical information about your profile. You may also call the institution if you do not receive an email weeks after your application, but always keep the content professional or courteous still.
Acing Your Interview
As someone who has already undergone an interview process during your first residency program application, this process might not be as vague and unfamiliar to you as it was before. Following an invitation for an interview that could either be through phone or a personal meeting – one that is often preferred by many programs – you might be interviewed by the institution’s program director or by a faculty member of that particular university to learn more about your skills, your intention, and the reason as to why you chose to transfer between programs instead of seeing your current one through until the end. Of course, honesty is often a good thing in many interviews, but you should be prepared for the possible questions that they would ask to turn certain disadvantages into a reason as to why they should accept you in the program. Fear not, though, as you will undoubtedly ace this interview if you prepare and avoid clichés that are often a red flag for many interviewers.
Processing Loose Ends
Throughout the entirety of the application process, always ensure that you reply to emails and messages as soon as possible, submitting necessary paperwork ahead of time to ensure that you are building a positive reputation within the application team. In addition to that, always ensure that your work ethic will likewise be reflected during your actual training program as you might be “under probation” due to the negative connotations other people might have about your commitment and dedication to your work. While this perspective can be viewed as unprofessional, always put your best foot forward and be prompt with everything that you do, no matter where you end up. At the end of the day, you could never solve unprofessionalism by being unprofessional yourself – why bother stooping down to such a level when you could always dazzle them with your skills and talent?
Summary of the Documents that You Might Need
The application process could significantly vary depending on the institution of your choice. Still, to give you a rough idea about what to prepare beforehand, these are the documents that are often needed in any program that you might apply into:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the program director the one responsible for my ITER?
Not necessarily, as you already have access to your ITERs in most settings. However, you could always contact the PGME office if you have difficulties accessing the necessary documents for your transfer.
Are electives necessary for transfers?
Sometimes it is, and that is for an important reason. Electives are an excellent way to ease you into another specialty or environment when planning to transfer to another program. It is better to take electives in the institution that you are planning to get into but coordinate with the program director beforehand to settle any requirements for an elective if there are any necessary documents that you must submit.
Should I message the program director of the residency program that I am applying to?
Yes, and this is often done to make yourself known within the community and establish your intent to apply within their program. Of course, as usual, keep the conversation within office hours and ensure that everything is kept professional throughout.
Where could I find possible listings of residency program openings?
The following are databases wherein you could locate possible listings of available residency programs:
References Used:
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Association of American Medical Colleges. (n.d.). Roadmap to Residency: Understanding the Process of Getting into Residency. Retrieved July 2021 from https://hms.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/assets/Education/Off_of_Student_Affairs/AAMC_Roadmap_to_Residency.pdf
Association of American Medical Colleges. (n.d.). Your Journey from Premed Through Residency. Retrieved July 2021 from https://students-residents.aamc.org/
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The Student Doctor Network. (2015). My Experience Switching Residencies. Retrieved July 2021 from https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/my-experience-switching-residencies.1127164/
United States Medical Licensing Examination. (n.d.). Step 1. Retrieved from https://www.usmle.org/step-1/
United States Medical Licensing Examination. (n.d.). Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge). Retrieved from https://www.usmle.org/step-2-ck/
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