From Prelim PGY-1 to OB/GYN

Written by Ashley Cronkright, DO, MPH

Match Day came and went – and now you feel stuck in a prelim year with unfulfilled OB/GYN aspirations. What’s next? And how do you pick up the pieces and try again? As disappointed and defeated as you may feel (trust me, I’ve been there) – try to embrace the next year of training in your prelim year. Medicine is a practice, and you are continuously learning throughout your career. Do not look at this extra year as a negative thing.

Next year, when you do match – you will be far ahead of your freshly graduated co-interns in efficiency, medical knowledge, and level of comfort. I trained in internal medicine for a year before successfully matching into OB/GYN.

Here are some tips and tricks to make the best of this upcoming year and to set yourself up for success in the next Match.

• Email programs where you interviewed: Ask for feedback on your application and how you can improve upon your application for the upcoming year. Not all programs will respond but try not to get discouraged.

• NETWORK (I cannot stress this enough). Find a mentor or several. Ideally, someone who has mentored successful applicants before. Both ACOOG and ACOG have resources on their website for potential mentors if you are unable to find one through your school or another route. Download your ERAS application from last year and have them review it and ask for feedback.

• Go to an OB/GYN conference, or two, and NETWORK some more. Get your name out there. Talk to people at the conference. Try to connect with residents and program directors.

• The prelim experience will be different for everyone. But make your goals known to your PD, attendings, and co-residents. Your program wants to see you succeed and successfully match next year. If possible, talk to your PD and seek out opportunities geared towards women’s health. Are you a prelim surgical resident? Does your hospital have OB residents? If not – see if the OB team would be willing to page you when they need a first assist for C-sections. Do you have free elective time? See if you can rotate with the OB/GYN attendings and/or residents at your hospital or even another hospital as a sub-I if your program permits. Do your co-residents have zero interest in doing any more than the minimum number of pap smears to graduate? Ask them to refer their upcoming paps to you. Can you join the OB/GYN didactics on occasion? Get creative. Some of these opportunities may lead to a letter of recommendation. • If your hospital has an OB/GYN residency – try to connect with the PD.

• Time is limited in residency, but try to get involved in a research project while you are there.

• Do not submit the same personal statement and ERAS application. Start FRESH. Apply broadly. Consider taking Step 3/Level 3 if you can.

• Embrace this year and use it as a strength and talking point in your new application and interviews. Talk about the patient’s that you’ve seen, how it’s helped to mold you in your practice, and how you’ll translate that experience to OB/GYN. For example – I trained in internal medicine in an area of the country with huge barriers to healthcare access, poor health literacy, and mistrust in the healthcare system. I used this as a platform during my interviews to say that I’m now more comfortable with managing medically complex patients and have since developed medical interview skills to help break down some of the barriers between myself and my patients.

• Get hands-on and take every opportunity to learn. Even if you never place a central line again after this year – it’s still a good experience and a lesson in dexterity and ultrasound. Skills that translate well to OB/GYN. Maintain a good attitude, stay engaged, bond with your co-residents, and go along for the ride. You never know who might be a helpful resource or recommendation letter along this road.

• PGY-1 spots do open up throughout the year – keep an eye on Inside The Match, UnmatchedMD, and CREOG Clearinghouse.

I found my preliminary year in internal medicine to be incredibly rewarding and many programs saw it as a strength on the interview trail. OB/GYN has become an incredibly competitive specialty but if I can make it happen – I’m sure all of you reading this can too. Hang in there – you’ve got this!