Hi all,
I would like to seek your opinions regarding whether I should pursue an ABIM research track or not. I'm an IMG graduated 8 years ago, had completed residency and GI fellowship at my home country, and had invested some time in GI research. My focus is on clinical research, and I don't have a PhD. I want an additional transplant hepatology fellowship. In the future I would like 50/50 time in clinic/academia. If I can't get my grants, I want to be in academic center as a hepatologist and/or simply scope every person.
Currently I had interviewed with several great institutions with short-track options. Some programs match directly into short-tracks with guaranteed fellowship placement, while in other programs I have to apply for short-track toward the end of intern year and will have to apply for fellowship later.
My questions are:
1. As an IMG I’m not really familiar with American medical systems. Would the 2-year enough to prepare me as a competent clinician?
2. A guaranteed fellowship sounds very promising. On the other hand, can I do 2-year short-track at one institution, and apply for fellowship and do the IM and GI research years at another institution? Or somehow I would have to complete traditional 3-year categorical IM before I can change institutions? Should I discuss this question openly with programs?
3. I’m thinking of applying for a T32 funded fellowship program. Does the ABIM research pathway has anything to do with the T32 program or are they completely unrelated?
4. I know that the AASLD pilot program (GI+hepatology in a total of 3 years) is not compatible with T32 because the pilot program requires more clinical time. If I want to complete hepatology within the shortest time, will this ABIM short-track be a problem?
5. What is the pros and cons of research pathway during IM residency vs during fellowship? Most people went through research fellowship rather research residency.
Thanks! Any comments highly appreciated!
I would like to seek your opinions regarding whether I should pursue an ABIM research track or not. I'm an IMG graduated 8 years ago, had completed residency and GI fellowship at my home country, and had invested some time in GI research. My focus is on clinical research, and I don't have a PhD. I want an additional transplant hepatology fellowship. In the future I would like 50/50 time in clinic/academia. If I can't get my grants, I want to be in academic center as a hepatologist and/or simply scope every person.
Currently I had interviewed with several great institutions with short-track options. Some programs match directly into short-tracks with guaranteed fellowship placement, while in other programs I have to apply for short-track toward the end of intern year and will have to apply for fellowship later.
My questions are:
1. As an IMG I’m not really familiar with American medical systems. Would the 2-year enough to prepare me as a competent clinician?
2. A guaranteed fellowship sounds very promising. On the other hand, can I do 2-year short-track at one institution, and apply for fellowship and do the IM and GI research years at another institution? Or somehow I would have to complete traditional 3-year categorical IM before I can change institutions? Should I discuss this question openly with programs?
3. I’m thinking of applying for a T32 funded fellowship program. Does the ABIM research pathway has anything to do with the T32 program or are they completely unrelated?
4. I know that the AASLD pilot program (GI+hepatology in a total of 3 years) is not compatible with T32 because the pilot program requires more clinical time. If I want to complete hepatology within the shortest time, will this ABIM short-track be a problem?
5. What is the pros and cons of research pathway during IM residency vs during fellowship? Most people went through research fellowship rather research residency.
Thanks! Any comments highly appreciated!