Hey Guys,
So I’m about to complete my residency program next week on the East Coast with a PMSR certificate. I was unfortunately guaranteed in my first year, by my previous immoral director, that if I obtain all my “RRA” numbers than I could obtain the RRA certificate. Due to my naivete, I believed him and obtained the diversity and case load to obtain the RRA cases. When I completed my numbers, I informed the CPME and they told me there wasn’t a way to obtain the certificate unless a spot was designated. I pleaded with my director multiple times to apply for the spot, but due laziness and a lack of regard for the residency he did not make any attempts to obtain the RRA designation. Needless to say, he eventually got tossed, however I’m still stuck without an RRA.
My dilemma now is now looking for a job. I love being in the hospital, being busy with all the interaction, teaching, and interacting with all the other services. So preferably, I would love to work at the hospital. The issues I now when I am looking for a job you need to have an RRA designation by the hospital requirements or the state scope prevents me to practice what I was trained to do.
Many of these jobs state the need to be BQ/BC in foot & ankle surgery or foot and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle. I’m assuming the latter was offered to PMSR 24/36 as I can only site for the FOOT certification, and cannot sit for the RRA since my residency did not designate a spot.
There are many things that are just utterly confusing. Firstly, on the ABFAS site it says that if you are BQ/BC then you “demonstrated capability in the diagnosis of general medical problems, including the diagnosis and surgical management of foot diseases, deformities, and/or trauma, and those structures that affect the foot and ankle.” So that definition includes the ankle, so If am performing surgery on the ankle and the certification states that I am qualified to do it, then what additional scope does the RRA technically give you other than semantics. Secondly, how is it possible that a PMSR 24 can sit for the RRA boards (as per ABFAS) however I cannot. I have 3 years of training and have all the cases for the rearfoot/ ankle as well as significant hands on experience on those cases. However, someone who may have never did an ankle orif or arthrodesis or scrubbed in with ortho while their residents did the case can sit for the boards?
My concerns are:
1) I’m sure not having the RRA is already a limiting factor, however If I make it to the next step how likely is it for me to get hired if I show my surgical log and have them proctor me for competency?
2) Is it worth contacting the ABFAS or any other governing body to potentially change the rule and allow those who have the numbers to allow to sit for the RRA designation?
3) Why is there even a PMSR designation? Eradicate that designation and make everyone have the RRA as the standard. I’m literally in limbo as my peers have the RRA designation, and my predecessors have either a different board certification (foot and ankle) or can sit for a designation (RRA) that they may or may not be qualified for.
4) I love what I do, but If I can’t perform my job as I was trained to after completing residency, what should I do? Is there any way I’m going to be able to practice the way I would like to? Should I just monitor caspr/crip for an advanced position to get an RRA? IS it worth as going as far as to re-entering the match and start over as a PGY-1?
I’ll admit, I’m feeling hopeless. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
So I’m about to complete my residency program next week on the East Coast with a PMSR certificate. I was unfortunately guaranteed in my first year, by my previous immoral director, that if I obtain all my “RRA” numbers than I could obtain the RRA certificate. Due to my naivete, I believed him and obtained the diversity and case load to obtain the RRA cases. When I completed my numbers, I informed the CPME and they told me there wasn’t a way to obtain the certificate unless a spot was designated. I pleaded with my director multiple times to apply for the spot, but due laziness and a lack of regard for the residency he did not make any attempts to obtain the RRA designation. Needless to say, he eventually got tossed, however I’m still stuck without an RRA.
My dilemma now is now looking for a job. I love being in the hospital, being busy with all the interaction, teaching, and interacting with all the other services. So preferably, I would love to work at the hospital. The issues I now when I am looking for a job you need to have an RRA designation by the hospital requirements or the state scope prevents me to practice what I was trained to do.
Many of these jobs state the need to be BQ/BC in foot & ankle surgery or foot and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle. I’m assuming the latter was offered to PMSR 24/36 as I can only site for the FOOT certification, and cannot sit for the RRA since my residency did not designate a spot.
There are many things that are just utterly confusing. Firstly, on the ABFAS site it says that if you are BQ/BC then you “demonstrated capability in the diagnosis of general medical problems, including the diagnosis and surgical management of foot diseases, deformities, and/or trauma, and those structures that affect the foot and ankle.” So that definition includes the ankle, so If am performing surgery on the ankle and the certification states that I am qualified to do it, then what additional scope does the RRA technically give you other than semantics. Secondly, how is it possible that a PMSR 24 can sit for the RRA boards (as per ABFAS) however I cannot. I have 3 years of training and have all the cases for the rearfoot/ ankle as well as significant hands on experience on those cases. However, someone who may have never did an ankle orif or arthrodesis or scrubbed in with ortho while their residents did the case can sit for the boards?
My concerns are:
1) I’m sure not having the RRA is already a limiting factor, however If I make it to the next step how likely is it for me to get hired if I show my surgical log and have them proctor me for competency?
2) Is it worth contacting the ABFAS or any other governing body to potentially change the rule and allow those who have the numbers to allow to sit for the RRA designation?
3) Why is there even a PMSR designation? Eradicate that designation and make everyone have the RRA as the standard. I’m literally in limbo as my peers have the RRA designation, and my predecessors have either a different board certification (foot and ankle) or can sit for a designation (RRA) that they may or may not be qualified for.
4) I love what I do, but If I can’t perform my job as I was trained to after completing residency, what should I do? Is there any way I’m going to be able to practice the way I would like to? Should I just monitor caspr/crip for an advanced position to get an RRA? IS it worth as going as far as to re-entering the match and start over as a PGY-1?
I’ll admit, I’m feeling hopeless. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.