Displaced residents

This is the requirement for board eligibility:

1. Be a graduate of an accredited 4 year medical school
2. Have successfully completed a minimum of 5 year (60 month) accredited orthopaedic residency program in the US or Canada, and have appropriate yearly documentation from the program director. The final 24 months of the training must be obtained in a single program.

I guess if you redo the 4th year or if you get a 5th year and fellowship at the same program , it would work.

Good luck.

These requirements are meant for residents in stable programs. When programs fold I think that everything changes. It would be up to the ABOS to decide this and examine everything on a case by case basis because this is not the fault of the resident and they should not be forced to repeat a year. I would contact the ABOS for specifics of a certain case.

That being said, I would consider asking/suing your institution for reimbursemnt of your last year's salary if you have to repeat a year.

May I ask why the program is at risk for folding? Was this dropped on the residents out of nowhere?

Pretty much, we have had a problem in "retainment". The hospital won't meet our attendings demands and so many are fleeding to other positions. All was well 6 months ago, now we all feel like abandon children.

I was in your position this past year...we were threatened by the RRC and they recommended closure(which was a bunch "boys club" crap). I was a pgy3 at the time and would have had to leave to fulfill 24 month rule.

I so much as interviewed with other programs to find a PGY 4 spot in case i had to pick up in leave...we thankfully won the appeal and am now safe.
Our other 4th year didn't take the chance and left...i had family issues that kept me from walking and got lucky i guess.

That being said i called Dr DeRosa (president ABOS) personally and asked him about my and the other soon to be PGY 4's situations. he basically said you're screwed because the program was closing in "peril". He told me only a few had appealed the 24 month rule and won...one was a Katrina resident the other apparently was a resident that completed his pgy 5 and fellowship year at the same place. he by no means guaranteed that the fellowhip thing would even work. Made it sound that only extenuating circumstances (katrina, family illness, etc would appease the ABOS commitee)

What i learned....despite what the ACGME/ABOS/AAOS/RRC says; they rarely have the residents "best interest" in mind. they will not guarantee you anything...they said they will "help" you find a position but that wasn't what all of us wanted to hear. Nothing on paper will be given to you. My recommendation would be to get into contact with Steve Nestler ([url=mailto]SPN@acgme.org[/url]) as he did all our paperwork for possible transfer...he's actually a nice guy and seems to be the most willing to help. He oversees the ortho RRC for the ACGME.

Hope this helps...PM with any further questions.