As a podiatry graduate that has not matched yet a second year in a row, I know that the CPME and my school of Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (KSUCPM) have failed me. I graduated in May of 2014, and even though I was fully qualified for a residency position, having passed all of the necessary board exams, I was still unable to match into a podiatry residency program.
I was very saddened by this, and made it my goal in this next year to match into a residency program. I participated in a perceptorship in New Jersey, and visited as many podiatry residency programs in the area (NYC, NJ, PA) as possible. For 6 months I visited programs, which is very expensive, especially visiting NYC, when I don't have a job. I made sure to prove myself, and show the residents and program director that I was even better and more experienced than the batch of incoming podiatry graduates. I always offered to stay later, and help as much as possible. I could not extern at any programs because I did not have a job, and Kent State would not help me with the malpractice insurance costs of an externship.
I still did my absolute best and got 9 interviews, 10 if you count the post Crip interview with South Nassou. And I made sure to do amazing on the interviews. I made sure to be extremely enthusiastic, a hard worker, knowledgeable, adaptable and easy to work with. But I still did not match into a program.
I do not have the best grades, but I hoped with an incredible work ethic, and proving myself during the visit, that could make up for it. Sadly, I was mistaken.
I have spent all of this past year unemployed, visiting and volunteering at programs as much as possible, and now that I am still unmatched, I realize that my podiatry career is most likely over, without ever really getting a chance to prove myself. Programs will not grant someone with my GPA an interview without at least visiting, and I cannot afford to visit for any decent amount of time any longer.
I have already passed my boards part 3, and have an active license in Pennsylvania. But without a residency diploma, the Pennsylvania license means nothing. I now owe a massive amount in debt, and currently have no way of fully paying it off. I fear that I will carry this debt with me for the rest of my life.
Only a small percentage of podiatry graduates end up like me, but it is extremely frustrating and horrifying that I spent all this time, effort, and money to get a podiatry degree, and it means almost nothing.
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I was very saddened by this, and made it my goal in this next year to match into a residency program. I participated in a perceptorship in New Jersey, and visited as many podiatry residency programs in the area (NYC, NJ, PA) as possible. For 6 months I visited programs, which is very expensive, especially visiting NYC, when I don't have a job. I made sure to prove myself, and show the residents and program director that I was even better and more experienced than the batch of incoming podiatry graduates. I always offered to stay later, and help as much as possible. I could not extern at any programs because I did not have a job, and Kent State would not help me with the malpractice insurance costs of an externship.
I still did my absolute best and got 9 interviews, 10 if you count the post Crip interview with South Nassou. And I made sure to do amazing on the interviews. I made sure to be extremely enthusiastic, a hard worker, knowledgeable, adaptable and easy to work with. But I still did not match into a program.
I do not have the best grades, but I hoped with an incredible work ethic, and proving myself during the visit, that could make up for it. Sadly, I was mistaken.
I have spent all of this past year unemployed, visiting and volunteering at programs as much as possible, and now that I am still unmatched, I realize that my podiatry career is most likely over, without ever really getting a chance to prove myself. Programs will not grant someone with my GPA an interview without at least visiting, and I cannot afford to visit for any decent amount of time any longer.
I have already passed my boards part 3, and have an active license in Pennsylvania. But without a residency diploma, the Pennsylvania license means nothing. I now owe a massive amount in debt, and currently have no way of fully paying it off. I fear that I will carry this debt with me for the rest of my life.
Only a small percentage of podiatry graduates end up like me, but it is extremely frustrating and horrifying that I spent all this time, effort, and money to get a podiatry degree, and it means almost nothing.
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- Comments6 Comment(s)
- 04-04-2015 12:16 pm
- 04-05-2015 4:32 pm
Alex Mand, DPM,
I think to properly give advice we would need to know more about this graduate's situation and what he has done in the past (more specifically) to try to get residency program. Though there is one thing that strikes me as a bit odd right off the bat- why did the graduate get 9 interviews? Did he/she not visit enough programs? When i was at CRIP I met individuals who were going through the match for a 2nd (or 3rd) time and they would always say that they made sure they interviewed at as many places as possible. This number was atleast 20 and in some cases I heard as high as 50.
- 04-05-2015 4:52 pm
Dwight Bates, DPM,
With a State License to practice Podiatry you could be a cash- for- service self- employed chiropodist. That was my plan if I did not get a residency.
- 04-05-2015 4:52 pm
Dieter Fellner, DPM,
This is a devastating personal and professional disaster. What constructive advice can a person possibly offer, in such a circumstance? By all appearances, you did everything right ...
So, what would I do?
I would, very likely, change my direction. I would, also very likely, pursue a different career in health-care. I would, perhaps, look very seriously at options such as nurse practitioner or PA. I do, in fact, sometimes wonder why more people don't do so already. Or perhaps they do, and we simply don't hear about it. It's easy, of course, to sit here and make such a suggestion.
The student debt remains, more education means yet more money. However, (and I don't know the personal circumstances) I am assuming you are still young. It is always a possibility.
Take it from a PGY-2, about to turn 53 in a week or so. You're never too old, and there is (often) a way to figure out the rest.
- 04-06-2015 4:56 pm
Robert d. Phillips, DPM,FABPOPPM,FACFAS,
Kim,
My heart is with you 100%, as I feel your anguish and pain and fear for the future. However all is not lost, there are indeed many more bridges that can be built and you sound like the type of person who has the drive that will yet find success.
First of all, I'd like to put this in context by looking at the larger medical resident picture. This past year I mentored 7 4th year medical students. On March 20th the matching process occurred, and here are the results of my students:
Student #1 - Wanted residency in plastic surgery, matched a residency in general surgery
Student #2 - Wanted residency in dermatology, did not match. Will be taking 1 year off to do research work before reapplying.
Student #3 - Wanted residency in family practice, did match a family practice residency.
Student #4 - In military, had been promised residency in psychiatry in military, which promise was matched.
Student #5 - Wanted residency in general surgery, matched his #3 choice in general surgery.
Student #6 - Wanted residency in dermatology, matched #3 choice in dermatology
Student #7 - PhD degree from MIT in engineering before medical school, went to medical school to become orthopedist. Did not match. Will be doing 1 year in research before reapplying.
So in summary, 2 of my students did not match at all. Only 1 got their #1 choice, which was a done thing before the match. Things are not necessarily so rosy in general medical world either.
So let's go back to your particular situation. First of all, I need to ask you, "What are you really passionate about in podiatry?" If you could do only one thing in podiatry, What would it be? Would it be dermatology? primary foot care? wound care? conservative biomechanical care? trauma? infectious disease? something else? Second of all: Who shares your passion? I think you have to find a mentor who shares your passions. You evidently are more than willing to work hard, so that shouldn't be any problem for anyone.
I think you need to sit down with someone who is not your best friend and ask for 100% honest feedback about your interview skills, even to the point of being brutal. Is there some type of nervous tic that makes people uncomfortable, or do you speak with hesitation or fear in your voice? If you hail from a foreign country and American is not your native language (like Dieter) do people have a difficult time understanding you? (like Dieter! Blimey!) I had one student who took speech therapy class which markedly helped her get more of an American accent. I hate to say there is still prejudices of all types out there. I don't believe we've ever met, so I cannot comment on any of these items. Personally, one of my problems in doing residency interviews was that I would panic when asked an academic question. To say the least, I didn't come off well in interviews.
One of the great things is that you do have a state license. That does mean you are employable. What are some of the opportunities to get you by this year? Is there a busy practitioner that needs a PFC person in their office, or who needs someone to do triage, or who can do biomechanical exams, or pedobarograph exams, or who can adjust orthotics, or who can do wound care? Have you discussed with any local universities or colleges, people who need research assistants? Call the research department and see if they need someone to help fill out research application forms. Is there a medical school that could use someone to help in the anatomy lab?
Finally, the way that many podiatrists got residency trained in the past is to get the program set up themselves. Have you contacted CPME to see if there is someone that is interested in getting a program going, that may need some help doing all the paperwork? There are many willing teachers, but they don't have the time to do all the paperwork.
Like I noted, it is frustrating. I have my own story to tell. Dieter took a bold step himself a few years ago to change his life, and I'm hoping that it pays for itself. Please be aware that podiatry has a long history of countless individuals who were handicapped by prejudice, but who decided to rise above it and figure out a way to reset the rules with innovation. I can tell you that podiatry played the major role in making a majority of foot surgeries outpatient procedures (because we couldn't get into the hospitals), which inspired the insurance companies to start questioning other specialists about the possibility of doing their procedures as outpatient rather than inpatient. We have been innovators, out of necessity, because no one was there holding the door open for us, and instead many times pushing as hard as they could to keep it closed. Like I noted, I was impressed with all you've done so far, and I can only believe that there is a promising future for you, and with your eventual triumph you will be yourself a valuable resource for many coming behind you who face difficulties.
With all my best wishes,
Daryl
