FM to IM / Neuro transfer

[tucan24]

Hello everyone, 

I'm an IMG from Australia who recently matched to an FM program in Ontario, but am strongly considering a transfer to IM or Neurology. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any success stories of transfers along the same lines. I'm aware of the internal university transfer process that takes place around January, but I'm also aware that transferring from FM to a specialty can be difficult given the discrepancy in funding. 

Just a bit of background about, I was an IM resident in Australia, but decided to make the move back home due to a family member being ill. Cheers and any input/ advice would be much appreciated. 

[saskdr101]

I think you can only transfer after completing 2 years of residency, so you might have to finish FM and then apply for second round IM/ Neuro afterwards. 

[holiday1001]

55 minutes ago, saskdr101 said:

I think you can only transfer after completing 2 years of residency, so you might have to finish FM and then apply for second round IM/ Neuro afterwards. 

lol where did you hear that.. better to not say anything if you're not sure! you can initiate the transfer process in 1st year usually- they make you wait a few blocks before you can do it though.

[saskdr101]

On 5/8/2019 at 4:46 PM, holiday1001 said:

lol where did you hear that.. better to not say anything if you're not sure! you can initiate the transfer process in 1st year usually- they make you wait a few blocks before you can do it though.

pretty sure i read it on carms but i may have been reading about doing a second residency not transferring. My mistake

[2019CaRMS]

On 5/7/2019 at 9:54 AM, tucan24 said:

Hello everyone, 

I'm an IMG from Australia who recently matched to an FM program in Ontario, but am strongly considering a transfer to IM or Neurology. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any success stories of transfers along the same lines. I'm aware of the internal university transfer process that takes place around January, but I'm also aware that transferring from FM to a specialty can be difficult given the discrepancy in funding. 

Just a bit of background about, I was an IM resident in Australia, but decided to make the move back home due to a family member being ill. Cheers and any input/ advice would be much appreciated. 

If you qualify consider the Canadian forces for a second residency while making family doc money. IM and neuro are definitely sponsored options

[MD2015:)]

I think there are some restrictions for IMGs and transferring programs. Someone that I know of asked my PGME office and was not allowed as an IMG. Not sure if this is the same in every province or not.

 

[freewheeler]

I've heard of an IMG going from a specialty to FM. Haven't yet met someone who did the opposite.

[NeuroD]

On 5/21/2019 at 10:27 AM, 2019CaRMS said:

If you qualify consider the Canadian forces for a second residency while making family doc money. IM and neuro are definitely sponsored options

Neuro is? I thought it wasn't!?

[polarbear89]

You can try and transfer. It's harder from FM to 5 year specialty but it has happened before. There was a family medicine resident who transferred to Neurology at my school a couple years ago but am not sure on if they were an IMG or CMG. Probably doesn't matter?

[GrouchoMarx]

Consider preparing an application to the USA. IM and neuro are not competitive there.