How to Find a Residency Vacancy

Your residency is a crucial part of your medical training process. It is important that you have a residency position that fits your needs and desires for a successful medical career. Placement through the National Resident Matching Program, though often helpful, can sometimes be unsuccessful. If you are looking for a change, here’s how you can find a residency or fellowship vacancy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Determine what you need in the residency program you are looking for. Location, specialty, instructors and the education the residency provide are key in finding the right one for you.
2. Meet with the faculty adviser for your current residency position and ask for her help in finding a program that is a better fit for your needs. Her contacts in the medical field may be of great assistance.
3. Call and send inquiry letters to residency programs that interest you, even if there is no current opening. It doesn’t hurt to get your foot in the door, just in case an opening comes available later.
4. Search for residency vacancies on your own. There are a number of online tools available (see resources below) to assist you in this search.
5. Apply for all residency vacancies that interest you. Just like when applying to college, the more applications the better, since you may not get your first choice.

Tips & Warnings

• If you leave one residency program for another, fully explain your reasons for departure to your supervisor. This helps you avoid a possible bad referral when the programs you apply for contact your current residency.

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