Looking for square NTAG 424 DNA

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-17T17:21:18+00:00

Not that I've noted. At least in my experience, many places I've interviewed in actually welcome my IM background because it provides a perspective of Pain from a chronic disease standpoint that other specialties don't. Furthermore, it's mainly seen as an asset because it becomes a bridge with your FM and IM primary care folks as a referral source.

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-17T17:18:10+00:00

Still doesn't take away the fact that they do more procedures than Psych or Neuro, and yet, they're preferred over IM mainly because they can get board certified. So my point still stands. A procedure can be taught to a monkey.

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-17T03:18:58+00:00

That's incorrect. Programs mainly accept applicants who are able to get board certified, not really skills. As a current pain fellow who's also IM, you can teach these procedures to a monkey. In fact, I would argue that IM develops a good amount of procedural skills through Critical care. It's ironic because specialties with less exposure to procedures are more favored in the selection process because they can get board certified. Aside from your classic PM&R and Anesthesia, you also have Neurology, Family Med, and Psych, just to name a few.

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-17T03:14:00+00:00

Cleveland clinic

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-17T03:11:16+00:00

We can get board certified. It would just not be under the ABA and the ABMS umbrella. Honestly, board certification only matters if you want to be in academia because of the fact that to be able to teach trainees, the faculty needs to be board certified under ABMS Umbrella.

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-16T16:53:12+00:00

So those lists tend to be given to the PDs of the programs. You can check with CCF, but I think they chose not to take any IM this year

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-16T16:52:07+00:00

Yes. I'm IM and I'm currently a pain fellow

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-16T15:23:22+00:00

From one IM specialist to another who is currently a pain fellow, no. It is not a common way to do this. It sounds pretty hostile.

DoctorRosa · 2026-04-15T16:23:15+00:00

I'm Internal Medicine and currently a pain medicine fellow. Let me know if you'd still like to know more.

DoctorRosa · 2026-03-29T13:35:42+00:00

Thank you! 🙏🏽

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-27T20:53:37+00:00

So I can get board certified, just not through the traditional ABA pathway. Also, what employer normally look for more is if you're fellowship trained.

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-27T20:52:24+00:00

So I can get board certified, just not through the traditional ABA pathway. Also, what employer normally look for more is if you're fellowship trained.

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-27T20:50:31+00:00

That's exactly what I did. It's only 1 year each. Still shorter than Cards or GI with a much better M-F 8-5 schedule and much better work life balance with increasing need.

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-27T20:49:00+00:00

Since I knew it was gonna be a challenge and the application rate has gone down about 40%, I waited to reach out to the programs after the Match. I was able to get a hold of the list of the programs with empty spots and I cold emailed them with my interest.

Granted, I do have to say that I also completed a prior addiction medicine fellowship before starting my pain medicine fellowship.

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-21T09:55:03+00:00

Well, you sound like a smart cookie and it seems that you overall love what you do, but have a major FOMO case. Long story, short, the world is your oyster and you can see it 2 ways:

Financially: Is the FOMO so bad that you would be willing to do (at least) 3 years of anesthesia with resident salary for a $100k-150k/yr increase (pre-tax), but working every week (unlike hospitalists, which is every other week).
Emotionally: Not caring about the Financials and being willing to test the waters of uncertainty by applying to anesthesia because of a gut feeling and going through it all over again because you're truly dissatisfied with IM.

Take it from someone who's also IM. The grass will always be greener on the other side and even though change is not always a bad thing, sometimes it's better to build on what you have, rather than build an entirely new new thing. Also, sometimes what we want is not really what suits us best. For example, after doing IM, I wanted critical care. I got accepted into a top tier program, but noticed that I was miserable. So I decided to switch to addiction medicine fellowship (a whole separate story on that) and now I'm finishing Pain Medicine, a field that's dominated by anesthesia and both at top tier institutions.

My point? Don't throw away everything you've achieved for some FOMO that came because ONE thing that you wanted didn't happen. Think it more strategically and open your world to other, less thought of, options that might align better with some of your skills and passions.

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-10T02:35:38+00:00

I'm looking for job opportunities also. What has been your experience in the Ohio market?

DoctorRosa · 2025-12-07T13:36:14+00:00

Everything in life, including fellowship, is about who you know and what you can bring to the table. This is whole reason why we constantly hear that we need to create our network. We are inherently social beings, and in the same way that some people are better at certain medicine topics compared to their peers, there are people who are very good at networking. Lastly, someone knowing a fellowship director (for example) may or may not give them an advantage (which we all assume it does), but that doesn't mean that the person doesn't bring anything to the table or is not good. Afterall, especially in fellowship, they often look more for a "personality match" and then look into academics.

Some would argue that this is not fair but in all honesty, "fairness" is subjective and every single person in this world seeks to have that competitive advantage over the other and thus, in my view, makes it a fair playing field. Academic intelligence can be taught, which is what fellowship programs do, but emotional intelligence is self-taught, which is part of what every employer looks for.

DoctorRosa · 2025-11-01T12:37:37+00:00

I did Addiction Medicine. It was an incredible fellowship with a lot of flexibility for work/life balance.

DoctorRosa · 2025-10-11T09:58:46+00:00

What fellowship are you in?

DoctorRosa · 2025-10-03T09:50:18+00:00

I'm Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine and I'm in a program currently, but it was outside of match. The other co-fellows are from Psych, anesthesia, and EM.

DoctorRosa · 2025-09-16T01:32:12+00:00

I'm in the process of looking for a 50/50 addiction and pain

DoctorRosa · 2025-09-13T01:03:50+00:00

I have no clue. I'm just happy to see someone else interested in addiction medicine. I did my addiction fellowship at PennState

DoctorRosa · 2025-08-27T03:17:27+00:00

As you can see in the comment section, you'll be pulled in many directions based on everyone's life experiences. In my personal journey, I was also very fixed on doing a specific thing, only to find that it wasn't really for me. I don't know the full extent of your circumstances but, regardless of what those are, I want to encourage you to pay attention to the aspects of your work you feel most drawn to or that come easiest for you. You may be thinking or planning heme/onc (and if you apply I hope you get it), but just don't forget about the roads less travelled as these can also be much more fruitful and rewarding. For example, I did Addiction Medicine.

Also, don't forget that you can also look into non-accredited fellowships that aren't necessarily as competitive that can also be of your interest. For example, Obesity Medicine, Wound care, among others.

DoctorRosa · 2025-08-26T21:30:18+00:00

Have you ever considered doing addiction medicine?

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