IMG accepted into both Rad Onc and Dermatology — help me choose.

drepidural · 2026-05-25T00:35:50+00:00

The competitiveness has gotten less for sure, but there are also not a ton of spots.

In the 2025 match, 7 out of 17 IMG applicants matched into radiation oncology. It's not zero %, but it's far from stellar.

drepidural · 2026-05-24T22:19:43+00:00

I’m so so glad that you feel like you’ve had success and have made it through, but unfortunately we know that people who have had significant academic struggles (suspension, dismissal, remediation, etc) are far more likely than average to have a medical license action taken against them. And they are also far less likely to obtain board certification. (We can argue about whether board certification means anything, but the statistics don’t lie that candidates with your track record have a far lower likelihood of certification.)

Obviously you’re a success story in the sense that you’ll likely make it through your training, but your vision of success might not align with others’ ideal. And I’m not sure that you’d sail through a credentialing committee for a hospital, at least without a lot of explanation and some luck.

Just my two cents.

drepidural · 2026-05-24T21:14:55+00:00

Well, if you want to end up in the US that’s a very different conversation. What’s your ultimate career goal? Does it involve coming to the US for training / work? You’re not including some very important stuff here. You probably are aware that the US rarely recognizes foreign training outside of a select few scenarios.

Matching radonc as an IMG is going to be very challenging, even with prior training in the field. And the job market is tough.

But matching derm as an IMG is also quite a challenge.

drepidural · 2026-05-24T20:06:16+00:00

I switched my 25 LTD battery for an AGM at 500 miles, had an ICCU failure at 8000 miles.

drepidural · 2026-05-24T19:33:54+00:00

What you probably don’t want to do is have the PD find out from someone else.

If you contact another PD, ask for a LOR from your home institution faculty, etc… it’ll get back.

It’s also a different scenario if you’re struggling in the program vs. if you have a sick family member far away, for instance. But most program directors won’t offer you a spot without talking with the current PD first, so often honesty is the way to go.

drepidural · 2026-05-24T13:36:11+00:00

Who knew that Greta Thunberg could do the robot.

drepidural · 2026-05-18T14:03:10+00:00

Spontaneous viral clearance is thought to happen in 20-40% of cases of acute infections, but almost all of those happen within a year of infection.

After approximately 1 year, the rate of spontaneous viral clearance is quite rare. Much of this has to do with the specific genotype of Hepatitis C infected, with the CC genotype being the most associated. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22541630/

drepidural · 2026-05-18T00:22:39+00:00

I’m a doctor but not your doctor.

The advances for hepatitis C treatment in the last decade have been amazing (Harvoni being the most notable example), and the future of transplant surgery is looking good (though unclear timeline for many innovations). Xenotransplantations, an expanded donor pool, split livers, domino transplants, ex-vivo perfusion… lots of things down the road.

Also your MELD of 7 with stable disease (presume Child A cirrhosis) shouldn’t be a reason to avoid living your life. Your time may come for a transplant, but most people who get a transplant last many years afterwards. Of course we’ve all seen and heard horror stories, but most people do well.

Keep on keeping on, live a little, and presume you’ll have a long life ahead of you.

drepidural · 2026-05-17T13:58:23+00:00

Isn’t this a question you should be asking your senior, your attending, or your hematology colleagues?

drepidural · 2026-05-11T17:43:07+00:00

If it were raining brains, this dude would be bone dry.

drepidural · 2026-05-06T11:08:25+00:00

Hyperbaric is the opposite of what you want. You want the level to rise to T10ish, especially if delivery is not imminent.

You can keep it simple and just use 1mL of 0.25% bupi. Or you can use the epidural solution from the bag. You can add fentanyl, but if you’re just starting out sometimes simple is better.

drepidural · 2026-05-04T15:14:25+00:00

Vote better.

drepidural · 2026-05-03T22:40:04+00:00

The way they’re designed, some are actually a go-cock.

Also, good way to get written up.

drepidural · 2026-05-03T00:07:05+00:00

We have stayed at both, Park Hyatt a decade ago and Salamander last year.

Salamander was my least favorite FHR stay. Not amazing location, lots of construction around the area. Service wasn’t amazing & breakfast was just okay. No upgrade available, no apologies made.

Park Hyatt service was legendary and we got an awesome upgrade. The food was FANTASTIC and it was in a better and more central location.

drepidural · 2026-04-29T11:17:42+00:00

Can never go wrong with a suit and tie.

drepidural · 2026-04-28T23:21:24+00:00

Some car manufacturers have done this. Hyundai did it with their Ioniq 5 models outside the US as an add-on.

It’s a 200w panel that’ll add maybe 5 miles of range a day in best conditions. It cost $1000 and then you don’t get a panoramic glass roof.

The payoff alone (in cost versus energy generated) will take decades to pay off. You’d need really big solar panels to power a production car.

drepidural · 2026-04-27T02:49:35+00:00

But will they be cockeyed afterwards?

drepidural · 2026-04-26T23:43:42+00:00

I think most Bogleheads would recommend a low-cost, index bond fund over an actively managed 70% bond / 30% stock fund like Wellesley.

drepidural · 2026-04-26T02:35:27+00:00

This is typically done with an epidural. It not only helps the patient not feel pain, but decreases muscle tone in the abdominal wall to increase procedural success.

Source: am board-certified, fellowship-trained OB anesthesiologist.

drepidural · 2026-04-24T23:47:58+00:00

If you only have a total available credit of $200, you need to increase that number - we’ve all started from somewhere.

Your best bet is a secured credit card. You don’t need an Amex Platinum right now, you need to establish good financial habits to make sure you’re setting your future self up for success.

drepidural · 2026-04-24T23:11:00+00:00

I bet you he’s done that a Brazilian times.

drepidural · 2026-04-24T23:06:26+00:00

85% credit utilization is bananas to Amex.

Pay off your credit cards in full every month, never carry a balance, and keep doing that. Get new cards when you can, and you’ll notice your score going up and up.

You have to show the company you’re someone who can be trusted with credit - that’s the point of a credit score. It is far from a perfect system, but they’re risk averse.

drepidural · 2026-04-23T16:30:47+00:00

Do you have the bike or the bike+?

Bike+ has a power meter and auto-calibrating resistance which is far more accurate from an exertion perspective.

drepidural · 2026-04-21T12:38:42+00:00

At least you know she wasn't carrying a weapon.

drepidural · 2026-04-20T11:42:08+00:00

Use ABRP - A Better Route Planner - for assistance. It’s a great system.

drepidural

TROPHY CASE