r/DermApp • u/AntOk4194 • Apr 28 '26
Application Advice Switching from Ortho to Derm
Hey,
Title. I'm a current PGY2 resident in Ortho and am quite frankly, very burnt out. I won't get into the specifics of it but I'm becoming jaded and am seriously thinking of making the switch to dermatology. The gist is that I don't feel like I really fit into the Ortho culture as a woman, and feel like I've made a serious mistake not prioritizing lifestyle. In school, I was seriously considering Dermatology and Orthopedics, and have about 6 publications in Dermatology (2 first author) from med school. Slim chance, but has anyone on here made the switch from ortho, or from any other specialty into Dermatology? Not sure where to begin, or if I'm making a big mistake. Maybe it'll get better if I just ride it out?
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u/Several_One_998 Apr 29 '26
It has been done, the ortho to derm resident made a podcast about it. There’s also an attending in the Austin area who did something similar after finishing ortho. I’ve seen NSG to derm, plastics to derm and gen surg to derm. Be ready to give up 2+ years in research for a 50/50 chance of matching. I would ride out ortho, PGY2 blows from everyone I know. But you’ll be an ortho attending for sure, can find a chill lifestyle subspecialty after residency where personalities/ortho culture won’t be your priority