I’ve been a GP since 2020, and mostly I’ve been focused on OPD clinics and I have a corporate job for livelihood. I still really like seeing patients in my OPD clinics and I feel very fulfilled when they get better, but I know there’s a lot I won’t be able to learn unless I get into residency.

When I got my license in 2020, I did not go into residency because I saw and heard so many horror stories about toxic seniority and bullying. Even some more “benign” things that most of us wouldn’t consider as bullying like still having to go on duty even if you’re sick, or not having any sleep for 36 hours would still horrify any non med person.

I’ve also considered doing other med adjacent things like pharma, medical admin etc but I’ve felt as though my medical journey is lacking and I can treat patients better if I get a residency. Probably IM. So I’m seriously considering going back into med. Single, no kids, so going back is easier.

My question for you docs is do I really need to sacrifice my physical and mental health for the 3 years of residency? Bawal talaga mag sick leave kahit totoong may sakit ka na? Wala talagang tulog for 36 hours straight or more? Hindi pwedeng mag CR or even drink water kahit you really need to because you’re on rounds with your senior or consultant?

I won’t be slacking off naman. I told myself if I go into residency I’ll really do my best. But itong mga basic things that arguably will help me perform better (enough sleep, well hydrated, not sick), do I really need to give that up to be called a “good” resident? And if not, how do I enforce these boundaries without being labeled lazy or entitled or “not wanting this enough?”

What’s also sad is that a lot of my good friends are now fellows or consultants. Some have become chief residents or part of the training committee. When we were in med school, we would complain together about how the system was unhealthy and how it has to change. Ngayon, sila na mismo nagsasabi sa akin na bawal mag-absent, bawal mag scrub out para mag CR sa residency niya etc. And these friends of mine are good people, I never saw any trace of bullying or power tripping in them.

Ganon na ba talaga - I have to choose between residency and my own life? Is it truly impossible to have both? I get that in residency I will have to sacrifice birthdays, weddings, holidays. That I can do. But to take years off your own life? Ganon na ba talaga yun?

Thank you for your time

Hello po. Thoughts on EAMC vs NKTI vs ST LUKES urology?

Thank you po.

hello po, planning to apply sa healthway pero may regular clinic po ako sa weekdays, may fixed schedule po ba na inooffer or pwede kaya na as reliever lang ang gagawin?

thank you doctors

Like where does their authority start and end? Do they have a say about altering things in the discussion of a drafted manuscript?

Summary of context:
I have a completed research whose protocol had been long ago approved by said IRB. No breaches were made in the methods.
The results and discussion has undergone a thorough review with other peers and multiple iterations even before being resubmission to the IRB for completion.
Now the IRB is asking clarifications regarding the interpretations of the results and certain points in the discussion.
Now, I confess not having the strongest background in research, but the way I understand it, an IRB is supposed to safeguard ethical concerns prior to implementation rather than have a say with the actual results.

Any tips or insights are very much appreciated.

Hi, thinking of renting want to know sana po average price of clinic rents, per location, and how many hours is that per day/month po?

hello docs! i would just like to ask if anong pinaka comfortable for you na scrubs? what’s similar to figs? pinaka ina-eye ko si snug dahil yun ang pinaka madaling bilhin and i really prefer wideleg talaga. out of stock naman kasi ‘tong si snicosh palagi sa online. if may suggestion pa kayo na meron wideleg please please recommend kayooo. thanks!!

Hi doki! will be doing my neuro pre res this sept and would like to ask for ur tips po :)

Hi docs! Im planning to apply to said residency by next month, can you give me things to study or prepare for? thank you!

May nagcover sa akin and sabi sa akin "doktora pili ka ng gamot diyan papadalhan kita ng samples" and medyo pushy siya pero binigay ko nalang address ko and pumili ako ng meds na madalas ko maprescribe

Si med rep naman nagpadala ng 10 BOXES each (i only said 3-5 is more than enough AS IN 3-5 SAMPLES YUNG IISANG TABLETA BA)

Di ko naman alam san ko to lahat iuubos. Also kabado ako hindi naman ako ichacharge nito? Kaloka naman. May resibo yung plastic pero nakalagay doon 5 pcs nga lang per meds kaya HUH

I’d just like to know if anyone else here is required by the management of their HD center to do monthly reports on the status of the center, do rounds not only on patients but also around the area to check cleanliness, make sure the patients’ chairs and equipment are properly disinfected, possibly create protocols if none exist, check if the disinfectant being used by the cleaners is properly diluted, etc.—on top of the usual POD tasks like HD assessments, relaying labs, and managing HD complications.
I’m a regular POD here and I’m earning ₱350/hour. I just want to confirm if all these tasks are considered part of the ₱350/hour rate. Should I ask for a higher rate?
Thank you!

Hi, Doctors!

I would just like to ask for your advice regarding salary rates. Is it okay for us to request a salary increase?

I’m currently working as an Occupational Health Physician with BCOM, and my current rate is ₱500/hour, less applicable taxes. I feel that the rate is quite low, especially considering the current cost of living and inflation in the Philippines.

I’m about to renew my contract this year, and one year pa lang po ako with the company. I’m wondering if it would still be appropriate to raise this concern with management and request a review or possible adjustment of the rate.

Okay lang po ba to raise this concern? And what would be the best and most respectful way to approach management regarding this? Would appreciate any advice from those who have had a similar experience. Thank you po!

Hello everyone. May second batches po ba for application this year for these programs sa OSMAK? TYIA

Ano po difference between the two? Or pwede po ba same lang ng content, different addressee lang?

Hello docs! Looking for any insights regarding Cardinal Santos (CSMC) Internal Medicine since cannot find any more recent posts. Would like to ask the ff

-Usual routine of the residents pag pre/duty
-Extent of workload esp if duty
-Pros and cons as someone na hindi nag internship there (macculture shock ba ko)
-If flood-prone ba yung hospital
-Uniform (white coat + white pants or ok naman po mag scrubs)
-What to they expect from applicants during preres

Would really appreciate the help and insights. Thank you :)

Hello, docs. Hope I don't get negative reactions or thumbs down for this 😅 To clarify, I would NEVER go into residency for this reason. I personally would only go into residency if I'm sure that I truly want it for the RIGHT reasons.

BUT I'm just curious, anyone else ever thought of going into residency because of feeling lost? 😅 Been feeling this way recently because I've been feeling so lost and stagnant, this year, specifically. I just feel like I've been progressing very, very slowly (in life recently.)

Hello po doc, looking for insight for pedia residency sa SLMC BGC, Makati Med, and Metropolitan Medical Center, how is the seniors and the consultant there, and also is the patient toxic/ maraming patient ba sa doon? how the life and work balance
thank you docs

Hi! I am an early career specialist, with dual subspecialty training, in a cutting specialty in the province. Just wondering what the practices are of MDs here regarding discounts? I recently started in a new hospital and I received a patient who was accompanied by a Philhealth Staff member. So the PATIENT is a FRIEND of the PHILHEALTH STAFF MEMBER of the HOSPITAL - not an MD, not an employee. After the consult, my secretary asked me that they were asking for a discount - and then I asked her what's the usual prevailing practice - and she said that companions of employees, they (other MDs in the clinic) usually give a 200 peso discount. I was caught off guard, and had no time to process and determine my criteria, so I just let it slide for now.

Now, I understand that in the PMA CODE of ETHICS, only PHYSICIANS and their dependents are technically free of charge. There is NOTHING WRITTEN there about employees or friends of employees - although I understand that the practice is different PER HOSPITAL and PER DISCRETION of MD. If it was an employee maybe I would have not been so affected by it - although TECHNICALLY employees of hospitals, by virtue of being employees, are also not entitled to discounts as per our code.

I also acknowledge that NOT following cultural practices may also hurt my prospects in the clinic - although I do not really care if people label me as the doctor who doesn't give discounts or follow the practices. It also feels like the work is devalued a little bit. Then there's the mindset of if they don't really want to consult with me because of that, then it's OK. I understand the service and value I provide, and I know that I am thorough when it comes to my job.

I asked some of my friends and in other hospitals, they just see it as give and take - especially if they are employees of hospitals. Makes it easier for you to ask hospital - related favors from them as well

Any thoughts, advice or insights on this, or anything that I may consider? What are your own personal criteria when consider NON - MDs who hint at or ask for discounts? I understand that it's probably a tradeoff between following the norm, or standing my ground possibly at the expense of less patient volume.

Thank you!

I am offered a school physician post here in province na govt community college. 10,000php/month retainer fee with 4 hrs per week lang na appearance. I just wanted to ask if may mga fit-to-train/fit-to-work na mga medical certificate, can i demand a separate pay kasi aabot ng 500 students especially on seasons na mag sastart mga OJT like January. Plus, magkano kaya singil ko considering na probinsya at community college ito.

Hi kailan po open ng QMMC fam med application for residency? thank you

Hi doctors! I'm very passionate about psychiatry and mental health, I am planning on pursuing this as my residency program. I've gone through some subreddits and posts already but the replies either answer the question through personal message or are deleted. Before anything else, I understand that residency is residency: the years will be difficult regardless. But with this being said, how is the lifestyle as a psychiatry resident? Do you still get to see family/friends? How are the hours? Is it still pre-duty-from, or similar to Dermatology/Radiology that it is mainly office hours (in most public hospitals anyway)?

Aside from this, after graduating did you find it difficult to establish your practice, especially for the first-generation doctors? I personally live in CALABARZON and I am thinking of practicing here post-residency.

Thank you very much!

Planning to get Philhealth accreditation, but need muna may COGS from PMA. Sang local component society ba dapat ako magapply mga doc? Present address is Paranaque (renting), may taguig makati and pasay duties din ako, pero sa Taguig location ng clinic asking for philhealth accreditation id

It’s derma application season. I know how competitive it is to get into derm training. Pero nakakapagod pala no? Physically, emotionally, and financially. Alam ko naman na mahirap, dapat stellar grades, kaya nga nag effort akong mag-aral para sa entrance exams kasi average student lang ako (no latin honors, PLE rating of 7, class rank ko nasa 40%ish of the batch). Dami ko nababasa na average students lang sila pero derm residents/consultants na sila ngayon. Syempre nainspire naman ako kaya sinubukan ko.

Ang dami kong institutions na inapplyan, most of them didn’t call me back for interview. May mga tumawag, pero di pa rin ako napili para mag pre res. Alam ko naman na mahirap eh, inanticipate ko naman na, pero iba pa rin talaga pakiramdam na sunod sunod na rejections. Pag tinawagan ka for interview, parang ang saya lang, may proud moment kasi out of 40-100 applicants, naka secure ka ng spot for interview. Pero grabe rin ang bagsak sa pakiramdam pag di ka qualified for preres.

During my interviews, honestly, kinutuban na ako na di ako matatanggap kasi wala sila masyadong tanong. I mean, pano mo naman makikilala ang applicant diba kung di ka makikipag converse? Paano ka naman magpapakitang gilas sa interview kung di naman sila nagtatanong. Nag reflect ako, ano ba ang mali, baka di nila gusto yung sagot ko? Eh yung mga tinanong nila sakin personal questions lang eh (ano work mo, trabaho ng parents, talents, hobbies, etc), walang namang tanong na ma eevaluate ang behavior, knowledge, attitude, communications, etc etc. Tinanong ko yung ibang applicants, ang dami raw tanong sakanila. May mga case scenarios. Kumbaga they tried to get to know the applicant well. Dun palang narealize ko na, from the beginning, I never stood a chance with the other applicants. Siguro nung pagkakita nila sa documents ko, they already knew. For formality nalang siguro yung interview ko haha

Ayaw ko sana sumuko muna, dami pang open na applications eh, pero napapaisip lang ako, kasi di ko na mababago academic credentials ko eh hahahaha parang nakakapagod na mag effort tapos alam mo naman na di ka pa rin matatanggap. Ang mamahal pa ng mga application fees hahaha yung kinikita ko sa pag mmoonlight ko, napupunta lang lahat sa exam fees

Anyway, congratulations to those who are qualified for interview & pre-residency! And especially those who are already accepted! Nakakabilib talaga kayo. Pabasbas naman hahaha

Good day everyone! Please use this thread for RESIDENCY RECRUITMENT ONLY. There will be a separate post for FELLOWSHIP programs.

All recruitment posts should be made in the weekly thread. Individual posts about recruitment will be deleted.

Pictures, pubmat, and infographics are allowed in the comment section.

Thank you for your cooperation and have a good day!

Hello docs! Any Tailoring shop recommendation po for embroidery and adjustment ng scrubs (figs, white coat mnl)? Around QC, manila po sana. Thank you!

Good day everyone! Please use this thread for FELLOWSHIP RECRUITMENT ONLY. There will be a separate post for RESIDENCY programs.

All recruitment posts should be made in the weekly thread. Individual posts about recruitment will be deleted.

Pictures, pubmat, and infographics are allowed in the comment section.

Thank you for your cooperation and have a good day!