In 1979 as a new graduate at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia, he started in a busy emergency department supervised by a former anesthetist where often the most senior doctor on the floor was in their 2nd year post graduation from medical school (PGY2).
Of those who left, two left within the first few weeks, one took suspension in year 1 but did not return, four left voluntarily after their 2nd year (i.e. at the end of the pre-clinical phase), and five had their course terminated after academic failure.
Students in the 4-year CMU-Portugal program spend the 1st year in coursework at a Portuguese university and their 2nd year at CMU.
At the end of their 2nd year, students are expected to pass qualifying examinations and to have a research paper on its way to publication.
At Northwestern University, for example, pathology residents can craft their residencies to satisfy the American Board of Pathology certification requirements and begin establishing themselves in their area of research interest by their 2nd year.
Or at least they did say until they got sectioned half-way through their 2nd year.
