I have been scratching my head for long. I interviewed at both Emory and UAB for internal medicine, still unable to decide how to rank them. please suggest your views...

I have been scratching my head for long. I interviewed at both Emory and UAB for internal medicine, still unable to decide how to rank them. please suggest your views...

I think they are both solid programs. It depends on what type of city you want to live in. Atlanta obviously has more going on, especially for the single crowd. Birmingham is more affordable, has less traffic, and is great for raising a family or for young married folks. Emory is really strong in cards, but I think UAB is stronger overall, especially if you are interested in doing research because UAB's medicine dept consistently ranks top 10 in NIH funding. But I'd imagine you couldn't go wrong at either place.

The following post is very biased. I am a UAB medical student and I have loved my time at UAB. This post is not intended as a knock on any other program.

Emory is a great program... but UAB is MUCH stronger. In fact, other than Duke, I'd say UAB is the strongest program in the southeast (in some fields, its much stronger than Duke)... probably top 10-15 in the nation. I've interviewed at several places all over the country and I have found maybe 3-4 programs that I've liked better.

Pro's: Great variety of patients, fantastic attendings (no privates, which I think is huge), very collegial atmosphere, beautiful facilities, and a very nice affordable town.

Con's: Birmingham might be too small for some people. Program forces you to hit the groung running... very little hand holding (I view it as a plus but it could be a negative to some). County hospital has horrible nurses (they are working on it).

The UAB cardiology department is comparable to Emory's. UAB has sent residents for cardiology fellowships to MGH and Hopkins over the last 4 years. A lot of people do stay at UAB for cardiology. Top 10 cardiology program.

Please message me if you want more detailed answers.

The following post is very biased. I am a UAB medical student and I have loved my time at UAB. This post is not intended as a knock on any other program.

Emory is a great program... but UAB is MUCH stronger. In fact, other than Duke, I'd say UAB is the strongest program in the southeast (in some fields, its much stronger than Duke)... probably top 10-15 in the nation. I've interviewed at several places all over the country and I have found maybe 3-4 programs that I've liked better.

Pro's: Great variety of patients, fantastic attendings (no privates, which I think is huge), very collegial atmosphere, beautiful facilities, and a very nice affordable town.

Con's: Birmingham might be too small for some people. Program forces you to hit the groung running... very little hand holding (I view it as a plus but it could be a negative to some). County hospital has horrible nurses (they are working on it).

The UAB cardiology department is comparable to Emory's. UAB has sent residents for cardiology fellowships to MGH and Hopkins over the last 4 years. A lot of people do stay at UAB for cardiology. Top 10 cardiology program.

Please message me if you want more detailed answers.

Could you perhaps elaborate on why you feel UAB is so much stronger for internal medicine than Emory? Although I had heard some say this, after interviewing at both places, I don't quite see it. Emory seems to draw a more diverse group of residents from by and larger better medical schools although admittedly the difference is not night and day. Emory offers perhaps the best diversity of training environments of any place in the the country with university, VA, county, and private hospitals. And looking at the fellowship placement list of both places, one does not seem more impressive than the other. As far as clinical training and research opportunities go, they both seem to be excellent. So I wonder why Emory is perceived as having a weaker IM department? Are you basing this on word of mouth or personal experience or what?

While you list that the residents come from "better and larger medical schools" (implying that the residents are better) or that the residents are "more diverse" (implying some benefit to education), one should be also concerned with the quality of teaching and organization of the residency program; who the program attracts arguably is less important than those critical aspects.

Secondarily if you're interested in research, the UAB's department of medicine has more than double NIH funding than Emory. Outside of cards and especially in Pulm, Hem/Onc, Renal, and Rheum, UAB probably has a better faculty reputation.

I'll let DaBigDawg finish off making the comparison.

Within the Southeast, there is a gap between Duke and UAB and then between UAB and the other programs (the next tier being Emory and Vanderbilt). After that, the 4th tier includes a lot of programs.

Duke has a national reputation and is clearly ranked ahead of UAB (via USNEWS specialty rankings) in almost every category. I've heard their fellowship match is on par with MGH, Brigham, UCSF, etc. They match 18-20 in cards annually. The primary con of Duke are that it is in Durham, NC so it attracts more married/strong relationship folks into its residency than the singles scene.

UAB also has a national reputation that is extremely strong in Cards and ID. It is definitely a notch below Duke on the national scene and fails to attract some candidates because of its location in Alabama. That being said, its training is very good and one cannot go wrong here.

Within the Southeast, there is a gap between Duke and UAB and then between UAB and the other programs (the next tier being Emory and Vanderbilt). After that, the 4th tier includes a lot of programs.

Duke has a national reputation and is clearly ranked ahead of UAB (via USNEWS specialty rankings) in almost every category. I've heard their fellowship match is on par with MGH, Brigham, UCSF, etc. They match 18-20 in cards annually. The primary con of Duke are that it is in Durham, NC so it attracts more married/strong relationship folks into its residency than the singles scene.

UAB also has a national reputation that is extremely strong in Cards and ID. It is definitely a notch below Duke on the national scene and fails to attract some candidates because of its location in Alabama. That being said, its training is very good and one cannot go wrong here.


In a week or so I will have interviewed Med-Peds at 16 places around the country ( from Philly to the West Coast and many in between). Within the medical community (academicians and PD's) I would say UAB is more well known and has a better reputation than Emory based on what I have heard and observed on the interview trail. This is somewhat contrary to what is usually touted on this board, i.e. that UAB's reputation is only regional.

gosh! u guys ... UAB has got better ranks in NIH funding.. but thats basic research... UAB internal medicine ranking on usnews is better than Emory.. but that is overall... UAB cardiology fellowship ranked 6th in nation as compared to Emory's 11th.. but that again Emory is traditionally knows for cards....UAB grads only 60-70% go into fellowship but only continue at UAB... Emory 87% go into fellowship.. Emory known harvard of south.. UAB has got all hospitals clubbed together.. Emory has five different hospitals spread all over the trafiica snarly Atlanta city which can really make your day hectic if you shuffling around...all these facts just mess up the things ...

gosh! u guys ... UAB has got better ranks in NIH funding.. but thats basic research... UAB internal medicine ranking on usnews is better than Emory.. but that is overall... UAB cardiology fellowship ranked 6th in nation as compared to Emory's 11th.. but that again Emory is traditionally knows for cards....UAB grads only 60-70% go into fellowship but only continue at UAB... Emory 87% go into fellowship.. Emory known harvard of south.. UAB has got all hospitals clubbed together.. Emory has five different hospitals spread all over the trafiica snarly Atlanta city which can really make your day hectic if you shuffling around...all these facts just mess up the things ...
Stream of consciousness!

Do you happen to have the recent UAB fellowship match list? Does everyone stay there - just wondering why that might be... Thanks

gosh! u guys ... UAB has got better ranks in NIH funding.. but thats basic research... UAB internal medicine ranking on usnews is better than Emory.. but that is overall... UAB cardiology fellowship ranked 6th in nation as compared to Emory's 11th.. but that again Emory is traditionally knows for cards....UAB grads only 60-70% go into fellowship but only continue at UAB... Emory 87% go into fellowship.. Emory known harvard of south.. UAB has got all hospitals clubbed together.. Emory has five different hospitals spread all over the trafiica snarly Atlanta city which can really make your day hectic if you shuffling around...all these facts just mess up the things ...

Do you happen to have the recent UAB fellowship match list? Does everyone stay there - just wondering why that might be... Thanks

I have a list from the last 15 years they gave out. For GI and Cards, more than 50% leave for fellowships, and they typically go to very good places, usually in the SE but also elsewhere (one of last yr's chiefs went to Hopkins for Cards). For pulm/cc and heme/onc, it seems that more than 50% stay, but that is probably b/c these programs are very strong in research and clinical training. It seems that UAB grads are very competitive in general for fellowships.

if we're talking about the 'harvard of the south' it would be duke not emory. both places about 1/2 stay and 1/2 leave for fellowship. btw if i spawned one more 'harvard of the ____' discussions, please lord forgive me for i have sinned.

duke >> uab > emory = vanderbilt >>> UF

gosh! u guys ... UAB has got better ranks in NIH funding.. but thats basic research... UAB internal medicine ranking on usnews is better than Emory.. but that is overall... UAB cardiology fellowship ranked 6th in nation as compared to Emory's 11th.. but that again Emory is traditionally knows for cards....UAB grads only 60-70% go into fellowship but only continue at UAB... Emory 87% go into fellowship.. Emory known harvard of south.. UAB has got all hospitals clubbed together.. Emory has five different hospitals spread all over the trafiica snarly Atlanta city which can really make your day hectic if you shuffling around...all these facts just mess up the things ...

I'm also biased, and while I won't compare it to Emory for you, I will just tell you what I have seen. The attendings are exceptional, and the powers that be are very serious about making sure that the attendings are dedicated to teaching. For example, on the Tinsley Harrison service (which is the gen med service at University Hospital and one of the busiest/most intense services) the attendings have to be invited to attend on that service, i.e, if past evaluations by residents/students show that you aren't taking the time to teach, you won't be invited. The attendings are also very respectful toward the residents and students, which is important.

Also, on my interviews I always pay attention to the residents in morning report, because these are the people that I will learn from, right? I don't know what schools all of the residents came from, but I know that the UAB residents have a knowledge base that is really impressive. I've been to some other programs where I was NOT impressed with the residents in morning report (i.e, please don't let me sit on the sidelines knowing the answer to a question that the 3rd year resident needs repeated clues to answer...:thumbdown ) Also, the residents seem to be genuinely happy, which is also important. Sometimes you can't really tell on an interview day, but I've been with these guys on call and after long days and they are working hard, but they are happy, which for me is huge.
All of the hospitals are either connected or within 2 blocks of each other, and you get the variety of working at university hospital, the county hospital, the VA and while you won't rotate at a private hospital, you do have the option to have your clinic at St. Vincents, which is a private hospital that is about 5 min away. And you've heard all about rankings and NIH funding, etc.

Birmingham--low cost of living, there are concerts/arts/festivals, etc, but obviously not as much going on as Atlanta (however Atlanta is only 2 hours away, so on your golden weekend you can shoot over there.)

You're in a pretty sweet position though, because they are both good programs, and you'll be well trained either way.

Oh and call! I believe it's q4 on most wards, but the night float system allows for interns to be q8 (alternate short and long call with the help of the intern night float) and upper level residents only stay overnight if call falls on a friday or saturday. Q5 in the MICU and q5 on GI service. The program seems to work really hard to adhere to the 80-hour work week. Not sure how that compares to Emory.

So I wonder why Emory is perceived as having a weaker IM department?
It's not. Some of the comparisons in this thread are outrageous.

In the South, Duke is far and away the #1 in IM.

For #2, Emory, UAB, Vandy, and UNC are all essentially equal in caliber.

To the OP, reputation aside, the two programs are very different; it shouldn't be difficult to make a decision based on which program felt like a better fit for you.

It's not. Some of the comparisons in this thread are outrageous.

In the South, Duke is far and away the #1 in IM.

For #2, Emory, UAB, Vandy, and UNC are all essentially equal in caliber.

To the OP, reputation aside, the two programs are very different; it shouldn't be difficult to make a decision based on which program felt like a better fit for you.

Definitely agree that Duke is by far the most prestigious IM program in the south.

IMO, as a whole, UAB has the most impressive faculty and research of the next tier (ie. Emory, UAB, Vandy, UNC, UVA). However, as far as fellowship matches go I was more impressed with Emory and Vanderbilt. UVa's list is good also. UAB's list was a bit underwhelming, though not poor by any means. In addition, UAB (and UNC to a lesser extent) definitely draws from a more regional crowd for its residents; Vandy, UVA, and Emory residents are from a greater variety of locations/schools.

Hey guys,

i know this isn't specifically about comparing UAB to a bunch of other programs around the country, but where does it stack up against some of the Texas IM programs? Particularly Baylor, UT-Southwestern and UT-Houston. I know i have a lot of training left, but I've been leaning towards Cards for a long time, so I would like to someday end up at Texas Heart Institute.

p.s. i'm a first year at uab and my significant other will be a first year at Baylor in the fall.

Hey guys,

i know this isn't specifically about comparing UAB to a bunch of other programs around the country, but where does it stack up against some of the Texas IM programs? Particularly Baylor, UT-Southwestern and UT-Houston. I know i have a lot of training left, but I've been leaning towards Cards for a long time, so I would like to someday end up at Texas Heart Institute.

p.s. i'm a first year at uab and my significant other will be a first year at Baylor in the fall.
UTSW is without a doubt the most prestigious of the group, and it also offers the most rigorous clinical training on par with Hopkins, Duke. This type of training definitely leads to very capable clinicians, but I do not think it is necessarily the only path to become a good clinician. UTSW's fellowship match is impressive, probably almost at the level of Duke/Stanford/Penn.

Overall, Baylor and UAB are pretty similar; whereas UAB has better research resources, Baylor has slightly better residents. Training at UAB and Baylor are also similar (university, county, VA); at both places you'll become a very good clinician.

To end up at Texas Heart, your best bets would likely be Baylor or UTSW. Don't neglect UAB's own cardiology program though.

Why do you want to end up at Texas Heart?

During my four years at Rice, I was extremely impressed by the magnitude of the Texas Medical Center, and THI. I know UAB has a phenomenal cardiology program, but the decision is also in part due to a dialogue with my SO who wants to stay at Baylor to collaborate with their International Health program. We want to get married at some point, and the possibility of doing it in 4 years rather than 6 (if i stayed in IM at UAB and she came here for her residency), is an added obstacle to the situation. Long distance really sucks.

I suppose it'll just come down to the match to determine where we end up. I am just trying to get a rough idea of how I would rank them, if/when the time comes. Can anyone shed some light on what a competitive applicant to any of the three programs described would be like?

Just wondering what people thought about UAB. I was really impressed with my visit there. I thought it was the best Southeastern school I interviewed at, and I interviewed at almost all of them.

Just wondering what people thought about UAB. I was really impressed with my visit there. I thought it was the best Southeastern school I interviewed at, and I interviewed at almost all of them.

I agree, UAB was top notch. Am debating whether to rank UAB or Vandy#1

bump

I too liked UAB > Emory.

The main reason being that at UAB medicine is thought of as the most important division of the hospital and its residents/attendings are thought of as the rockstars of the hospital (if there is such a thing)... Also, they seemed dedicated to making you into a well rounded physician and the class size and city are small enough that one could really get to know everyone and take minutes instead of an hour to get home due to traffic. Only bad thing I found was the fact you have to read both x ray and CTs on lightboxes still...

Duke definitely has the greatest prestige of the southeastern programs.
After that, I would put Vandy, Emory and UAB in no particular order. I would say that Vandy and UAB likely have more basic science research (and basic science research dollars) than Emory, but I wouldn't 100% swear to it. UAB and Vandy are both in the top 10 or 15 for NIH research dollars...don't know where Emory stands on that. Historically, Emory has the best known cardiology division among Vanderbilt and UAB, but in recent years both UAB and Vandy have become comparable (i.e. lots of cards patients, cards research, etc.). Keep in mind that reputations linger, so if you want to match some place like Harvard for cards fellowship (good luck!) then Duke would be the best place in the Southeast, with Emory being 2nd IMHO. That doesn't necessarily say anything about the education there - it just means that having well connected attendings and a well known cardiovascular division helps IM resident match well for fellowship.

Out of Vandy/Emory/UAB, I would say just pick the one that is the best fit for you and the city where you want to live, as that may affect your performance the most. You can't go wrong with any of the three. Emory may get a little crazy with driving all over town, etc. but if you are single or prefer larger cities you may prefer it. Vandy probably has more of a mix of singles + marrieds than UAB, but I'm just guessing on that. For cost of living Emory > Nashville/Vandy > UAB/Birmingham, I would assume.