upmc mercy

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

hey peeps...this originated in a pm exchange I had, but I thought it would be fair to let everyone make an informed decision...

I interviewed at UPMC Mercy. I thought the PD there is a d-bag and the PC (who for some reason gave the hospital tour) is definitely off (strange, overinclusive, tangential, and neurotic). Of the 8 TYs and 15+ rads I have been on so far, it was the only tour given by a PC. I heard from a close friend who also interviewed there that the PD threw a PM&R applicant out of the interview day because he didn't like her body language (she was reading the information pamphlet instead of maintaining eye contact) during the program overview!! The other applicants present thought it was a joke at first. When they realized otherwise, they thought it was totally unwarranted and were afraid they too would be thrown out of the interview day for frivolous reasons.

The PD definitely seemed narcissistic during my interview as well, stating multiple times his various appointments there (VP, chief, PD, etc.) and how mercy is by far the best UPMC program. He even said to me that some of the interviewees "do not have a prayer of matching here." I was just thinking...then why bother interview them? I brought this up very subtly to some of the residents during lunch and they said that he is always like that and that the PD has told them that he hates talking to people or interacting socially! My friend that was there on the day of the incident said the residents told him not to worry as there is very little contact with the PD while a TY there! Hard to believe a TY does not have much contact with the program director of the TY.

To be honest, I had heard negative things about mercy from people I trust before the interview, but did not totally believe it since they offer good electives and was anticipating they would be close to the top. But after going there, I wonder if I will rank them at all!

Lo and behold...
http://www.scutwork.com/cgi-bin/links/review.cgi?ID=159

IF you are in to research and poster presentations, with no work ethic and great board scores (99 percentile), you will get in to the program. HElps the PD to stroke his ego when people do research. Poor morale among residents. Everyone fears the program director. Thre are about 80% foreign medical grads. PD doesnt accept many american grads and does not look favorable upon DOs. He thinks they are inferior. Some of the FMGs are great - have great skill set and fund of knowledge. MOst are there to let others do their work. Again, PD will take them based on scores alone. If you are a hard worker, you wont do well because you will pick up the slack for those who magically get a week off each month to do poster presentations.
Conclusion
I applied to several other programs. When I started I was happy an denjoyed my colleagues. Downfall - Program director. He coached all of the residents how to respond to the ACGME for their survery. He wanted to get a 5 year accreditation. He almost coerced residents into stretching the truth. The truth is he uses intraining scores against residents. He doesnt care about the quality of medicine practiced at the hospital. As the other posts said, he is not a physician - he is an administrator. He will lie to you during your interview. HE accepts many transitional year residents who lack work ethic. It is funny because the PD has no clue what actually goes on. He doesnt really care, because he is there to make money and save money. I would not recommend this program to anyone. If you want to be coached into lying to protect the program director, then this is the program for you. I am surprised that he has not been reported to the ACGME for coaching residents to lie on surveys. Again, nothing will be done about this. Some residents do fellowship - GI, Endocrine, Pulm/CCM. You will get help applying from the subspecialists, who want you to succeed. It is sad, because withou tthe program director, it would be a highly favorable program. As long as he is there, it will suffer. Most do primary care and hospitalist work, which is not hard at all to come by. These positions are in high demand. No one stays to work at Mercy though, some go to UPMC, some to AGH for hospitalist or other rural local areas. I felt prepared once finished and am grateful to the staff and faculty. You see quite a bit of pathology at this program being in the inner city. Some patients are grateful for the care they receive, alot are frequent fliers. IT is good exposure to a stroke program, Infectious disease, Cardiology and Trauma. Some speciality elevtives can be arranged at UPMC Presby, but only 1 elective - only 1!! - awat elective. This is a draw back. Also, the program coordinator is leaving the program from what I heard. It is a shame because she was the backbone of the program. Good luck trying to apply now without her assitance - she was very organized and it is a loss to not have her there. Another draw back - night float is 6 nights now. Very not doable.





A couple faculty scam health care system and still get on staff, mainly payback for bringing patietns to UPMC. Cant tell program director Dr. Pinevich, he will defend them and not listen to you. He wants to make money for UPMC.




Program director is major problem. downfall of program. He made good change when he started but unapproachable, no personality at all. He looks at your score, not your name. He does not care who you are just what you scored. I wouldnt consider this program with him in charge. He needs to go. He makes people try to hold back if they do poor on intraining exam. He does not care what type of doctor you are he wants to make sure you can get good scores to make him look good. Interview is a joke, he doesnt make eye contact or ask questions. He looks at Steps scores. Keep in mind when considering to interview. Many good residents. Good group international grads, some are there because of grades and test scores. No other reason at all. If you are foreign medical grad, you will get in. Some DOs in program, used to be more. Pinevich doesnt like them. Some are good, good personalities. good hard working doctors. But if you are a DO dont apply, not good chance of joining program.


My advice - Mercy has good staff, caring doctors, but program director needs to go. bad personality - no personality. Does not understand people thats why he is administrator. Learned what I needed to in training and happy I joined because of people I work with but would not suggest applying. PRogram will get worse because you need to score good on tests or he will not like you. People complain about PD but no one listens.
Conclusion
some do fellowship after but you would get no help from PD. All on your own or if faculty likes you they would help you.





Life outside work depends on you- was a laid back program but with new PD who is very pushy people now complain of the pressure and stress. program is notorious for kicking out residents or making them repeat their training for past 2-3 years. residents don't feel secure here. they always talk of unwanted stress in their life due to residency. more than work the pressure from department is bad. program coordinator is very moody and can make your life hell. she likes only few people you can't complain against her with anyone.


PD is very moody, picky, cynic and demeaning at times.

It is a vastly different experience to be there as a TY vs categorical. Some of these comments have a seed of truth to them, but, as with any ranting, it is one-sided. Truthfully, I had an overall good experience there as a TY, you can PM me for details. I can't speak for the categoricals because their schedules and goals were different from mine and any of the other TYs.

Originally Posted by The JockDoc

It is a vastly different experience to be there as a TY vs categorical. Some of these comments have a seed of truth to them, but, as with any ranting, it is one-sided. Truthfully, I had an overall good experience there as a TY, you can PM me for details. I can't speak for the categoricals because their schedules and goals were different from mine and any of the other TYs.

Can you comment on your experience as a TY?

it's too late for this year's match but I just wanted to set the record straight from someone who's actually experienced the program: I had a GOOD experience at UPMC Mercy as a TY! You don't choose a program because you want to hangout with the PD but because it gives you the schedule/elective/hours you want! I got the electives I wanted, and on my floor/ICU months I never hit the 80 hours mark. Personally I never had a problem with the PD or PC either. The problems I had were mostly with scheduling (which has been brought up and is being addressed) and a not so great interaction with another resident (who has since left), so if you are considering Mercy, check out the schedule they are offering and decide based upon that - when I interviewed a year ago I thought Mercy's schedule was one of the best I had come across.

Yea I thought that program was ridiculously cush. I don't really see why a PD even matters for a transitional year--you'll hardly ever interact with him. If it wasn't in Pittsburgh, I would have definitely loved to "train" there.

UPMC Mercy ended up being near the top of my list of. Definitely had a very competitive schedule. Was a little hesitant of the PD but the schedule more than makes up for it. Only reason it didn't end up being my #1 was because I found an equally Cush TY with some really good perks. Would have been happy to match there for intern year.