Any updated info on UPenn's program?

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The most recent I could find on this forum was from 2009:

Penn: Lipstick on a Pig
The program puts on a good show. The director is well spoken and sells it, and the pain facility is very asthetically pleasing. But, multiple people have told me it is a low-tier pain program in a top-tier anesthesiology program (similar to Columbia in this respect). Procedures are mainly bread and butter, but have good number of stims (upside). But, you are only on procedures every 3-4th week. Only 6-8 procedures/day (mainly TFESI, LESI, CESI) and you are "pulled" to clinic on Wednesday for fellows clinic (so the resident does all the procedures by themself!) Clinic is a terrible experience, being primarily medical refill and chronic medical management of medicaid patients. Support services are lacking and at least 1 hour/day is spent filling out forms for "pre-approval" of medications or speaking with medicaid on phone. On acute service every 3rd week (carry pager for entire week - you are backup but the go to person for questions from the resident Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat - and carry pager by self (no resident) Thurs, Sunday). Must go in for any thoracic epidural placement during that week (even if resident goes in as well). Acute + chronic call every third weekend! Far too much acute management (which is really not educational). No peds experience (despite CHOP being next door). Overall, multiple people (high in pain food chain) told me not to consider program. Didn't get offer after interview, and heard they are full. But, have also heard that non-Penn people in the last 3-5 years have been VERY disappointed throughout their fellowship, to the point some actively considered leaving. They felt they were "duped" by a used car salesman during the interview process.

Anyone with updated info about the program?

very good program, with over 200 applicants per year. Moved to downtown philly hospital a couple years ago, with a nicer facility. You will have exposure to druggies(inner city patients), stim/pump patients, b/b pain procedures, and so forth. Also, fellows get good jobs in the region. They had some big gun people in the past, and fellows tend to stay on staff for several years. Sorry you didn't get an interview.

Most pain programs with medicaid patients don't do well financially, so the anesthesia chair tends to not invest all resources.

Originally Posted by stim4u

very good program, with over 200 applicants per year. Moved to downtown philly hospital a couple years ago, with a nicer facility. You will have exposure to druggies(inner city patients), stim/pump patients, b/b pain procedures, and so forth. Also, fellows get good jobs in the region. They had some big gun people in the past, and fellows tend to stay on staff for several years. Sorry you didn't get an interview.

Most pain programs with medicaid patients don't do well financially, so the anesthesia chair tends to not invest all resources.

Thanks for the info, appreciate it. Re not getting an interview... what are you basing that off?

Originally Posted by stim4u

Most pain programs with medicaid patients don't do well financially, so the anesthesia chair tends to not invest all resources.

what ACGME certified pain programs dont get medicaid?

I know to get medicaid funding, you have to be ACGME certified, but what about vice versa? personally, i have not heard of any fellowship program that is ACGME certified that doesnt take medicaid... are there a lot out there?

not a slam on medicaid, but pain programs in more rural areas are likley to get a better payer mix. Pain programs in urban areas tend to do poorly compared to their pure anesthesia/gas reinbursement. that lends to chairpersons investing less into pain program. furhermore, the good attendings tend to take off after a few years, since their salaries cannot compete with the free market. that will poor billing practices sabotage any profit in academic practices.
finally, there is no pain program that will offer you all your skills. you will need to add additional training in certain areas.

I interviewed there 4 years ago but my info is probably outdated - you may be able to search for my impression back then. i can't remember much anymore...

Originally Posted by axm397

I interviewed there 4 years ago but my info is probably outdated - you may be able to search for my impression back then. i can't remember much anymore...

Thanks, your review was very detailed and overall very positive. Very different from the review below.