This is just my honest opinion. I think you are comparing apples to oranges here. They have had recent changes in leadership at UNC in the past couple of years because of the trajectory of their residency. They had to hire a PR firm a few years ago to help them sell the program because it was struggling as well. They failed to match several spots recently. Had back to back 2 year accredidations because they failed to fix the problem (critical care experience and hours violations, which by the way should NEVER happen in anesthesiology residencies). And all of this is objective data given by outside resources (both residents who chose not to match there and the outside entities whose sole purpose is to evaluate a program's residency). Now if they had received a 4 out 5 year accrediation, that's nit picking. Not a big deal. But back to back two year accredidations? If you interviewed at a place the caliber of Wake, I am not sure why you would settle for a place like UNC unless you needed to for family reasons. Wake has had a 5 out of 5 year accredidation cycle for multiple decades and is a name that can land you a job anywhere in the country if you want one.This mis-leading idea that "as long as I train at one of my top 5 residencies I will have the same exact education" is bogus. Can that really possibly be true? I will say that Wake is certainly stronger in OB (Mayo residents will train with us because this is so strong), Neuro (PD is a neuro guy, awesome training here), Regional (our numbers are legitimately insanse, no need for fellowshp), and chronic pain (top 5 fellowship with world renowned pain docs). Our airway experience is second to none. Our CT and peds experiences are very strong and getting stronger. Our thoracic numbers are getting insanely high. Critical care is okay here, but easily the weakest of the subspecialities. We just dont place a huge emphasis on it, though you get plenty of ICU experience. Attendings are very educational focused as is the PD. Everything is intentionally done to optimize your education. You are not a cog in the wheel of the work force as a resident. You are here for an education.
Is chapel hill more desirable? Probably. But Winston-Salem is not bad at all and is the most affordable city in the country with a top 10-15 anesthesia residency in it. My wife and I own a 1200 sq foot house, 3 BR, 2 baths, garage, fenced yard, 5 minutes from Baptist for $630 per month. Hard to beat with the quality of training you will receive at Wake.Apples and oranges. You'll be very competent coming from UNC, but I think that anyone would tell you Wake is stronger (including a recent chief who went to UNC and came back to Wake after a year because of what he thought about UNC's program).
Good luck everyone!
