Private-practice programs...

[drfunktacular]

One of the faculty at my school told me: "there are two kinds of ENT programs, the ones that make department chairs, and the ones that make rich doctors." I realize he was largely joking, but it got me wondering: where are the departments that are more focused on community practice rather than academics?

I realize of course that you can do academics or private practice after training at just about any institution, so I guess a more specific question would be: where are the departments that would be less likely to count a sparse research experience against me? Research/academics is really not something I want to do with my life, so I would be interested in finding the programs that provide large-volume training and independence for residents, rather than programs that have residents involved in lots of faculty research projects and paper-writing.

Thanks!

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[Leforte]

So you want to go to one of the programs that make rich doctors

Nearly any ENT program will train you to be an excellent surgeon. Some places residents push the 80 hours, and are heavily involved with other projects outside of patient care. Others are more comfortable in the 60 hr range and offer more bread and butter with a little sub-specialist stuff thrown in to keep it interesting. If you do not want to do research, don't go to the big name places - if you have little research and average scores when you apply, it is doubtful you'd interview at those places anyway.

Interestingly, if you look at what graduates of the big names (Iowa, JHU, Michigan, UW, ME&E) do, many do go into private practice, too. Conversely, you do not need to go to a power place to do academics. Yes, there may be a higher proportion of academicians from places like U Washington, vs you local state program, but I think that this is more due to the type of person they are recruiting. Their residents know that it is research heavy and want to be part of it. Other residents have no interest in such things and, while they may interview, would rank a place closer to family/friends and would prefer to just do their training and join a PP in their home town.

You have to figure out which is important for you and rank accordingly. However, remember, that in a field such as ENT, one is fortunate to get any position.