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- Dec 21, 2006
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I know Dr. Will rotated here so he probably knows more than I do. Feel free to add comments. Overall- really really liked this program.
Residents: There was a good turnout the night before for dinner and during our interview day, and everyone seemed very nice and laid back. They all stressed how happy they were with their program and how well prepared they would be when they graduated. Seemed like most are the west coast originally, but there were some people from other areas of the country.
Faculty: The PD is very nice and personable, and I think he does everything he can to make the residency better. In short, I would love someone like him to be the PD at whatever program I end up at! The other faculty I interviewed with were cool and approachable. The faculty produce a lot of research every year. The PD was quick to point out that he feels that a lot more faculty are on at one time as compared to other programs, so there is more time for teaching.
Facilities/Ancillary services: The ED is pretty standard, divided into three areas according to pediatrics/acuity. It isn't super big, maybe around 40 beds, and they see around 60,000 per year. There is construction for a new surgery/emergency pavilion currently underway and it is supposed to be done in 2008. The new ED will be bigger, 60 beds or more. You are not starting your own IVs all the time or taking pts to xray.
Curriculum: I like their curriculum a lot. They split their time about 70/30 between UC-Davis and at Kaiser ED in South Sac. The patients at UC-Davis tend to be sicker, and the patients at South Sac are less sick- abd pain, etc. There is usually only 1 resident on at a time at Kaiser, so you work only with attendings and the attendings grab you if there is something cool. As a third year, you spend much more time with the sickest patients, and you are expected to know the board in the area you are working in. They do tons of ultrasound at South Sac- like the attendings do their own DVT studies. They do a fair amount at Davis too, they do have 4 machines.
They get tons and tons of trauma since they are the referring center for trauma in most of Northern California. The ED handles all airways. Anesthesia is not called. Surgery does come for all trauma team activations, and I didn't get a good handle on how they work together-maybe Dr. Will can elaborate. Overall the residents said everyone gets along fine with occasional conflicts.
One of the residents told me I would get more than my fill on my trauma month.
The off service rotations seemed very strong. They do their anesthesia rotation at Kaiser, so there are no other residents around, and all you do is intubate that month for a few hours in the morning. Other residents talked about how much they liked their ortho month, and someone was talking about how awesome their opthamology rotation was, with other residents nodding in agreement (I have not heard that at any other program!). The PD wants the off-service rotations to relate directly to EM, and not doing scut work for other programs.
They require a research project of publishable caliber, not a scholarly activity. They have a process set up where different faculty critique and analyze the project at different stages through your pgy2-3 yrs, and everyone has a research advisor.
Currently they do 12 hr shifts, but there is rumor this may change. They are trialing shorter shifts for the faculty soon. The PD emphasized he didn't care what the residents did and he would be fine with whatever people wanted.
Patient Pop: There is no county hospital in Sacramento, so this serves as one. Also they are admitting people who are super super sick and going to Davis for specific treatment. Overall the pop at Davis is sick, with high admission rates, lots of trauma (PD said 75% blunt, 25% penetrating). Kaiser is less sick, this is where you work on being efficient and seeing less sick pts.
Location: Sacramento, CA. I'm not from CA, and everyone was telling me how much Sacramento sucked, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is usually above 50 degrees all year long, affordable, has cool bars/restaurants, and is an hour and a half from SF, hour and a half from Tahoe. Residents do lots of outdoors stuff. Since I didn't grow up next to a beach, I would love to live somewhere like there, but I understand how people get spoiled.
Perks: Benefits are all covered for residents and partners. Like, 100% covered. One resident was telling us how he and his wife just had a baby and they didn't receive a single bill. I don't think you need to be married to cover a partner, but don't quote me on that.
Overall: I loved the feel of this program. Residents are cool and laid back, faculty are smart and approachable, PD goes to bat for you. You will be a good doc when you graduate, and can go to competitive places. (e.g. Grads have recently gone to SF, and San Diego) Research is strong also, with opportunities for those interested. This program will be high on my list.
Residents: There was a good turnout the night before for dinner and during our interview day, and everyone seemed very nice and laid back. They all stressed how happy they were with their program and how well prepared they would be when they graduated. Seemed like most are the west coast originally, but there were some people from other areas of the country.
Faculty: The PD is very nice and personable, and I think he does everything he can to make the residency better. In short, I would love someone like him to be the PD at whatever program I end up at! The other faculty I interviewed with were cool and approachable. The faculty produce a lot of research every year. The PD was quick to point out that he feels that a lot more faculty are on at one time as compared to other programs, so there is more time for teaching.
Facilities/Ancillary services: The ED is pretty standard, divided into three areas according to pediatrics/acuity. It isn't super big, maybe around 40 beds, and they see around 60,000 per year. There is construction for a new surgery/emergency pavilion currently underway and it is supposed to be done in 2008. The new ED will be bigger, 60 beds or more. You are not starting your own IVs all the time or taking pts to xray.
Curriculum: I like their curriculum a lot. They split their time about 70/30 between UC-Davis and at Kaiser ED in South Sac. The patients at UC-Davis tend to be sicker, and the patients at South Sac are less sick- abd pain, etc. There is usually only 1 resident on at a time at Kaiser, so you work only with attendings and the attendings grab you if there is something cool. As a third year, you spend much more time with the sickest patients, and you are expected to know the board in the area you are working in. They do tons of ultrasound at South Sac- like the attendings do their own DVT studies. They do a fair amount at Davis too, they do have 4 machines.
They get tons and tons of trauma since they are the referring center for trauma in most of Northern California. The ED handles all airways. Anesthesia is not called. Surgery does come for all trauma team activations, and I didn't get a good handle on how they work together-maybe Dr. Will can elaborate. Overall the residents said everyone gets along fine with occasional conflicts.
One of the residents told me I would get more than my fill on my trauma month.
The off service rotations seemed very strong. They do their anesthesia rotation at Kaiser, so there are no other residents around, and all you do is intubate that month for a few hours in the morning. Other residents talked about how much they liked their ortho month, and someone was talking about how awesome their opthamology rotation was, with other residents nodding in agreement (I have not heard that at any other program!). The PD wants the off-service rotations to relate directly to EM, and not doing scut work for other programs.
They require a research project of publishable caliber, not a scholarly activity. They have a process set up where different faculty critique and analyze the project at different stages through your pgy2-3 yrs, and everyone has a research advisor.
Currently they do 12 hr shifts, but there is rumor this may change. They are trialing shorter shifts for the faculty soon. The PD emphasized he didn't care what the residents did and he would be fine with whatever people wanted.
Patient Pop: There is no county hospital in Sacramento, so this serves as one. Also they are admitting people who are super super sick and going to Davis for specific treatment. Overall the pop at Davis is sick, with high admission rates, lots of trauma (PD said 75% blunt, 25% penetrating). Kaiser is less sick, this is where you work on being efficient and seeing less sick pts.
Location: Sacramento, CA. I'm not from CA, and everyone was telling me how much Sacramento sucked, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is usually above 50 degrees all year long, affordable, has cool bars/restaurants, and is an hour and a half from SF, hour and a half from Tahoe. Residents do lots of outdoors stuff. Since I didn't grow up next to a beach, I would love to live somewhere like there, but I understand how people get spoiled.
Perks: Benefits are all covered for residents and partners. Like, 100% covered. One resident was telling us how he and his wife just had a baby and they didn't receive a single bill. I don't think you need to be married to cover a partner, but don't quote me on that.
Overall: I loved the feel of this program. Residents are cool and laid back, faculty are smart and approachable, PD goes to bat for you. You will be a good doc when you graduate, and can go to competitive places. (e.g. Grads have recently gone to SF, and San Diego) Research is strong also, with opportunities for those interested. This program will be high on my list.
