university vs university affiliated programs

[rkaz]

Hi all, I'm getting ready to apply for residency next week, and I was just wondering if it really makes much difference to go to a university versus a university-affiliated residency program. In my family's city (Phoenix) there is 1 university-affiliated program (Banner Good Sam) as well as 1 county (Maricopa), though I don't know if Maricopa is really considered university-affiliated or not despite it being listed as such on FREIDA. It would be awesome for me to stay close to my parents, sibling, cousins, etc. However, I may want to work academic medicine in future, as I've taught students before and absolutely loved it. (I may be interested in research, but I love teaching even more.) I'm also considering child psych. I was wondering if I'd be better off applying to a large number of university programs, if that might help me with my future career plans. I'd REALLY love to stay close to family if possible, as family support is HUGE to me.... but at the same time, I don't want to have diminished career prospects if going to a university-affiliated program would limit the possibility of an academic career in future. I really just don't know how much it matters to go to a university program or not... as I'd surely give greater weight to staying nearer to family if it doesn't matter. Ultimately I want to find a place that is very supportive to residents and highly values teaching, and lacks a lot of the 'office politics' (gossip, backstabbing etc), so I can be really happy training there. Thoughts??

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[OldPsychDoc]

Basically "University-affiliated" means that it is a rotation site for medical students from X University, and that the hospital attendings in the program(s) there have clinical/adjunct appointments to the university departments*. They are going to be more clinical/community focused than strictly academic/research focused, but will still have connections to various scholarly and educational projects. Some will be better places to train than university programs, and depending on institutional culture, will be more supportive. Some will be just as dysfunctional as the worst university program you've ever encountered.

As far as the politics, gossip, and back-stabbing...well, welcome to the adult world. If you find a place free of that, you're probably just not looking hard enough. It's everywhere, man.

*(which doesn't even get you discounted football tickets around here...but hey, it's a title!)

 

[st2205]

Banner is community. I interviewed there, but not Maricopa (I've been meaning to update a few of my interview reviews, particularly this program).

Anyway, you'll get a better feel on your interviews the difference. Don't be ashamed about community programs.

 

[RedSox87]

A happy psychiatrist is a good psychiatrist. Yes, a university program will have many benefits regarding resources and research, but learning is an active process and I imagine you can become an informed, sharp psychiatrist no matter where you go I am a resident at an academic program in psychiatry and I love it. On a weekly basis, I love working with medical students, having fascinating lecturers and feeling challenged by leading specialists in the field. At the end of the day though, do what makes you happy. There is a tremendous need for psych and I applaud you for joining this wonderful art of healing.

 

[rkaz]

Thank you all so much for your time to respond to my thread. OPD, thanks for clearing up the meaning of "university affiliated".

I think the real issue for me is that most of my training has been preceptor based, with a few non-residency community hospitals thrown in (as my DO school does not have its own hospital). Then last year, I only had 1 rotation in a residency-based community hospital for internal medicine. I just had my first university hospital rotation this past month in psych. (Both of my rotations with residents have been awesome experiences, though I admit I really like all the research options at the university.) My point is that I probably just haven't had enough exposure to residency education in either community or university hospitals to have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of both options. I've set up several hospital rotations on my own accord through VSAS for this year, so hopefully that will start to clear things up.

 

[microshar88]

I'm in a similar boat as the OP, I may want to do practice or academic later on, not sure yet. I do know I want to do child psych though. I was wondering, if I stay locally at a new program at a community program that's brand new, will this hinder me in obtaining an academic position?

I really have a lot of unstability in my family's life due to my mother's psychiatric issues and I just want to be there for my little brother (he's 13 and extremely terrified of her). I at least want to be in the same state so I can be there for him when he needs me. She is a vicious woman who has inflicted a lot of trauma on us. My bitter experiences with her have truly inspired me to enter this field.

But to the point, I'm not sure what i should be taking into account. I think happiness and mental stability take precdence, I have a decent social support system with my dad at least and I also suffer from Ulcerative Colitis so it has been a blessing being close to my local physicians for rotations and I would like to keep that if I can.

Thanks

 

[st2205]

I'm in a similar boat as the OP, I may want to do practice or academic later on, not sure yet. I do know I want to do child psych though. I was wondering, if I stay locally at a new program at a community program that's brand new, will this hinder me in obtaining an academic position?

I really have a lot of unstability in my family's life due to my mother's psychiatric issues and I just want to be there for my little brother (he's 13 and extremely terrified of her). I at least want to be in the same state so I can be there for him when he needs me. She is a vicious woman who has inflicted a lot of trauma on us. My bitter experiences with her have truly inspired me to enter this field.

But to the point, I'm not sure what i should be taking into account. I think happiness and mental stability take precdence, I have a decent social support system with my dad at least and I also suffer from Ulcerative Colitis so it has been a blessing being close to my local physicians for rotations and I would like to keep that if I can.

Thanks

There's always the option of a more academic fellowship.

 

[deleted314290]

Maricopa is unlikely to continue its "university affiliation" after Banner bought out UAHN. It is likely that the Banner program will be incorporated into the University of Arizona. Those are my 2 cents.