interview stories

I've heard through the grapevine that more applicants from midwestern medical schools are applying to PM&R programs this year. One school (which shall remain nameless) had not anyone apply to PM&R for like seven years reportedly has 5-7 people interested in the field this year!

My program director (a big program in the South) said that there are a lot of early applications this year. He said, like last year, they should not have any trouble filling spots with QUALITY applicants!!! The trend is that they are getting more and more selective!!! I guess this is true for a lot of the other more competitive PM&R programs and maybe PM&R as a whole!

Hello all,

Can you please tell me about the University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas and their PM&R program. I've been offered an interview there, and I wouldn't mind getting some first hand information about their program.

Once I interview there I'll be sure to come back and tell you all about it, but I won't be interviewing until mid December.

Thanks, and Cheers

UPitt was my first formal interview. I found this program to be excellent. UPMC has an outstanding hospital system. The rehab program loves to talk about their numerous and excellent research opportunities, including current research on ski injuries. Everybody, including the PD were very easy to talk to. This program is one of the few that have both TBI and SCI model systems. Unfortunately, Dr. Zafonte, DO had a scheduled conference on the day of the interview. However, Dr. Zafonte is the chairman and he is world reknown in TBI. He has done tons of research in TBI.

The program is very strong in musculoskeletal rehab. They appear to get tons of didactics, not just once per week. Board review is also every week. During sports medicine rotations, you get to work with the Steelers and UPitt athletic squads. I think that this is a very solid program and compares very well with many of the elite programs. I was very impressed by how comprehensive of a program that it really is. The residents that I met really love the city of Pittsburgh and the low cost of living. Many residents have bought homes rather than rent apartments due to the low cost of housing. The program starts at PGY1 year (ACGME internship) but DOs who match into the program can go to UPMC-McKeesport (which is AOA accredited) for their PGY1 year. Remember that Pa is one state that requires DOs to complete an AOA-accredited internship in order to practice within the state. The same goes with Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.

As a side note, PM&R is such a small world. I've already run into other interviewees who I have rotated with or go to school with. Thus far, every interviewee that I have met are very cool and laid back.

Only interviewee for the day. This was a site I rotated at, so my interview experience may not be the same as those who haven't rotated there.

Quick tour of the new outpatient facility. 1st floor is a where outpatient (and inpatient?) PT is situated, as well as a health club with brand new Cybex machines, some free weights. Outpatient clinics are also to be located within the new building. 2nd floor includes a track, conference rooms, offices. Connects to the older inpatient building, specifically to the redisigned 3rd floor (SC unit).

Inpatient is a free-standing 90+ bed hospital, connected to other components of the DMC by an elaborate tunnel system. 3rd floor was newly renovated, with assurances they are working their way up. It as probably the nicest inpatient rehab floor I've seen (compared to old RIM, UM, Beaumont).

Lunch with the chief residents (one PGY4, one PGY3) at a local restaurant. Following that, interviews with program director, interim director of RIM, two PGY2s (but I was acquainted with them from my rotation) and the SC attending (again, I worked with her on my rotation). Very laid back interviews, with only the program director asking me the standard 'Why PM&R?' question. The rest of my interviews consisted of addressing my questions regarding the program.

Program consists of 5 residents per class, with 2 of the graduating class doing Pain fellowships and 1 pursuing a Sports Med fellowship. PGY2s start performing EMGs in the VA for 2 months, with on average getting around 100 done during that time. PGY2s also have weekly gross anatomy lab time . Residents live all over the place, with a couple living downtown, others in the suburbs.

Inpatient experiences are split between RIM and Sinai Grace Hospital during PGY2 and PGY3. Outpatient clinics include those at RIM as well as various SE Michigan sites. RIM has a contract with a local school district to cover high school athletic events, so sports medicine experience is built into curriculum. Call is overnight call broken up between the PGY2 and 3s for the 1st 12 days of the calendar. Following that, IM nightfloat is contracted to cover RIM. After those 12 days, only weekend day-call is expected. PGY2s and 3s average 1-2 overnight and 1 weekend day call a month.

Concerns; Association with the DMC and the resultant financial difficulties it is experiencing; however, I was assured multiple times that the program is operating within the black, and they are attempting to build their endowment in order to a) increase research/reputation and b) be able to weather disassociation from the DMC. Also, if you never have been to one of the DMC hospitals, their ancillary staff isn't the greatest.

Impressions; pleasantly surprised. In the words of the RIM director, 'cautiously optimistic' in regards to the direction of the program. Program director is very resident friendly, tries to tailor the program to resident needs. I'm probably staying in Michigan, so by default it will be in the top 3...just have to sit down and compare RIM to UMich and Beaumont.

Interviewed with two other applicants yesterday.

Day started out with breakfast with residency coordinator, chief resident was supposed to be there, but had a death in the family so she couldn't attend.

Interviews followed, with the program director, research coordinator, TBI attending, consult attending. Very laid back, with the research coordinator explaining more about the research requirement in the residency, and some of his personal research in functional electrical stim.

Tour of facilities followed with a PGY2 (chief was supposed to). Metrohealth is Cleveland's county hospital, NE Ohio's only Trauma I center so rehab patients may be sicker than average community hospital. Inpatient rotations include dedicated TBI/SCI/Stroke-etc., with TBI being tag-teamed with 2 residents. You will also see around 1-2 burn rehab patients a month. Call is in-house overnight, with PGY2s averaging 4 calls a month, one a weekend. Other rotations include consults at Cleveland Clinic, Peds at Cleveland Clinic Childrens Hospital. Sports med exposure is also being developed, with opportunities to staff CWRUs track and volleyball clinic. Also working on opportunities for high school game coverage. EMGs are started PGY2, residents say around 20-30 are performed. One attending that performs interventional, another attending performs accupuncture and manual medicine. Attached outpatient facility is site of continuity clinics. PGY3s precept gross for 5 wks at CWRU

5 residents per class, 3 PGY1 slots, 2 PGY2 slots. Most residents were from Ohio, a couple of FMGs as well. About half of the graduating class are pursuing fellowships, most haven't had a problem in finding spots.

Impressions: Pretty well-rounded experiences available. Liked how they were a Trauma I with dedicated TBI and SCI units. Pleasantly surprised at the research component, and how their goal was to become more educated consumers of medical researchers, not to create researchers. I stayed in downtown Cleveland, and the downtown area was definitely a place I could see myself in.

I think we're the only ones posting here, AXM

Experience at William Beaumont Hospital in MI and UCinci will be posted in a couple days, leaving for my Cinci interview now.

Only interviewee of the day, apparently this is their MO to make sure the applicant gets individual attention. Interview day started at 8:30 AM, which was much too early. I was supposed to have a formal meet & greet of the residents and then a tour of the hospital before my 11:00 AM interview with the program director. However, since I had done a PM&R rotation AND my subI at this hospital, the residents felt there wasn't anything else for them to show me at the hospital.

Very laid back program PGY1 only, happy residents (3 per class). Call is from home. 26 bed inpatient covered by 2 residents. You see SCI, TBI, stroke (lots) and some ortho/disability. 8 months inpt. PGY2, 4 mo consults working with a PGY3. 4 months of EMGs in PGY3 with 4 months inpt. 4 months of elective PGY4, with 4 months of essentially independence at Troy Beaumont rehab. Call averages out to around q6-7, 1 weekend a month. PGY2s cover one of Thanksgiving/Xmas/New Years, PGY3s cover Memorial Day/Labor Day/4th of July. Didactics include 3-4 lectures in the morning and evenings, weekly friday morning EMG lectures, journal club, etc. PGY2s and 3s tag-team prosecting cadavers.

Different attendings have sports med affiliations (local high schools, some minor pro), plenty of injection experience, interventional procedure experience available via PGY4 elective time, with residents with a stated interest in this also sent to a training seminar somewhere. Residents feel that they have enough experience in epidurals to utilize this following graduation. Rare for graduates to pursue fellowships, partly explained by the fact that residents feel they do not need further training. Mandatory requirement to perform some sort of research, churn out an abstract for submission to a conference (AAPMR preferably).

Overall impressions; smaller program, residents happy with education, cohesive classes, feel prepared for careers. This is a residency that emphasizes the physical medicine side of PM&R. Although you will see a lot on the inpatient side, you may not see as many or as complex a patient population on an inpatient side than you would see at larger academic facilities. The PGY4 year is VERY flexible; allows for a lot of freedom to pursue what interests you and what experience you need to gain prior to graduation.

One of five interviewees. Small program, with two adult PGY1 spots, one Peds/PMR spot. Interview day consisted of interviews with program director, department chair, peds attending, and head of research. Very laid back interviews, the peds attending actually knew a bunch of people at my home institution, so we chatted. Quick tour and lunch with residents followed. After lunch, we went on a tour of Drake Center, site of their inpatient rehab floors. Another hospital, Christ Hospital, is site of the senior community inpatient rehab experience, was not seen on tour. Drake is a VERY nice rehab hospital.

PGY2 year is broken up into 6 months Neuro/TBI, 3 mo SCI/Ortho/GenMed, 3 mo consults at UCinci Med Center. PGY3s have 4 mo of EMGs, 2 mo at VA, 3 mo Consults, 2 mo outpatient. PGY4s have 4 mo electives, 3 mo peds rehab at Children's. 1/2 day a week is devoted to continuity clinic. Residents spend 1 week of call at a time, around every 4-6 weeks, at home.

Interventional experience is available, generally to senior residents through a couple of the attendings. Informal arrangements for experience in sports medicine is also available. Recent grads have pursued fellowships, but seems to be kind of rare.

Ultimately, while I liked the attendings I met (esp. the program director, who was very candid with me), I'm not going to rank this program because it is a PGY1 and Cinci is a little to far from home (and girlfriend)

I was one of five interviewees, supposedly an abnormally large group. Apparently tOSU is interviewing more people this year due to increase in the number of quality applicants. 16 residents, interviewing for 4 PGY2 1 PGY1 spots this year.

Interview day started around 8-ish, pretty much hung out until 9 AM. Started off the day with Ernie Johnson, which was kind of intimidating, but he was very personable and was eager to tout OSU's strengths and weaknesses. Followed up with interviews with the dept. Chair and the Program Director. All interviews were pretty laid back, some of the standard 'Why PMR' questions, etc. FYI Dr. Clinchot's office is freezing! Dr Clinchot did spend a lot of time talking about how OSU is integrating Palms into the residency (patient and procedure tracking on the Palms) as well as on-line evals. Finished up with a quick tour of Dodd Hall with one of the chief residents. Dodd Hall was on the smallish side, total capacity around 60, running around at 48 beds. It is a stand-alone facility, and even though the main Hospital is right across the street, ambulance transfers for sick patients are required...

Lunch was at the OSU golf club, pretty cool to see the Jack Nicholas stuff hanging around there. One of the other chiefs and two PGY2s tagged along for lunch. 14 mo inpatient (2 mo SCI, 4 mo TBI, 6 mo Gen, 2 mo Children's, 2 mo consults at OSU, Riverside, and Grant hospital. Rest of the time is outpt. Inpatient call is 1/wk home call, 1 weekend/5 wks, rest of weekends off. PGY2s cover one major, one minor holiday. PGY3s cover one minor. Inpatient hours average from 7:30-4-ish, depending on the presence of a late admission or not. Residents will do a TON of EMGs...700-800 by the time you graduate. Sportsmed opportunities are available (high schools as well as coverage for special events (Special Olympics, etc.)).

Didactics are organized into modules, VERY structured with texts provided per module, speakers and grand rounds set up to correspond with module. 3 different journal clubs per month as well (Dept, SportsMed, M&N). Residents have no problem getting fellowships or jobs.

Day finished off with a quick tour of Riverside Hospital and interview with a teaching faculty. Pretty short, in my opinion it kinda was a blah interview since the attending did not have my ERAS info on him and was not expecting to give a 'blind' interview.

Overall impression: I was extremely impressed with this program. They offer a lot of different opportunities in the different aspects of PM&R, drill you on EMGs, and work hard to incorporate didactics into future clinical utility. This is definitely one of my top choices.

axm397 and finally M3,

Thanks for your wonderful feedback thus far.

Here is a program not often mentioned on this forum:

I interviewed at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse on December 12th. Overall, I thought that was a solid program. I am somewhat partial to upstate NY since I did my undergrad at Cornell University. The day at Syracuse started with a talk with Dr. Weber, the chairman, about the overview of the program. Dr. Weber is a guru when it comes to EMG. He worked with Ernie Johnson when he trained at OSU. Therefore, this program is especially strong in EMG.

Each year of the residency is split 50/50 between inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. The program is also especially strong in pediatric. Dr. Turk is nationally reknown when it comes to peds-PM&R. The interview with Drs. Turk and Weber was laid back. Just recently, Syracuse has opened up the Institute of Human Performance (IHP), which is maybe the biggest selling point about the program. At the IHP, several research studies have begun in regards to gait and athletic performance. This place is must see. The IHP has basketball courts that have pressure plates that can measure the pressure when a players makes a rebound. The pools can change depth from 2 to 6 feet. The track also has pressure sensor that can measure pressure on foot strike and length of stride. However, since the IHP is relatively new, the residents have limited opportunities. Pretty soon, this will change.

The program offer residents 6 months of elective time. This is more than any program that I have interviewed at thus far. The city of Syracuse is a decent city. If you love long, cold, and very snowy winters as well as winter sports, this program is for you. Skiing comes cheap nearby Syracuse. It is not the most exciting city. However, there are numerous bars and nightclubs. People from Syracuse really love their college athletics, especially Orangemen basketball. The physiatrists are team doctors for the minor league baseball team and professional hockey teams. There are opportunities work alongside with them.

Syracuse is a very safe city. Thus, SCI has a very low patient population. Schwab/Univ. of Chicago was the total opposite with all the gunshot victims that they get.

The residents seem to really love this program. Most of them decided to go to this program because of the opportunity to work with Dr. Weber and the reputation that he brings. Drs. Weber and Turk are the main reasons why the residents have landed jobs, all over the country, as soon as the day after they interviewed. Similar to the current trend of PM&R, half the residents have gone into pain management fellowships.

Drawbacks: SCI (low patient population), city of Syracuse is definitely not for everyone if you are not used to snow, not as many injections done compared some other programs

Strengths: Dr. Weber, excellent support staff (PT, OT, etc.), IHP, inpatient and outpatient MSK, peds, EMG

Interviewee one of three. Program will interview around 50 candidates this season for 6 PGY2 spots. Day started off by intro from program coordinator, going over didactic schedule. Interviews then commenced with assistant residency director, research/interventional faculty (blinded interview), and program director. All interviews were very laid back, standard questions such as 'Why PM&R?' and 'What do you see yourself doing in 10 years'. Some 'future of medicine' discussion with the assist. program director, but that's a topic I liked

After the interviews we had lunch with 3 residents (1 PGY2 2 PGY3s) in downtown Ann Arbor. Talked about their backgrounds, what they liked/disliked about the program. Resident dislikes included lack of sportsmed opportunities within the curriculum itself, however, this was available via elective. Call is at home, averages to around 2-3/months ~1 weekend/month. Lots of flexibility in call schedules, arranged per residents. 4 weeks of vacation, conference time built in (1 wk?), LOTS of holiday time as well...the House Officer Association is pretty powerful at the U, and you can't beat the PM&R Department's schedule for holidays...

After lunch we went to the new Burlington Rehab/Spine Center...off-campus site of outpt clinics, EMGs, one fluro suite as well. After this we took a tour of the inpt. rehab and medical procedures unit (3 more fluro suites, where they do cervical injections, more invasive procedures). The inpatient floor has some SICK patients on it...but the spine service should be more manageable with the addition of a SCI fellow starting next calendar year. 32 beds, average day is 7ish to 5 ish, but dependent upon census. You also spend 2 mo in Peds Rehab at Mott Children's as well. EMGs done PGY3 and PGY4 in various sites...lots of injection exposure, 80-100 epidurals performed can be easily achieved, even with the presence of Spine and Pain fellows.

Impressions; I rotated here and I like the program. Having spent a lot of time in Ann Arbor for school, I really like the area although I know it isn't for everyone. Lots of procedural experience, not as much EMG experience than at OSU although 300+ can be achieved. Definitely one of my top choices.

I interviewed at Schwab during the first week of December. There were 3 of us interviewing for that day. Overall, I was very impressed by this program. The impovershed area of Chicago brings numerous and diverse pathologies into Schwab. Immediately, you can tell that the PD, Michelle Gittler, is very different compared to other PDs that I've met. She is very interactive with her residents and is very personable. Every resident that I spoke to have high praises for her. She has written many chapters in various PM&R textbooks.

The PGY2 year at Schwab is rough, but not scut heavy. Every residents, including current PGY2s, say that their prelim medicine or transitional year was easier than PGY2. PGY2 year is solely inpatient rehab. Being that Schwab is in a rougher area of Chicago, with gang activity in nearby areas, the residents have to prepared for more complex medical issues. The chief resident said that she was surprised by the number of times that her patients were crashing even during therapy. More than half of the SCI patients have gunshot wounds, often due to gang related activity. The call schedule is still better than most programs in NYC. The PGY2 call schedule is 3 in-house calls per month. You can schedule your 3 calls almost any time during the month. There is no more inpatient rehab after PGY2.

Virtually all of the faculty members (predominantly female) completed residency at RIC, except for a couple who went to Schwab and UIC (now closed down). As the medical director said, their biggest strength is their faculty and I may agree with that. Hence, some people call this place the "mini-RIC." During PGY3&4, there is more time spent at the U. of Chicago, Sinai Hospital, and Weiss Community Hospital. During that time, all of the outpatient rotations (consults at U of C, EMG, MSK, etc.) done at that time. Pain management is mostly done at RIC. For the first time ever, a resident (the chief) landed an anesthesia-based pain management fellowship at the University of Chicago. There is great opportunity to do sports medicine rotations in the program.

The Schwab rehab hospital is very nice. A therapeutic rooftop garden was recently added. Although in a terrible location, the underserved area of Chicago (which is where most of the major hospitals of Chicago are) definitely prepares residents to become a very competent physiatrist. They see and learn numerous pathologies and how to take care of them. The residents love their staff as their faculty members love to teach. A 360 degree evaluation is used to evaluate residents, attendings, and therapy staff. The residents say that they definitely get way more than enough feedback.

Schwab recently started a 3 person panel interview with Drs. Rayner (medical director), Lie-Nemeth, and Lis. This is a great interview as this was one of my most laid back interviews. The interview with Dr. Gittler was awesome. She was so laid back and great to talk to.

Schwab is a relatively young program and I thought that this program is very solid. It is probably the second best PM&R program in the city, next to RIC of course. If you like working in an underserved area with the serious pathologies it brings, this program is for you. The residents are very happy about their program, even though PGY2 year is very hard. They love their faculty and really love working with Dr. Gittler. Being that I have done numerous rotations in underserved areas (mostly NYC), I will rank this program high, probably top 5. The city of Chicago itself is a very nice city. It is almost as exciting as Manhattan.

Has anyone here been to Spaulding and/or Stanford for an interview? If so, what was the interview day like and what did you think of the program? Thanks and good luck.


MSK

So guys, who has interviewed there and what did you think of it.

Gonna add onto Vlad's comments, since I am too lazy to post an entirely new one.

The attendings at Schwab are the real strength of the program. I agree that I was impressed with Dr. Gittler; good reputation as a physician as well as being a 'resident advocate'. I met three other staff at the panel interview; very laid back, two RIC grads, one Stanford grad. Seem to have a good working relationship with each other...

The location wasn't that bad in my opinion, although I could very well have a different opinion when the sun goes down

A few areas of concern for me were EMG experience, procedure experience, and the in-house call covering a 100+ bed stand-alone facility. One of my interviews was with a senior resident, and she had only performed 140+ EMGs with two months of EMGs to go...also, the pain rotation (nice, 10 wks as part of your core curriculum) was through Anesth., so you'd have to fight for LEIS experience (1 C-arm). Finally, in-house call...with some sick patients! No high-cervical vents, but... Heh.

Finally, Chicago is a cool city. Much cooler than SE Michigan.

I was one of 2 residency applicants during my day at UTHSCSA. Overall, I thought that UT San Antonio has one of the strongest, solid, well-established programs that you will find in the country. It sure helps having Drs. Walsh and Dumitru as chairman and PD, respectively. This is a 4 year program. The 12 months off of the Rehabilitation Medicine service is distributed through the first two years of training. The first year of the program is structured to consist of six months of Rehabilitation Medicine inpatient service, two months of Internal Medicine, two months of General Surgery/Trauma ICU, one month of Neurosurgery Acute Trauma, and a one month Rheumatology Rotation. Rotations during the second year of training consist of six months of Rehabilitation Medicine, two months of Medicine/Geriatric Service, two months of Orthopaedics, and two months of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. Hence, you are already considered a rehab resident directly from the start. Also, the resident are able to already establish a working relationship with the medicine and surgery departments.

Most of PGY3&4 years are spent in clinics such as prosthetics/orthotics/neurolysis, ortho/musculoskeletal, SCI, Cardiac Rehab, and Pain clinic. You will get an intense training with EMG, especially when you get to Dr. Dumitru. During PGY3, most residents will have "done" at least the required 200 EMGs performed before getting to Dr. Dumitru. With Dr. Dumitru, you will get an advanced level of EMG training with him. If you have met Dr. Dumitru or even read his EMG bible, you will know how intense he can be. However, he is nice guy. The interview with him was a little intimidating but not all bad. The residents that I met said that, in essence, you are fellowship-trained having Drs. Dumitru and Kalantri (who will be leaving) on staff.

Besides Dr. Dumitru, I was interviewed by Dr. Bowles (TBI specialist) and Dr. Walsh (interventional spine). Dr. Bowles is new to the program and seems to have added "energy" to the TBI department. She recently completed residency at Baylor-Houston. The interview with her was laid back. She is a laid back, "energetic," and gregarious woman. Finally, my interview with Dr. Nicholas Walsh was great. He has definitely done a great job keeping the program well-rounded and making resident education solid. At the 2003 AAPM&R conference in Chicago, Dr. Walsh received the Walter J. Zeiter Lectureship award. The award honors a physiatrist who has made consistent contributions to the specialty and has earned respect and admiration of his or her peers for outstanding accomplishments in the field of PM&R.

I got a tour of facilities at the Reeves Rehab Center, the VA (connected to Reeves), the Pain Clinic (includes a fluoroscopy suite), Warm Springs Rehab (community rehab facility that is 10 minute drive from UTHSCSA), the gait lab, and Engineering Lab/Research Lab (prosthetics/orthotics). The Engineering Lab/Research Lab was a site to see. The program was very strong in prosthetics and orthotics. Plus the labs have their own shop where the engineers actually make the equipments inside the hospital. Also, the GAIT lab was quite impressive.

On the day before, the other interviewee and I had dinner with one of the chiefs and his wife who is also a PGY4 resident. The dinner at the RiverWalk was very nice. I never realized that the Alamo was right in the middle of downtown. I was surprised by that.

Strengths: SCI (has fellowship), peds (just started a fellowship), Prosthetics/Orthotics, strong and well-structured didactic curriculum, pain management, EMG (on average, residents "do", not just watch, 250-400 EMGs), good balance of inpatient and outpatient, very low cost of living.

Weaknesses: limited sports medicine exposure, San Antonio is not the most exciting city (but nearby Austin is!), elective time (7 weeks).

The residents come from all over the country including Puerto Rico, California, New York (one from NYCOM), etc. Most of the residents don't actually come from Texas. That resident that I have met picked this program due to its smaller size (contrasted to that of Baylor) and strong resident camaderie. The residents are a good mix of DOs and US MDs (a few residents from PR and 1 from Iceland). The residents have get togethers every month. The resident seem very proud of their program and were glad they came to the program.

I was amazed by how great this program is and I will rank this program high. It was sooo much program than any Manhattan program. The NYC programs seem to be heading a downwards direction. Even though the sports medicine exposure is somewhat limited (you do get to work at the Special Olympics), the program is so well-rounded that I will be more than satisfied with my PM&R education.

Well, it looks like I do prefer smaller sized residency programs (no more than 6 residents/yr) unlike the NYC programs that have 8-14 residents. It was well worth interviewing here. Bonus: $200 reimbursement on flight and free hotel stay.

Since apps begin transmitting tomorrow for ERAS, I was hoping we could start another thread on interviews/experiences for this year's applying class (and get input from those already there) ...

I second that. I certified today and 8/25 programs have already uploaded my CAF, Profile, and some LORs. Here we go.....

NF

That's awesome ... I think I had about 5 or six download already as well. Pretty surprised at how fast they did it. Unfortunately, none of my letters are in yet. Not sure how long that will take. I don't start my 1-month PM&R rotation until next month ...

Maybe DrRusso can ressurect last year's thread as a sticky? Axm, DocVlad and myself put a crapload of our interview feedback on that thread...

Axm-all over
Vlad-mostly East Coast
Me- Midwest

Oh, I started to loathe that part of ERAS where you can see if/when programs have uploaded your info. "Why haven't they contacted me?????"

It will take a month or so guys...don't drive yourself crazy!

Finally M3 said:

Maybe DrRusso can ressurect last year's thread as a sticky? Axm, DocVlad and myself put a crapload of our interview feedback on that thread...

Axm-all over
Vlad-mostly East Coast
Me- Midwest

Click to expand...

I noticed there was only one input last year from a California Program (Stanford). Did anyone else interview on the West Coast? If so, what were your experiences? Thanks.

I would love to hear about the interview experience from anyone who did it at Spaulding, Mayo or OSU. Thanks.


PS. Let's make this as good of a thread as last year, it really helps if we are all helpful and positive with eacg other. Based on my experience and knowledge from last year. If you are posting on this thread, you will match at a good program. I wonder why that is.

'Cause we rock! Lol

Hey nanomed if you are lurking, I had a busy weekend and will root around my box-o-application stuff tonight.

Finally M3 said:

'Cause we rock! Lol

Hey nanomed if you are lurking, I had a busy weekend and will root around my box-o-application stuff tonight.

Click to expand...

Thanks M!....yeah, still lurking....

Hey all...got my first interview invite today from Temple University. Anyone know much about this program or have done a rotation there. Thanks.

NF

Has anyone inteviewed at Emory? What did you think?
What have you heard about the program?
Thanks.

axm397 said:

I wrote a review on temple on this thread last year.

Overall, I thought it was a pretty strong program - one of the bigger programs. Scary location, not the prettiest facility, some weird faculty members but overall should get a good education.

There was a temple PM&R resident who matched at my med school's Anesthesia based pain management program -> that's actually how I got introduced to the field.

Lots of opportunities for sports medicine - some interaction with other philly PM&R residents (Jeff, UPenn)

Somewhat eccentric PD - seemed nice enough

In hindsight, that was probably the only interview where I was actually PIMPED - question after question like: "how do you write a PM&R script for s/p hip replacement?" "What is the #1 cause of autonomic dysreflexia in SCI patients?" "So, you're the resident on call and the nurse calls you about __insert case scenario__ what would you do?" and then the look of death - silence - "what do you mean, you don't know? You did do a PM&R rotation, didn't you?"

So that ONE interviewer skewed my view - I ended up ranking them pretty low. Many of my friends liked the program. SO - it probably was just an isolated incident.

Click to expand...

Same thing happened to me, and I interviewed there in Nov. '01.

I'm surprised you were asked that. That's stuff you learn as a PGY-2.

I had the dubious pleasure of getting pimped on EMGs.

From what I remember, though, Temple has a strong academic reputation in PM&R.

Hey everybody,


I'm currently a third year resident at Rush's program.

If anyone is thinking of interviewing there and would like any information on Chicago, the program/interview or what to expect, let me know.

Disciple said:

Hey everybody,


I'm currently a third year resident at Rush's program.

If anyone is thinking of interviewing there and would like any information on Chicago, the program/interview or what to expect, let me know.

Click to expand...

I heard that a lot of the faculty left a few years ago and the program is having/had some trouble. Honestly, how are things now, and what are the strengths/weaknesses of your program. Thank you very much.

NF

normalforce said:

I heard that a lot of the faculty left a few years ago and the program is having/had some trouble. Honestly, how are things now, and what are the strengths/weaknesses of your program. Thank you very much.

NF

Click to expand...

Funny, I've heard that as well.

Strange......


I guess old information takes a while to go out of circulation. I wasn't at Rush before PGY-2 (7/03), but I'll tell you what I know.

In 2000, our program director left. From what I hear he was very intelligent, but somewhat eccentric and not that great of an educator/resident advocate. Our current PD is young, energetic and has made a concerted effort to restructure our program to offer the type of training desired by today's applicants/job market.

In the spring of '02, our assistant PD and one of our best instructors left and is now Asst. PD at U. of Mich., a loss for sure, but life and residency programs go on.

Here's a rundown of the program with strengths and weaknesses:

The program is approx 60/40% outpt to inpt.

PGY-2 12 months of inpt, 6 months general inpt rehab/consults at Rush, 2 months Neurology for categoricals, 2 months SCI at Oak Forrest(county hosp), and 2 months TBI.

PGY-3 1 month of chronic pain clinic, 1 month of Orthotics/Prosthetics/amputee clinic/foot-ankle/peds ortho, 2 months of SCI (Hines VA), 2 months of musculoskeletal clinic/Neuro ICU consults(county/trauma), 2 months of musculoskeletal clinic/EMG, 2 months Pediatrics, 2 months outpt (musculoskel, ortho, sports).

PGY-4 4 months EMG(2 months in the Neuro dept, 2 months of more hands on at Cook County), 2 months elective, 2 months interventional spine (with both an interventional Physiatrist and Anesthesiologist-large volume of injections and procedures with solid hands on opportunities for needle placement, etc.), 2 months occupational rehab(worker's comp etc), 2 months outpt clinics (sports, TBI, MDA, SCI, musculoskeletal, amputee, etc).

At Rush, two of the big rep departments are Neurosurg and Ortho, including Ortho Spine. I'm glad that we're taking advantage of this for educational/training purposes e.g. sports rotations, foot/ankle/shoulder clinic, peds ortho. Sports rotations are with the Ortho dept (docs for Bulls/White Sox) and with the PM&R sports-med doc for U. of Illinois- Chicago-Athletics (UIC). Opportunities to cover sporting events include UIC varsity athletic events, the Chicago Marathon and the Chicago Distance Classic (half marathon) among many others. We also rotate at CINN. We'll have an official affiliation with their pain/interventional spine fellowship if their application for ACGME accreditation goes through this year. At the present time, there are more outpt. rotations available than residents to attend them. That being said, even though there are only two months of elective, there is enough flexibility with choice of outpt. rotations for a resident to tailor his or her training experience to meet his/her individualized career goals.

Though the program is more outpt focused, the inpt training has traditionally been pretty solid. The months on general inpt rehab provide exposure to a lot of variable pathology including pts S/P heart/liver/kidney transplant, cancer pts, Neuro pts (MS, Parkinson's, etc.), and cardiac/pulmonary pts in addition to your average strokes, amputees and generally deconditioned pts. Of the two SCI rotations, one is at a county hospital (gunshot wounds, etc.) and one is at the VA (high-level cord injuries, vents, etc.). Pts with milder SCI are seen in the acute rehab unit i.e. s/p laminectomy/spinal fusion. For the brain injury rotations, again, one is at Oak Forrest Hosp-(county-lots of blunt head trauma), and one is on the acute rehab unit at Rush (plenty of NeuroSx patients i.e. ICH, hydrocephalus, tumors, aneurysm repair, Baclofen pump trials, etc.)

Call schedule for inpatient is 5 wks for PGY-2, 4 wks for PGY-3 and 2 wks for PGY-4. Call is from home M-F(you don't have to come in even for emergencies) and overnight on Sat./Sun.

Didactics include lectures every Fri. morning on an 18 month rotating schedule along with SAE/board review. Journal club and chapter reviews are held weekly for PGY 2 and there is a monthly lecture for everyone by guest speakers (usually physiatrists from out of state programs). Additional didactics are a comprehensive 6 week Orthotic/Prosthetic course for PGY-3/4 and Functional Anatomy course with prosected cadavers and Neuroanatomy review course for PGY-2. Additional optional didactics during some rotations are weekly spine conference (run by the ortho dept)/ortho grand rounds and Neurosurg morning conference/report.

Each resident is alloted approx $500 yearly for books, etc. and $1000 yearly for registrations at conferences, workshops, etc. Full reimbursement is also given for travel expenses (gas money) to the away inpatient sites(Oak Forrest/Hines VA). The department pays for all PGY-4s to attend the AAPMR annual convention and for PGY 2/3s who are presenting research.

As a group, I think all the residents are really happy with the direction the program is going and we get along great together. We have a post-rotation dinner every 2 months to gripe about or praise rotations, eat/drink and hang out. I think the atmosphere at this program is pretty easy going. There are no big egos here (at least in the PM&R dept.). I honestly feel that our faculty puts priority on helping each resident meet his or her individualized career goals. Of our 3 seniors from last year, one entered the sports/EMG fellowship at Mich. State, one went into private practice with a large ortho group, and one was offered a spot in the interventional spine fellowhip at the Cleveland Clinic (don't know if she ever accepted it or not). Currently, our 5 seniors are interviewing for interventional spine/sports fellowships and we're hoping for 100% placement.

One remaining weakness is Peds. We have a fairly new attending (2 years)from the Cinncinati combined PM&R/Peds program who is a great guy and solid educator, but the inpatient Peds unit is still in the process of opening at Rush. At the present time, the Peds rotation is mostly outpt. Personally, it doesn't bother me because I'm not that into peds and I've already completed the rotation. Nevertheless, during my peds rotation I was able to do quite a few Botox injections.

Additionally, we don't really have the big PM&R names that some programs have.

To ride on the coat-tails of RIC , they have several great conferences yearly which alot of us attend. Only problem is the cost for some of them.

We had our ACGME review this July. No major problems from what I hear, but the official notification should be coming out in February. We're hoping for another 3 year if not 5 year accreditation.




I hope this answers everyone's questions. If not, feel free to PM me.

Started at 8am with an informal lecture from Dr. Buschbacher the PD. Discussed program, rotations, benefits, etc... Then had a tour from the chief resident from 9am-11:30am. Toured facilities, campus, city. Then lunch from 11:30am-12:30pm with 2 residents. Then 4, 15 minute interviews that were very laid back and informal.

Overall, the program is balanced and well-rounded. No weak points other than it offers no fellowships. 3 months of electives is nice. PD was very friendly and nice overall. Residents seemed to be happy with the size of the class and the overall friendliness and personality of the program. Many chose it because they did not want a big program.

Call is in-house, 2nd call. q5-6 pgy2, q8-10 pgy3, q14 pgy4. Very benign call.

Overall and small, solid, community program for someone who wants a residency that is laid back. Indy is good if you are married, bad if single. Good for outdoor events and amateur sports.

It is not a top ten program from the rankings, but it really depends on what you are looking for in a program. In my mind it is top ten and will likely be one of my top picks along with U of M.

Hello, all

Hope the interview season is going well for everyone. I am from NYC area and have applied to all NYC and NJ programs, so far haven't gone to any interviews. First one next week, and I am so sick, I am afraid I may have to reschedule. I plan to post my experiences at each place I go to. I was hoping some others will do the same. If nothing else, it will be fun to compare notes. Happy hunting.

The "stories from the trail" series has been one of the most popular and often cited threads over the years for those interviewing for PM&R residencies. Many people find it helpful to hear the interview experiences of others and their perceptions of various programs to help them plan their schedules. It certainly was very helpful to me.

I encourage applicants to post their feedback and experiences here. Just remember: It's a small field, be critical but honest and fair. Those you piss today might just be hiring you tomorrow! I also encourage applicants to fill out their reviews on www.scutwork.com

Your honest feedback and trailblazing helps others behind you...and believe me, you'd be amazed who's reading and lurking on these boards!

GOOD LUCK this year!

axm397 said:

Dr. Russo, any possibility of adding the contents of last year's thread to this sticky so others can just add-on to it this year? that way, more programs will be reviewed.

Click to expand...

Done.