Duke vs. Brigham & Women's

I'm really torn apart between these two schools. Does anyone have any insight into separating these two apart? Which one is "better" academically and by training, and by reputation? Which one has better fellowship placement? They both seem similar in my mind. Just thought a fresh view would help. Thanks.

PCT said:

I'm really torn apart between these two schools. Does anyone have any insight into separating these two apart? Which one is "better" academically and by training, and by reputation? Which one has better fellowship placement? They both seem similar in my mind. Just thought a fresh view would help. Thanks.

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comes down to boston vs. tobacco road

I feel like they both have excellent reputations, will train you adequately, and will place you into a fellowship if that's what you choose. It has to come down to where you felt more comfortable. Which residents were you happy to say goodbye to at the end of your interview day, and which would you have been interested in spending time with another day?

During my interviews, I also liked both of these programs. I think that both have excellent reputations academically. From my interviews, it seemed that Duke was a little more old-school and traditional. I felt that the interns at Brigham have more OR time, whereas the interns at Duke seemed to spend more time on the floor. Cost of living is obviously significantly less in Durham than Boston, but you do have to contend with a business attire and white pants for Duke.

With regards to the strength of the particular programs, I think that Brigham was strong in thoracic; while, I heard one person mention that Duke only recently added a thoracic program (I heard this only in passing). Duke is strong in transplant; while, BWH only has a renal transplant program.

I too would like to hear from anyone else who has input on the two programs.

I did not go to Boston, but I was intrigued by my interview at Duke. I was informed, almost proudly, that the surgery department had a 100% divorce rate in the residency under Dr. Sabiston. I don't think that is true of the Jacobs era, but nontheless, why woud you tell an applicant that? I really liked the faculty that I met and did have the nerve to delve into the issue. Anyone else heard these types of reports from Duke or elsewhere?

AllThumbs said:

I did not go to Boston, but I was intrigued by my interview at Duke. I was informed, almost proudly, that the surgery department had a 100% divorce rate in the residency under Dr. Sabiston. I don't think that is true of the Jacobs era, but nontheless, why woud you tell an applicant that? I really liked the faculty that I met and did have the nerve to delve into the issue. Anyone else heard these types of reports from Duke or elsewhere?

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The story about the divorce rate (and I actually heard it was 110% - reflecting those who got divorced more than once during residency) has been around a long time - never sure if it was urban legend or not.

At any rate, Duke has long had a "malignant" reputation and there are people who are attracted to that - hence the "bragging" about the divorce rate. It implies we work you hard and you had better expect to put your residency in first place, ahead of your relationship.

Not sure if the current administration subscribes to such a feeling although a friend (and former co-resident) who is currently a surgical fellow there seems to feel that not much has changed, at least in his department.

I know little about BWH but you know what you're signing up for when you go to Duke for gen surg, they don't try and hide their "culture"

Having been a med student at Duke, I saw the malignant surgery culture first-hand (and often felt its wrath). Students were made to carry the huge heavy "wound bag" and anticipate the need for supplies on rounds to quickly undress and re-dress wounds, never able to do it quickly enough for the bitter chief residents. There are certainly a number of nice residents in the program, but seemingly just as many who are so overworked that they no longer know how to be anything but mean to their interns and students. I saw and heard interns yelled at on gen surg at least once per week, and saw one cry at least once during my month there. I suspect there are several undiagnosed personality disorders among the group as well 😉 I also highly doubt that they're keeping within the duty hours requirements. A number of residents have even switched out of gen surg into more lifestyle fields in the past few years as a result. It's true that interns get little to no OR time; they're managing the floor patients all the time. Last year Duke kept 4 of its own, out of 6 or 7 general surgery spots. There are certainly a number of phenomenal attendings at Duke, and no doubt the training is top notch, but the culture is quite malignant in my experience. Just know what you're getting into before you make your rank list...

AlloImmune said:

Duke is strong in transplant; while, BWH only has a renal transplant program.

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To be a jackass, didn't Duke lose a tranplant patient several years ago due to mismatched blood type? unheard of oversight!

I don't know who this "villin" is?

A case of ABO incompatibility is tragic. However, that does not mean that a program does not have a very strong transplant division. Ridiculous reply.

When you graduate from high school in 2009 go ahead and post again.

reglan said:

I don't know who this "villin" is?

A case of ABO incompatibility is tragic. However, that does not mean that a program does not have a very strong transplant division. Ridiculous reply.

When you graduate from high school in 2009 go ahead and post again.

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hey reglan...i believe you need to relax a bit. my comment was to show that at a world renown transplant center AVOIDABLE tragedies occur. I'm not saying it's a bad transplant center. (IF you read my response carefully, then you'd realize that I didn't say anything of the sort!) Again, I also prefaced my statement as being a jackass comment.

reglan said:

I don't know who this "villin" is?

A case of ABO incompatibility is tragic. However, that does not mean that a program does not have a very strong transplant division. Ridiculous reply.

When you graduate from high school in 2009 go ahead and post again.

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Another poster where every single one of his posts are purposefully condescending and inflammatory.

What really gets under my skin is the "I don't know who this villin is," which I think you've said in the past, basically saying "Who the hell are YOU to comment on THIS?!?"

In the past, I might have re-engaged you with an equally inflammatory and instigating response.......but even though I still like to stir up s#@t from time to time, I need to save my energy for better opponents......

I don't do layups anymore.