D
deleted1153276
Last edited by a moderator:
There are too many of them... and they're mandatory. The residents there spend something like 12 months total in the various critical care units. 6 of those months are in internship. There is one unit that is notorious there- the MSICU. I've heard many a horror story come out of there. The culture at least when I passed through seemed to be mixed. 50/50 mix of great attendings and absolute douche bag attendings. This was a while back though so not sure how things have changed.Thanks for the insight! When you say the crit care rotations at MUSC are "terrible", do you mean the quality of training is poor or just long hours? What about the culture makes you say it's "just eh"? Also I thought Charleston would have higher cost of living than Atlanta, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong areas.
It can be hard to judge especially over a zoom call. They all had residents that seemed happy with their respective programs, although the unhappy/tired residents probably aren't the ones coming to the social events. On the plus side, all four of the programs seem to have reasonable duty hours, and I didn't hear any residents complain about being overworked.
Not sure. I have some extended family and friends in the South but none in any of the cities that these programs are in unfortunately. I did undergrad and med school in my home state in the Midwest and kinda just want to leave for at least a few years. Whether I stay or end up coming back will very likely depend on how I enjoy the city I do my residency in. I don't have a SO or kids so that's not a consideration for now. If you've lived in any of these cities and have good or bad things to say I'd be happy to hear about that as well.
How little is appropriate in your mind? I spent 5 months of my entire residency in the ICU. Overall, I feel it made me a better doctor. I think 4 months is a reasonable minimum, though, because the reality is that you are an intensivist in the OR (whether your patient needs intensive care or not).In general I think it’s best to avoid crit care heavy programs unless you want to do it eventually as your fellowship or job.
It’s nice and academic, but most of what they do is fairly irrelevant to your day to day. You’re much better served doing a month more of blocks or thoracic or pediatrics than a month of critical care if your goal is to be an OR Anesthesiologist
100%.I think 4 total is appropriate for the 4 years of residency, 5 if there’s independent interest on a residents part. 6 is the maximum for the 4 years, after that you’re sacrificing too much actual anesthesia time or a good breadth in internship. Beyond 6 is excessive imo.
A few years back, the RRC told us that only two months of the intern year could be spent in critical care. Not sure how fully half of the intern year in critical care is approved by the RRC.There are too many of them... and they're mandatory. The residents there spend something like 12 months total in the various critical care units. 6 of those months are in internship. There is one unit that is notorious there- the MSICU. I've heard many a horror story come out of there. The culture at least when I passed through seemed to be mixed. 50/50 mix of great attendings and absolute douche bag attendings. This was a while back though so not sure how things have changed.
2 months msicu, 1 month nicu, 1 month cvicu, 1 month neuro icu, this was several years back…A few years back, the RRC told us that only two months of the intern year could be spent in critical care. Not sure how fully half of the intern year in critical care is approved by the RRC.
Oh and 1 month of trauma night float. That was the last one. Yea Im sorry but I beg to differ. I felt all that ICU time would have been better spent in subspecialty anesthesia. But to each his own I guess.I think additional ICU time is high yield and good for most anesthesia residents. We have our entire careers to work on anesthesia. I did an elective month in NICU as a CA-3. Even though my practice is exclusively adults and don’t use any of that knowledge now, I learned a ton about premies and super premies during that month. I think extra time in MICU, SICU, CCU, CTICU, neuro ICU, trauma ICU would be valuable to any anesthesia resident.
Oh and 1 month of trauma night float. That was the last one. Yea Im sorry but I beg to differ. I felt all that ICU time would have been better spent in subspecialty anesthesia. But to each his own I guess.
There were an additional 4 months after intern year…
Oh and 1 month of trauma night float. That was the last one. Yea Im sorry but I beg to differ. I felt all that ICU time would have been better spent in subspecialty anesthesia. But to each his own I guess.
We were specifically told in our program report that two months of critical care was the minimum, but it was also the maximum. They forced us to remove one month in the icu to go from three to two for the intern year.2 months is required by the ABA. So it’s an extra 2 months. They’ve gone Eurostyle.
We were specifically told in our program report that two months of critical care was the minimum, but it was also the maximum. They forced us to remove one month in the icu to go from three to two for the intern year.
I hedge a bit because that was several years ago and I don't know if it has changed or if that was that particular RRC group's interpretation of the rules. As I researched the rule to see if we were really out of compliance, I could not find anything that said that the maximum was 2 months, however, they were adamant in their report to us that it was. I suspect that, as the RRC members rotate on and off, the interpretation of this (seemingly) unwritten rule.I’m not in academics so I defer to your up to date knowledge of this matter
I was also in training several years ago so not sure how things have changedI hedge a bit because that was several years ago and I don't know if it has changed or if that was that particular RRC group's interpretation of the rules. As I researched the rule to see if we were really out of compliance, I could not find anything that said that the maximum was 2 months, however, they were adamant in their report to us that it was. I suspect that, as the RRC members rotate on and off, the interpretation of this (seemingly) unwritten rule.
I am also applying Southern programs. Are UAB Oschner UF and Miami all ok culture places? All seemed good virtually
Thanks vector and TeslaCoil. UAB residents seem to love program that's probably my target.I know CT anesthesiologists from UF, Ochsner, and UAB and all seemed competent and spoke highly of their training.
The chairman is probably the most hands-off member when it comes to residency. Thats what the program directors are for. As long as the program has been stable and the chairman is leaving on decent terms I wouldnt worry too much.Thanks vector and TeslaCoil. UAB residents seem to love program that's probably my target.
Does chairman effect residency much? One of these programs I liked suddenly has new chairman I didnt meet and residents I asked seemed like not a good change. But does it even matter if good group of residents and same PD?
I am thoroughly unimpressed by BCM training. The rule used to be you cannot extubate, even as a CA 3, without the attending present. That makes you less independent than a CA 1 at some other Texas programs.I would also look into BCM. BCM and UTSW are the two top anesthesiology programs in Texas. TMC is the largest in the world and the residents there look pretty happy.
From the BCM grads I've spoke with in past years, that doesn't seem to be a rule anymore. They've all been very well trained clinically.I am thoroughly unimpressed by BCM training. The rule used to be you cannot extubate, even as a CA 3, without the attending present. That makes you less independent than a CA 1 at some other Texas programs.
Most BCM anes attendings I've worked with in residency felt weak clinically. (And this was my judgement as a CA 3)