Every year, there is a interview review thread where people discuss all the various programs and what they've learned so in the spirit of free information and transparency, its time to start one up. I would like to ask any current residents to comment on their experience too. You can PM me your review too and I'll post it.
I'll start off.
UMDNJ - Camden (Cooper Hospital)
No pre-interview dinner (not significant). Morning of interview, we were given water for breakfast. 4 interviews with chair, PD, and two other faculty. Residents came and spoke with us in the mean time. Given a tour of hospital. Catered lunch was delicious.
Residents seemed very happy. They arrive at 6:30am. Work on a variety of cases until 3pm. At that point, CRNAs relieve them and they do pre-ops. Usually everyone is done by 5pm unless your on call. Call (6:30am-7am : 24hr, not 30hr) is 2-3x per month (responsible for OB/Trauma). No transplant (can do outside elective if you want). Residents state that Pain seems to be an upcoming focus for the program. Regional is done at an outpt center and involves mainly 3 types of blocks (intrascalene, femoral, axillary).
They used to have a book fund but the hospital has been sinking money into renovations and modernization, so they took away all resident's book funds. However, they now have Hybrid ORs where instead of wheeling the patient down for a CT scan, it's in the OR! Didactics are once/wk. Money is given to attend ASA during CA2/3 for research presentations.
Starting September 2012, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University will be opening and taking their first class of Medical students. In addition, the program will be trying to get a fellowship program established in the next couple years.
Camden has been named the most dangerous city in the past. No students live in the area but live in Philadelphia or in the South Jersey suburbs. Parking is free. Vacation is 4 wks. $60/mo meal card (cafeteria is uber-cheap but not uber high quality). Salary for PGI of 43K is second lowest I've seen.
Overall: I think this program is on its way up. It's about 4 years old and has made great strides. The disadvantages are mostly balanced by the advantages. (ie. Low pay is balanced by work day ending at 5pm). I will be ranking this program but am unsure of how high.
Hope that helps.
I'll start off.
UMDNJ - Camden (Cooper Hospital)
No pre-interview dinner (not significant). Morning of interview, we were given water for breakfast. 4 interviews with chair, PD, and two other faculty. Residents came and spoke with us in the mean time. Given a tour of hospital. Catered lunch was delicious.
Residents seemed very happy. They arrive at 6:30am. Work on a variety of cases until 3pm. At that point, CRNAs relieve them and they do pre-ops. Usually everyone is done by 5pm unless your on call. Call (6:30am-7am : 24hr, not 30hr) is 2-3x per month (responsible for OB/Trauma). No transplant (can do outside elective if you want). Residents state that Pain seems to be an upcoming focus for the program. Regional is done at an outpt center and involves mainly 3 types of blocks (intrascalene, femoral, axillary).
They used to have a book fund but the hospital has been sinking money into renovations and modernization, so they took away all resident's book funds. However, they now have Hybrid ORs where instead of wheeling the patient down for a CT scan, it's in the OR! Didactics are once/wk. Money is given to attend ASA during CA2/3 for research presentations.
Starting September 2012, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University will be opening and taking their first class of Medical students. In addition, the program will be trying to get a fellowship program established in the next couple years.
Camden has been named the most dangerous city in the past. No students live in the area but live in Philadelphia or in the South Jersey suburbs. Parking is free. Vacation is 4 wks. $60/mo meal card (cafeteria is uber-cheap but not uber high quality). Salary for PGI of 43K is second lowest I've seen.
Overall: I think this program is on its way up. It's about 4 years old and has made great strides. The disadvantages are mostly balanced by the advantages. (ie. Low pay is balanced by work day ending at 5pm). I will be ranking this program but am unsure of how high.
Hope that helps.
