I am an MS-IV getting ready to send out applications. I've heard from my PD that if you don't train at a university-based program, it may be harder to get fellowships and/or get research grants etc in the future. I am really wanting to apply to a couple of non-academic programs, because one is in my home town and another is in an area of the country I would like to live. If these programs are "close" to academic programs with fellowships etc, is that good enough (since the staff will likely know each other), or am I really better off training at an academic institution? Any input would be appreciated.
academic vs private residency programs
- Thread starter mtbiker
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It's kind of a tough question to answer, because many people who train at private practice type residencies don't apply for fellowships (or at least the really competitive ones), whereas probably the majority of those at academic centers do.
I think, in truth, it is up to you. It might be hard to get a fellowship at a really high powered referral center if you are coming from a smaller program, but it's certainly not impossible. If you impress your attendings, and show yourself to be a motivated and high quality resident, you shouldn't have trouble getting fellowships anywhere. As far as being close, well, that might be important and it might not be. It depends, if the folks at the center you are at trained at the neighboring large place, might be useful. If not, maybe not.
It also depends somewhat on your career goals. If you want to be an academic physician and work at a large referral center, it behooves you to train at one of these places. If your goal in getting a fellowship is to simply make you more competitive for a private practice position, it's not as important.
Like I said, though, a lot of it is up to you. Getting research grants can be done I would imagine, but it's a lot easier to do so if you are training in a place with lots of experience in this area. And getting fellowships is certainly possible. I think what your PD said is probably right though, it's more difficult. How much more difficult, I don't know. A lot of it is up to you and where your priorities lie. If it is on the location and the lifestyle, well, I guess your choice is obvious.
I think, in truth, it is up to you. It might be hard to get a fellowship at a really high powered referral center if you are coming from a smaller program, but it's certainly not impossible. If you impress your attendings, and show yourself to be a motivated and high quality resident, you shouldn't have trouble getting fellowships anywhere. As far as being close, well, that might be important and it might not be. It depends, if the folks at the center you are at trained at the neighboring large place, might be useful. If not, maybe not.
It also depends somewhat on your career goals. If you want to be an academic physician and work at a large referral center, it behooves you to train at one of these places. If your goal in getting a fellowship is to simply make you more competitive for a private practice position, it's not as important.
Like I said, though, a lot of it is up to you. Getting research grants can be done I would imagine, but it's a lot easier to do so if you are training in a place with lots of experience in this area. And getting fellowships is certainly possible. I think what your PD said is probably right though, it's more difficult. How much more difficult, I don't know. A lot of it is up to you and where your priorities lie. If it is on the location and the lifestyle, well, I guess your choice is obvious.
B
b&ierstiefel
At this point in your training, it may help you more than hurt you to do a residency at an academic center for training purposes if you are thinking a fellowship is in your future.
I'm doing a subinternship now at a community hospital. I've talked to some of the internal medicine residents at this hospital and they express frustration that it will be much harder for them to get fellowships. Especially in fields such as GI or cardiology.
Now, I don't know how this situation applies to the field of pathology but if this holds true even in path, and you ARE thinking of fellowship (such as dermatopath or whatever), perhaps going to an academic institution for residency is the way to go.
Does this make sense or am I on crack?
I'm doing a subinternship now at a community hospital. I've talked to some of the internal medicine residents at this hospital and they express frustration that it will be much harder for them to get fellowships. Especially in fields such as GI or cardiology.
Now, I don't know how this situation applies to the field of pathology but if this holds true even in path, and you ARE thinking of fellowship (such as dermatopath or whatever), perhaps going to an academic institution for residency is the way to go.
Does this make sense or am I on crack?
Thanks you guys. Yes that does really make sense. The way my PD and a fellow put it when I brought this up again was "if you want to work academic or private, train at an academic institution. If you only want private practice, you can train at a private program." It would be nice to have both options, plus more options for fellowships. Thanks again.
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I think your best bet is to train at a university program. Most private or community-based programs don't get enough material to provide thorough training. There may be some exceptions to this but you won't get the weird, rare cases at private programs like you will at university programs. Plus, there are more conferences and learning opportunities that go along with university programs. Just my $0.02.
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Path is the kind of thing you can teach yourself, but still I think you have would be crazy not to go to the biggest and best university program you can get into.
