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- Oct 21, 2005
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As a current resident at Duke Family Med. I must warn all interested in the program that it is malignant, poorly run, poorly funded, and an all around destructive environment.
The review below from scutwork tells only a small part of the story.
6 residents have left the program in less than 2 years as well as six faculty. On resident is currently planning on sueing the program (stay tuned)
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
PGY2 Overall Rating: 30-Sep- 2005
Teaching: Atmosphere: Research:
Schedule
{I am one of five residents who has voluntarily resigned from the Duke Family Medicine Program in the last 2 years. I did so because of the poor educational environment and the harassment felt by all Family Medicine residents and faculty under the current leadership. The Duke Graduate Medical Education Office has also repeatedly ignored resident concerns.}
Below is an excerpt from a letter written to Dr. Weinerth (Head of the Duke Graduate Medical Education Office) by the graduating class of 2004 concerning the curriculum at Duke Family Medicine. This letter was also forwarded to the ACGME staff governing Family Medicine programs.
"We feel that there has been insufficient resident notification and resident input into changes made to our curriculum--changes that may affect career plans of some residents. These changes have altered the very nature of the program. The program is now different from when resident contracts were signed. Efforts to discuss our concerns have been met with great resistance and statements to the effect "that is the way it is." No discussion, no communication."
As for the overall schedule, it changed weekly if not daily while I was at Duke due to the recent mass departure of residents from the program. Five in a little less than 2 years to be exact. Most call is now while you're on service with Medicine and Pediatrics, as there is no longer a traditional inpatient service. Apparently the family practice residents still take care of their pregnant mothers and newborns in-house but if an adult or child from the clinic is admitted to Duke they simply go by, read the chart, say hello and then update their PCP on what's going on. They also "round" with an attending to discuss these patients. Internal Medicine and Pediatrics handle the actual care of the patient. As it stands now the Second and Third year schedule leaves little time anymore for the six elective months once offered and has more in-house shifts to cover laboring moms and newborns. The schedule on Medicine and Pediatric in-patient months routinely averages 80 hours plus as an intern.
Teaching
Below is an excerpt from the same letter written to Dr. Weinerth addressing the issue of teaching. "Our faculty is spread very thin. Teaching in our department, as a rule, does not even begin to compare with that found elsewhere at Duke. We are concerned about the future of the program and our preparedness for clinical practice upon completion. Residents play a large part during the recruiting season and many of us feel at present that we cannot recommend the program to prospective candidates." Since this letter was written in June of 2004, four faculty have left the program entirely and two others left but still precept a half day a week. In this group were the faculty most dedicated to resident education and support. Most were driven out of the program because they were "perceived" by the administration to be too resident friendly among other things. Basically, teaching in the family practice center stinks. You have little time to learn or be shown any valuable procedures in clinic and the precepting more often than not is exceedingly poor. As for noon conferences, there are roughly 3 relevant conferences a month (almost without exception by outside presenters). At a recent RRC visit the program was found to be deficient in more than 10 curricular areas and have been given two years to clean up the mess the current Division Head created during her reign of terror.
Atmosphere
Below is an excerpt from yet another letter written by a 2005 Graduate to Dr. Weinerth that was also forwarded to the ACGME staff governing Family Medicine programs. "The bottom line is, the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program has been deteriorating for the past 7 years. Nearly every resident I have spoken with, upon leaving, as well as numerous faculty members are regretful of their experience here. They do commend the opportunities and great education they received, however the overall feeling is still more of disgust. Disgust with the quality of leadership, to be specific. We very strongly feel the leaders are vindictive, poor communicators, and most importantly, act very unprofessional towards residents and faculty." This next excerpt is from a letter written by several residents to Dr. Dzau, Chancellor of Duke's Medical Center, in February of 2005 expressing continuing concerns over resident and faculty mistreatment. "The unprofessional, vindictive, dishonest, and unethical nature of the leadership offered by the," Division Head of Duke Family medicine and the Chairman of Community and Family Medicine, "continues to destroy the program as a whole as well as its relationship with other departments at Duke. The current destructive leadership is driving more and more good residents and faculty away. A significant change needs to be made. The North Carolina Medical board (NCMB), the North Carolina Academy of Family Practice (NCAFP), the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP), and the ACGME have all been contacted and are aware to varying degrees that we feel our residency is in disorder and needs a change in leadership. As it stands now, the majority of first and second year residents would leave Duke Family Medicine if it were financially and logistically possible." Residents and Faculty have no voice and are frankly scared to stand up for themselves or their colleagues for fear of retaliation from the administration. Residents are routinely harassed by each other, the faculty, the staff, and the administration to the point that everyone is a lot paranoid!! Enough said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I can honestly say, without any reservation, after being at Duke for my intern year that I would have never considered Duke knowing what I know now about the program and the people that run it. I would not even waste your time going to interview. Last year certain residents were prohibited from the interview process because the Division Head thought they might present the program in a negative light. She was right. The past three years Duke has matched 12 of the 18 (3 of those who matched have now left the program) spots they have offered pretty poor considering they are reported as being one of the top ten family practice programs in the country. There is a reason!! The simple fact that five residents have left the program in 2 years as well as six faculty should say enough. STAY AWAY!!! (Stay tuned; I'm sure a glowing review of the program will follow. Know however, the letters quoted are real as well as the concerns addressed in them.)
The review below from scutwork tells only a small part of the story.
6 residents have left the program in less than 2 years as well as six faculty. On resident is currently planning on sueing the program (stay tuned)
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
PGY2 Overall Rating: 30-Sep- 2005
Teaching: Atmosphere: Research:
Schedule
{I am one of five residents who has voluntarily resigned from the Duke Family Medicine Program in the last 2 years. I did so because of the poor educational environment and the harassment felt by all Family Medicine residents and faculty under the current leadership. The Duke Graduate Medical Education Office has also repeatedly ignored resident concerns.}
Below is an excerpt from a letter written to Dr. Weinerth (Head of the Duke Graduate Medical Education Office) by the graduating class of 2004 concerning the curriculum at Duke Family Medicine. This letter was also forwarded to the ACGME staff governing Family Medicine programs.
"We feel that there has been insufficient resident notification and resident input into changes made to our curriculum--changes that may affect career plans of some residents. These changes have altered the very nature of the program. The program is now different from when resident contracts were signed. Efforts to discuss our concerns have been met with great resistance and statements to the effect "that is the way it is." No discussion, no communication."
As for the overall schedule, it changed weekly if not daily while I was at Duke due to the recent mass departure of residents from the program. Five in a little less than 2 years to be exact. Most call is now while you're on service with Medicine and Pediatrics, as there is no longer a traditional inpatient service. Apparently the family practice residents still take care of their pregnant mothers and newborns in-house but if an adult or child from the clinic is admitted to Duke they simply go by, read the chart, say hello and then update their PCP on what's going on. They also "round" with an attending to discuss these patients. Internal Medicine and Pediatrics handle the actual care of the patient. As it stands now the Second and Third year schedule leaves little time anymore for the six elective months once offered and has more in-house shifts to cover laboring moms and newborns. The schedule on Medicine and Pediatric in-patient months routinely averages 80 hours plus as an intern.
Teaching
Below is an excerpt from the same letter written to Dr. Weinerth addressing the issue of teaching. "Our faculty is spread very thin. Teaching in our department, as a rule, does not even begin to compare with that found elsewhere at Duke. We are concerned about the future of the program and our preparedness for clinical practice upon completion. Residents play a large part during the recruiting season and many of us feel at present that we cannot recommend the program to prospective candidates." Since this letter was written in June of 2004, four faculty have left the program entirely and two others left but still precept a half day a week. In this group were the faculty most dedicated to resident education and support. Most were driven out of the program because they were "perceived" by the administration to be too resident friendly among other things. Basically, teaching in the family practice center stinks. You have little time to learn or be shown any valuable procedures in clinic and the precepting more often than not is exceedingly poor. As for noon conferences, there are roughly 3 relevant conferences a month (almost without exception by outside presenters). At a recent RRC visit the program was found to be deficient in more than 10 curricular areas and have been given two years to clean up the mess the current Division Head created during her reign of terror.
Atmosphere
Below is an excerpt from yet another letter written by a 2005 Graduate to Dr. Weinerth that was also forwarded to the ACGME staff governing Family Medicine programs. "The bottom line is, the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program has been deteriorating for the past 7 years. Nearly every resident I have spoken with, upon leaving, as well as numerous faculty members are regretful of their experience here. They do commend the opportunities and great education they received, however the overall feeling is still more of disgust. Disgust with the quality of leadership, to be specific. We very strongly feel the leaders are vindictive, poor communicators, and most importantly, act very unprofessional towards residents and faculty." This next excerpt is from a letter written by several residents to Dr. Dzau, Chancellor of Duke's Medical Center, in February of 2005 expressing continuing concerns over resident and faculty mistreatment. "The unprofessional, vindictive, dishonest, and unethical nature of the leadership offered by the," Division Head of Duke Family medicine and the Chairman of Community and Family Medicine, "continues to destroy the program as a whole as well as its relationship with other departments at Duke. The current destructive leadership is driving more and more good residents and faculty away. A significant change needs to be made. The North Carolina Medical board (NCMB), the North Carolina Academy of Family Practice (NCAFP), the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP), and the ACGME have all been contacted and are aware to varying degrees that we feel our residency is in disorder and needs a change in leadership. As it stands now, the majority of first and second year residents would leave Duke Family Medicine if it were financially and logistically possible." Residents and Faculty have no voice and are frankly scared to stand up for themselves or their colleagues for fear of retaliation from the administration. Residents are routinely harassed by each other, the faculty, the staff, and the administration to the point that everyone is a lot paranoid!! Enough said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I can honestly say, without any reservation, after being at Duke for my intern year that I would have never considered Duke knowing what I know now about the program and the people that run it. I would not even waste your time going to interview. Last year certain residents were prohibited from the interview process because the Division Head thought they might present the program in a negative light. She was right. The past three years Duke has matched 12 of the 18 (3 of those who matched have now left the program) spots they have offered pretty poor considering they are reported as being one of the top ten family practice programs in the country. There is a reason!! The simple fact that five residents have left the program in 2 years as well as six faculty should say enough. STAY AWAY!!! (Stay tuned; I'm sure a glowing review of the program will follow. Know however, the letters quoted are real as well as the concerns addressed in them.)
