Anesthesiology ROL Pro's and Con's

[razordocWPS]

Hi folks, I wanted to share my thoughts on the top 8 places I interviewed at this season for anesthesiology. Don't take my rankings of these programs too seriously though, all of them are phenomenal and have unique offerings. Hope this helps future anesthesiology applicants choose a residency.


1. UCSD

Pro’s:

· Awesome program director (if you need proof, listen to “The Undifferentiated Medical Student” podcast anesthesiology episode

· Beautiful location

· Well rounded with no apparent holes in clinical training

· Nice residents and faculty with outside interests and hobbies

· Front loaded hours (better for board prep during last year)

· Beautiful and brand new hospital (jacobs medical center)

· Great Reputation and Alumni Network

Con’s:

· Two hospital locations are about 20mins apart, but never multiple in 1 day

Notes / Neutral Info:

· The program has 12 affiliated pgy-1 positions (6 Prelim IM at UCSD and 6 Transitional Year at Scripps), so don’t be deterred by it being an “Advanced” program.

· Work a little more than some other programs (this may be a con to some, but the extra hours are useful, not workhorse)

· Medium sized program with 14 residents per class

· Extra cost of living is addressed in residency stipend during CA-years

· Moonlighting available at Neuro-ICU (1k/12hr shift)

2. Stanford

Pro’s:

· Great reputation and alumni network

· Well rounded training

· Undergraduate campus affiliation

· Great location (pricey, but they pay more)

· Nice residents and faculty with outside interests and hobbies

· Great Didactics

Con’s:

· Cost of living

Notes / Neutral Info:

· Work a little more than some other programs (this may be a con to some, but the extra hours are useful, not workhorse)

· Big Program

3. Virginia Mason

Pro’s:

· Best regional anesthesia of all (they are the program other programs compare themselves to in regards to regional)

· Residents and Faculty were probably the nicest and most outgoing of any place I interviewed

· Beautiful location

· Great reputation in regional, good and rising reputation in many other areas

Con’s:

· Rain, rain, and more rain

· Lack of transplant exposure

· Cost of living


4. OHSU

Pro’s:

· Friendly residents and faculty with outside interests and hobbies

· Well rounded training (no apparent holes)

· Beautiful City (and affordable, despite high state income tax)

Con’s:

· Seem to work more than most


5. Wake Forrest

Pro’s:

· Nice people with outside interests and hobbies

· Great Regional (near Virginia Mason level)

· Great airway (frequent awake fiberoptic intubations, light wand intubations, etc)

· Cheap town

· Great moonlighting

· Light work hours, but still get good exposure

Con’s:

· Location (this is really important for me)

6. UTSW

Pro’s:

· Nice people, seem to work pretty hard

· Well rounded training (with a ton of liver transplants)

· Really open and down to earth program director

Con’s:

· Location (this is really important for me)

7. University of Washington

Pro’s:

· Happy residents

· Pretty laid back program for the most part

· Beautiful location

Con’s:

· Big program that seems to be easy to fall through the cracks

· RAIN

8. UCSF

Pro’s:

· Reputation and alumni network

· Residents seem happy and have outside interests and hobbies

· Well rounded training without any holes

Con’s:

· >90% go to fellowship (not all are ACGME fellowships)… I got a strong vibe that this is due to influence from faculty. During my interview, I off-handedly mentioned an interest in international medicine and the interviewer immediately said I would be a great fit for their non-ACGME international medicine fellowship. I felt the pressure already…

· Location (SF is a bit big for me)

Notes:

· The cost of living is substantially compensated for by increased pay

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[watermelon master]

Thanks for sharing. How many interviews did you go on overall? How many interviews did it take for you to go on where you would be >90% confident that you were going to match?

Thanks!

 

[W19]

Thanks for sharing. How many interviews did you go on overall? How many interviews did it take for you to go on where you would be >90% confident that you were going to match?

Thanks!

5+ based on the last charting the outcomes. Page 20

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Charting-Outcomes-US-Allopathic-Seniors-2016.pdf

 

[watermelon master]

5+ based on the last charting the outcomes. Page 20

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Charting-Outcomes-US-Allopathic-Seniors-2016.pdf

Thanks for showing me this! There looks to be really good data for most specialties.