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Well, I am finishing up my last year of training at MGH. Whaddaya wanna know?
(Boy I miss this thread!)
Mindy
(Boy I miss this thread!)
Mindy
Any Questions About Mass General?
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Thanks for offering to field questions, Mindy!
Here's my list:
Are you pleased with your educational experience at MGH?
What would you say are the major strengths and weaknesses of the program?
What would you change?
Are the attendings pleasant to work with?
Do you like your fellow residents?
Can you comment on MGH's fellowship programs?
Congrats on this being your last year and good luck on your fellowship training in forensics.
-P.
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Thanks for asking, Mindy.
Do MGH fellowships mainly fill with internal candidates or is it a mix of internal and external candidates?
Do MGH fellowships mainly fill with internal candidates or is it a mix of internal and external candidates?
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Hi Guys! I take it you are applying this year? I am going to try to be as honest & balanced as possible, but I am very very biased---I really love the General. In any case...
Are you pleased with your educational experience at MGH?
Definitely. We have a huge caseload with a wide variety of anatomic specimens (including a lot of bone & soft tissue cases). We have a fairly high in house autopsy rate which is important to me, but also important when it comes to being able to sit for your boards. Clinical pathology training is probably second to none with over 100 didactic sessions over the course of CP training, actual responsibility, and a novel idea of interpretative clinical pathology. Our blood bank is actually a donor center (very unusual in hospitals) and we have a large therapeutic blood banking service. There are very few deficient areas that I have seen here, perhaps with the exception of pediatric pathology which we do not see much of.
What would you say are the major strengths and weaknesses of the program?
Strengths: great, complex cases; very accessible attendings; excellent academic opportunities; strong diagnostic training in both AP & CP; a very structured CP training which actually is meaningful; fabulous, dedicated residents who believe in what they do; dedicated daily preview time (ask about this one at all programs! You need to have a chance to look at your slides before you bring them to sign-out); fourth year independent sign out of after-hour frozen sections (real graduated responsibility); Chief residency experiences that have a very real managerial & teaching responsibilities.
Weaknesses: long hours (though I am not convinced they are longer than any other solid program); less "negative" biopsy material than other institutions due to the tertiary care referral pattern (most of our material is on the unusual side with any given weekly subspecialty service seeming like a comprehensive chapter in a text book); very little "down time" during the day since we sign out in the morning, unknown conference at 12:30pm, and gross in the afternoon for all surgical services (to me, though, this is not really a weakness.)
What would you change?
Well, we are going through a lot of good, progressive changes as a department. We have a new chair who has very recently reorganized the department, though I do not foresee any type of disruptive change to the residency program. Through the 4 years I have been here I have seen many changes, both reactionary to such things as the ACGME crackdown on work hours and proactive such as increasing the value of molecular diagnostics. I have found that not only are these changes positive, it is exciting to be able to as a resident influence in some small way or other the direction of such an impressive department. You can hear Dr. Louis' (our new chair) vision of the department on the pathology website. I think it is very critical, visionary, & forward-thinking, and I am personally psyched to be a part of it. (Again, since I think MGH is the best hospital in the world, I am definitely biased.)
Are the attendings pleasant to work with?
I think pathologists tend to be nice people. The attendings are wonderful here, nearly without exception. There goal is very specifically to train excellent diagnosticians and they spend a lot of time trying to do so.
Do you like your fellow residents?
I am very proud of the residents here. They work hard. They play hard. They take care of one another. I am now one of the "old fellers" so I have been involved in training the majority of residents here at this point. I am always astonished to see how upstanding the majority of the residents are. People you can count on both professionally & personally. There is a slight sense of good-humored competition that I think just enhances learning. At the end of the day, everyone is supportive of one another. Individual classes tend to form the closest relationships---I will never forget my 6 colleagues than I walked into the doors of the General with more than 3 years ago.
Can you comment on MGH's fellowship programs?
Do MGH fellowships mainly fill with internal candidates or is it a mix of internal and external candidates?
MGH has cytology, hemepath, dermpath ACGME approved fellowships. There are many combinations of surgical pathology fellowships which encompass nearly all subspecialties. There are also Harvard-wide fellowships such as molecular pathology & forensic pathology. More often than not fellowships are filled by internal candidates. They are increasingly competitive with positions being sought by multiple MGH residents. Many of the fellowships offer independent sign-out, thus a fellow is much like a junior staff.
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Well, this is a long email. I think I answered your questions. If anyone has others, feel free to ask!
Mindy
Are you pleased with your educational experience at MGH?
Definitely. We have a huge caseload with a wide variety of anatomic specimens (including a lot of bone & soft tissue cases). We have a fairly high in house autopsy rate which is important to me, but also important when it comes to being able to sit for your boards. Clinical pathology training is probably second to none with over 100 didactic sessions over the course of CP training, actual responsibility, and a novel idea of interpretative clinical pathology. Our blood bank is actually a donor center (very unusual in hospitals) and we have a large therapeutic blood banking service. There are very few deficient areas that I have seen here, perhaps with the exception of pediatric pathology which we do not see much of.
What would you say are the major strengths and weaknesses of the program?
Strengths: great, complex cases; very accessible attendings; excellent academic opportunities; strong diagnostic training in both AP & CP; a very structured CP training which actually is meaningful; fabulous, dedicated residents who believe in what they do; dedicated daily preview time (ask about this one at all programs! You need to have a chance to look at your slides before you bring them to sign-out); fourth year independent sign out of after-hour frozen sections (real graduated responsibility); Chief residency experiences that have a very real managerial & teaching responsibilities.
Weaknesses: long hours (though I am not convinced they are longer than any other solid program); less "negative" biopsy material than other institutions due to the tertiary care referral pattern (most of our material is on the unusual side with any given weekly subspecialty service seeming like a comprehensive chapter in a text book); very little "down time" during the day since we sign out in the morning, unknown conference at 12:30pm, and gross in the afternoon for all surgical services (to me, though, this is not really a weakness.)
What would you change?
Well, we are going through a lot of good, progressive changes as a department. We have a new chair who has very recently reorganized the department, though I do not foresee any type of disruptive change to the residency program. Through the 4 years I have been here I have seen many changes, both reactionary to such things as the ACGME crackdown on work hours and proactive such as increasing the value of molecular diagnostics. I have found that not only are these changes positive, it is exciting to be able to as a resident influence in some small way or other the direction of such an impressive department. You can hear Dr. Louis' (our new chair) vision of the department on the pathology website. I think it is very critical, visionary, & forward-thinking, and I am personally psyched to be a part of it. (Again, since I think MGH is the best hospital in the world, I am definitely biased.)
Are the attendings pleasant to work with?
I think pathologists tend to be nice people. The attendings are wonderful here, nearly without exception. There goal is very specifically to train excellent diagnosticians and they spend a lot of time trying to do so.
Do you like your fellow residents?
I am very proud of the residents here. They work hard. They play hard. They take care of one another. I am now one of the "old fellers" so I have been involved in training the majority of residents here at this point. I am always astonished to see how upstanding the majority of the residents are. People you can count on both professionally & personally. There is a slight sense of good-humored competition that I think just enhances learning. At the end of the day, everyone is supportive of one another. Individual classes tend to form the closest relationships---I will never forget my 6 colleagues than I walked into the doors of the General with more than 3 years ago.
Can you comment on MGH's fellowship programs?
Do MGH fellowships mainly fill with internal candidates or is it a mix of internal and external candidates?
MGH has cytology, hemepath, dermpath ACGME approved fellowships. There are many combinations of surgical pathology fellowships which encompass nearly all subspecialties. There are also Harvard-wide fellowships such as molecular pathology & forensic pathology. More often than not fellowships are filled by internal candidates. They are increasingly competitive with positions being sought by multiple MGH residents. Many of the fellowships offer independent sign-out, thus a fellow is much like a junior staff.
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Well, this is a long email. I think I answered your questions. If anyone has others, feel free to ask!
Mindy
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Care to clear that up?
What is the On service day/week schedule like?
How many days a week are you in?
I have heard first hand accounts of (pre ACGME) massive work load/hours...
How they alter the flow to allow for all you mentioned, with preview time and meet the ACGME rules.
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MGH has its own dermpath program?? Im fairly certain it wasnt always like that, at least some years ago it was a Harvard-wide type deal co-directed by Mihm and then director at BWH Philip McKee.
Hmm from my initial website checks it seems I maybe right:
So MGH has a program but really shares it with BWH and BID. That is 2 slots shared between internal candidates from 2 powerhouse programs as well as BID in addition to Boston-wide dermatology candidates....seems rough, no?
If I was gunning for dermpath I *might* cover my ass and choose a smaller pond.
Hmm from my initial website checks it seems I maybe right:
So MGH has a program but really shares it with BWH and BID. That is 2 slots shared between internal candidates from 2 powerhouse programs as well as BID in addition to Boston-wide dermatology candidates....seems rough, no?
If I was gunning for dermpath I *might* cover my ass and choose a smaller pond.
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Hi:
LA is right...Dermpath is a harvard-wide shared program. Though I thought it had 3 positions to represent each program involved--thus the reason we consider it an MGH fellowship. I have never seen an MGH'er not fill one of those positions, and I think we at least feel entitled to one of the positions but this may be perception. My advice to anyone "gunning" for any program is to make your choice known immediately, publish/present in the field, and get to know the attendings in the department of interest. At MGH the residents are fairly well taken care of.
Remember too that small Dermpath programs also recruit from big programs so I am not entirely sure how that plays out in the "little fish" scenario. Pick a program that suits you one way or the other though.
DJMD: Not sure exactly what you want me to clear up?! The typical question is "how hard do MGH residents really work?" We work hard. And most of us are pretty proud of it. Particularly on service on AP. This means we come to work at 8:00am. Sign out our cases until ~12:00pm. From 12:30-1:30pm we have an unknown conference. By 2:00pm or so we are in the gross room cutting in our specimens (not scut work--no biopsies, no appendixes, no gallbladders, but things like hemipelvectomies and chest wall resections for melanomas, and what I like to call "hemi-face-ectomies" for bad squamous cell ca, etc.) Grossing stops at 8:00pm because that is when the processors run. Not every service week is a heavy grossing week & we definitely do not spend everyday with 6 hours of grossing---though on a real busy week you may. After grossing, we preview our slides for the next day. Previewing to me means you get a chance to study each slide & write down a diagnosis. I think you need to evaluate whether or not you get an opportunity to do so at each program you apply for, I think it is crucially important. Previewing is what makes our day long, as most residents very much want to end there day by looking at all of their cases. And they want to make a correct diagnosis. We take previewing very seriously. I think it is our key to training very strong diagnosticians....the reasons our fellows sign out their own cases & our 4th year residents are able to sign out their own frozen sections.
That being said, particularly over the course of my last 2 years I have been able to leave the hospital before 8pm at least 75% of the time. First year was rough. Like many of my residents, we spend a lot of extra time in academic pursuits. I have 5 papers (soon to be 6) published or in print, that I have written over the last year & a half. We are definitely a high aiming bunch.
The only ACGME rule that we used to have trouble with was the 10 hours off every night. We rarely broke the 80 hour work week rule, and now just about never do. The 10 hour rule was broke because after grossing, people would leave the hospital, go jogging, etc, and then come back and preview at will. I find the 10 hour off rule irritating, because I keep a strange schedule.
We have made many changes to accomodate ACGME. I really do not hear many work hours complaints, though no one will deny that we work hard. How else do you learn pathology? Osmosis?
Mindy
LA is right...Dermpath is a harvard-wide shared program. Though I thought it had 3 positions to represent each program involved--thus the reason we consider it an MGH fellowship. I have never seen an MGH'er not fill one of those positions, and I think we at least feel entitled to one of the positions but this may be perception. My advice to anyone "gunning" for any program is to make your choice known immediately, publish/present in the field, and get to know the attendings in the department of interest. At MGH the residents are fairly well taken care of.
Remember too that small Dermpath programs also recruit from big programs so I am not entirely sure how that plays out in the "little fish" scenario. Pick a program that suits you one way or the other though.
DJMD: Not sure exactly what you want me to clear up?! The typical question is "how hard do MGH residents really work?" We work hard. And most of us are pretty proud of it. Particularly on service on AP. This means we come to work at 8:00am. Sign out our cases until ~12:00pm. From 12:30-1:30pm we have an unknown conference. By 2:00pm or so we are in the gross room cutting in our specimens (not scut work--no biopsies, no appendixes, no gallbladders, but things like hemipelvectomies and chest wall resections for melanomas, and what I like to call "hemi-face-ectomies" for bad squamous cell ca, etc.) Grossing stops at 8:00pm because that is when the processors run. Not every service week is a heavy grossing week & we definitely do not spend everyday with 6 hours of grossing---though on a real busy week you may. After grossing, we preview our slides for the next day. Previewing to me means you get a chance to study each slide & write down a diagnosis. I think you need to evaluate whether or not you get an opportunity to do so at each program you apply for, I think it is crucially important. Previewing is what makes our day long, as most residents very much want to end there day by looking at all of their cases. And they want to make a correct diagnosis. We take previewing very seriously. I think it is our key to training very strong diagnosticians....the reasons our fellows sign out their own cases & our 4th year residents are able to sign out their own frozen sections.
That being said, particularly over the course of my last 2 years I have been able to leave the hospital before 8pm at least 75% of the time. First year was rough. Like many of my residents, we spend a lot of extra time in academic pursuits. I have 5 papers (soon to be 6) published or in print, that I have written over the last year & a half. We are definitely a high aiming bunch.
The only ACGME rule that we used to have trouble with was the 10 hours off every night. We rarely broke the 80 hour work week rule, and now just about never do. The 10 hour rule was broke because after grossing, people would leave the hospital, go jogging, etc, and then come back and preview at will. I find the 10 hour off rule irritating, because I keep a strange schedule.
We have made many changes to accomodate ACGME. I really do not hear many work hours complaints, though no one will deny that we work hard. How else do you learn pathology? Osmosis?
Mindy
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I guess I didn't realize that grossing while starting at 2pm, rarely lasted until 8pm. The ACGME 10 hour rule was the one I was referring to.
If grossing lasted until 8pm you would have 2 hours to preview everything.
And while that is enough time to look at part of every case, it is not enough time to truly preview.
But you are saying your grossing time is much less than 6 hours on a daily basis.
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At least one MGH pathology resident gets an automatic Harvard dermpath slot?? that is a big change then, not that things can change, they can but I know for a fact years went by with no MGH path representation in the Harvard-wide program ..in fact, I remember the most prominent representation being from UPenn because they do/did have a forced 1 year of research which gunners naturally turned into a dermpath resume padding year. Anywhere you go tho you are gonna face competition for dermpath fellowship slots, as often if there is 2 or more slots one will go to dermatology right off.
If Harvard does have 3 slots I would be curious of what the make up is for this year and last year in terms of path vs. derm and where they did they residency. Definitely something I would ask about in the interview process.
PS-Interesting choice of David Louis, great guy, famous tumor neuropathologist, but isnt his office/lab way the hell over in Charleston?
If Harvard does have 3 slots I would be curious of what the make up is for this year and last year in terms of path vs. derm and where they did they residency. Definitely something I would ask about in the interview process.
PS-Interesting choice of David Louis, great guy, famous tumor neuropathologist, but isnt his office/lab way the hell over in Charleston?
D
deleted113029
Stupid aside LADoc, but your sig opened my eyes to a potential affordable future in SF as that is one area at the top of my residency list. Where did you get that info? Thanks and as my niece would say to my wife,"you're the best!"
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Source of info: My Spanish Armada of attorneys I pay too much of my hard earned money too are all based in SF firms. They are sitting around like vultures waiting for the the massive predicted upswing in foreclosures once the trillion+ in ARM mortgages reset...In addition, there is more construction in the SF financial district currently than any time since the great quake. All combined with a stagnant SF job market, increased off shoring of tech and financial jobs, flight of the middle class and an actual real drop in resident population that makes SF the fastest shrinking city of its size. Then throw in crazy stuff like the recent revelation that SF housing officials were moving in to condemn properties only to conspire with developers to un-condemn them after they bought em at huge discount and sold em off. Or the fact the recent multimillion dollar SF elementary school opened with less students than teachers.
This is wayyyy off topic tho. and I do apologize.
D
deleted113029
Back on topic (sorry!) 😳
Mindy,
You said that one weak area is pediatric path. What are the options to obtain more exposure to it? Through an away at B&W?
Thanks!
Mindy,
You said that one weak area is pediatric path. What are the options to obtain more exposure to it? Through an away at B&W?
Thanks!
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Hi Villin: Pediatric pathology rotations can be obtained as electives at Children's Hospital. We do have a decent amount of perinatal pathology & an outstanding amount of placental pathology.
Regarding dermpath fellowship: You sound a bit behind the times in regards to our program/dept LA! Maybe more than 8 years off?! Every year since I have been here (4), plus next year have all had 1 position filled by a pathology-trained MGH resident. This is definitely not an "automatic" position. I mean if you are not a good pathologist, you will not get it just because you are from the General. Dr. Louis' office is now the corner chief's office...But he has always had an office on-site. His lab is indeed in Charlestown, though. I do agree with you on one point---he is a great choice for chief!
Regarding dermpath fellowship: You sound a bit behind the times in regards to our program/dept LA! Maybe more than 8 years off?! Every year since I have been here (4), plus next year have all had 1 position filled by a pathology-trained MGH resident. This is definitely not an "automatic" position. I mean if you are not a good pathologist, you will not get it just because you are from the General. Dr. Louis' office is now the corner chief's office...But he has always had an office on-site. His lab is indeed in Charlestown, though. I do agree with you on one point---he is a great choice for chief!
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Hi again: The length of time grossing depends on the service that you are on. We rotate weekly on subspecialty services. We have "heavy" grossing services (GYN Large, Bone & Soft tissue, GI large, etc.), "light" grossing services (gyn small, CV/lung, dermpath, AP hemepath, etc.), and "no grossing" services (GI small, renal, molecular), and autopsy service. Only on heavy grossing rotations do you expect to spend a significant amount of time each day grossing. As an example, our first years have only 8-9 weeks of heavy grossing services this year. The rest of the time is either light or no grossing. In fact, we have 5 PAs. We are assigned cases via a list...and generally these are only interesting or unusual cases. For example, on breast, I think the assignment is only 6 cases a night maximum! I am not trying to minimize the amount we work---we work hard. But, I would be hard pressed to believe it is a lot more than any other highly ranked program.
If all someone is concerned with though is having a short work week, I would not pretend MGH is the place for them.
Mindy
B
b&ierstiefel
LADoc00
Per your question as to who have filled dermpath spots...I can tell you that last year, there was one path person from MGH, one path person from Hopkins, and one derm person from Hopkins. This year, there is one person from BWH but I don't know where the other two are from.
That being said, I get this impression regarding securing a dermpath spot if you're a resident in Boston. The decisions are made by a committee...some committee members from certain institutions have more political power and more voice...read between the lines given whatever else has been said on this thread.
Per your question as to who have filled dermpath spots...I can tell you that last year, there was one path person from MGH, one path person from Hopkins, and one derm person from Hopkins. This year, there is one person from BWH but I don't know where the other two are from.
That being said, I get this impression regarding securing a dermpath spot if you're a resident in Boston. The decisions are made by a committee...some committee members from certain institutions have more political power and more voice...read between the lines given whatever else has been said on this thread.
B
b&ierstiefel
Maybe this will clarify...I was talking to one of the MGH residents last year when he was rotating in our hemepath department. He told me that on surgicals (i.e., large specimens), the residents gross everyday but they cap at 5 specimens. Now, if you're efficient, going through this is not too bad. So yeah, they do a little bit of everything (signout, grossing, previewing) everyday. But from what I heard, the "capping" of specimens have really helped them in terms of better abiding to work hour rules.
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NOW I get it...
Anybody can do a half dozen bigs in a couple hours. That makes sense.
That must be some impressive PA support.
It makes most places PA support look like a joke.
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This year one of my best buds (MGH-trained pathologist) is one of the Dermpath fellows. Last year though we did not have a dp fellow, as I mentioned, none applied.
DJMD: I do not understand what you mean by impressive PA support?! We have 5 PAs--sure they are good, but hardly superhuman! And we have technicians (not PAs) to gross biopsies. I mean, I know that we have a huge service, but there are 10-15 people on any given day grossing it all in.
While I am trying to disseminate true information about the General, I too really prefer the myth about it being an absolutely hellish residency program...helps us get better jobs! 😉
Mindy
DJMD: I do not understand what you mean by impressive PA support?! We have 5 PAs--sure they are good, but hardly superhuman! And we have technicians (not PAs) to gross biopsies. I mean, I know that we have a huge service, but there are 10-15 people on any given day grossing it all in.
While I am trying to disseminate true information about the General, I too really prefer the myth about it being an absolutely hellish residency program...helps us get better jobs! 😉
Mindy
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Hi Mindy,
I'm an Img who are very very intersted in MGH pathology, I have a desent board scores,4 LORs from an academic pathologist in Boston,an obeservership experince in pathology department in NEMC boston,recent graduate from my country.
Do you think I could have a chance in getting residency training in MGH?
Are they Img welcoming program?
Thank you
B
b&ierstiefel
Harvard Medical School has 3 affiliated hospitals: MGH, BWH, and BIDMC. If you're at any of these 3 institutions, you can consider yourself a "Harvard" resident. And then you can tell people, "I'm at Harvard. Gimme a cookie."
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Hi Angelina: We definitely consider IMGs, since we do not pretend that the only qualified applicants are American. But the IMGs that have been accepted have been quite exceptional and/or have gotten to know our program very well before applying. For example, we have a CP-only FMG that has been researching in Boston for years, and within the last year has published in the NEJM & Nature. Another IMG made a very strong impression on the subspecialty staff in his dept of interest, and they pushed hard to get him. I think it is good advice to make yourself stand out from the pack if you are in a disadvantageous position for what you hope to acquire (in any area of life!)
AM is right about Harvard, except, I prefer "I'm at Harvard, gimme a slice of pizza."
Mindy
AM is right about Harvard, except, I prefer "I'm at Harvard, gimme a slice of pizza."
Mindy
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Lingo
I trained in Boston...translation: they did their residency/fellowship at BWH
I trained in the Harvard Patholgy Program....residency at BID
Trained at the General....residency at MGH
Trained in the Boston area.......residency at BU
I think 'Preparation H' also specifically refers to Brigham and Boston Childrens.
You will pretty much guarantee a follow question if you simply say you trained at Harvard, usually an irritated "where??".
To be honest tho, 2+ years of out residency no one will give a rat's ass. You dont even want to bring it up ever, because there is always some clinician waiting in the wings who will want to cut you down to size for mentioning it.....
AM Year 1 after BWH: I trained at Brigham, you know at the Harvhhad Med School..
AM year 2: I did my residency in Boston.
AM year 3: Did AP in New England.
I trained in Boston...translation: they did their residency/fellowship at BWH
I trained in the Harvard Patholgy Program....residency at BID
Trained at the General....residency at MGH
Trained in the Boston area.......residency at BU
I think 'Preparation H' also specifically refers to Brigham and Boston Childrens.
You will pretty much guarantee a follow question if you simply say you trained at Harvard, usually an irritated "where??".
To be honest tho, 2+ years of out residency no one will give a rat's ass. You dont even want to bring it up ever, because there is always some clinician waiting in the wings who will want to cut you down to size for mentioning it.....
AM Year 1 after BWH: I trained at Brigham, you know at the Harvhhad Med School..
AM year 2: I did my residency in Boston.
AM year 3: Did AP in New England.
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The "I trained at Harvard" = BIDMC is funny and reminds me of my friend who matched in Rads at Brown telling people he was "going to the Ivy League".
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I agree...hospital reputation--not undergrad affiliation-- is what counts in the residency arena. I think though in academic practice where you trained counts, at least to some degree (or maybe it is just the way it is at the General!)
The two bonuses though to being affiliated with Harvard that I have experienced, are 1) I am considered Harvard Medical School employee as a resident, and 2) I can include "Harvard Medical School" under my MGH tag-line when I present at meetings. Like it or not these things carry weight.
If academics and/or large-scale networking are not your schtick, none of the affiliations are important. Train where you like, with a program that can set you up for the fellowship you are interested in, and that can connect you to the type of job market you desire. I think that a component of residency is marketing yourself for the type of career you want.
Mindy
The two bonuses though to being affiliated with Harvard that I have experienced, are 1) I am considered Harvard Medical School employee as a resident, and 2) I can include "Harvard Medical School" under my MGH tag-line when I present at meetings. Like it or not these things carry weight.
If academics and/or large-scale networking are not your schtick, none of the affiliations are important. Train where you like, with a program that can set you up for the fellowship you are interested in, and that can connect you to the type of job market you desire. I think that a component of residency is marketing yourself for the type of career you want.
Mindy
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Just wanna add a funny anecdote. Shortly after finishing my training I sparked up a conversation with a friendly appearing clinician near my hospital who I wanted to recapture some biz from. He introduced himself, definitely was a shy unassuming guy, and said he had just finished his training in Iowa. Without even thinking, I blurted out 'Cool, I trained at Wisonsin'. Of course I didnt..but I didnt want to sound like a typical arrogant SOB...needless to say I freaked and then had to avoid this guy for months.
Until you experience it, you dont know how uncomfortable it will be to exchange greetings with people who already feel insecure about not having got their top match for residency (or even had to match into a different field than they originally wanted!)....lots of em really really want you to sound like dingus to reaffirm their own biases/inner hatred of the Harvhaaaddds of the world.
Until you experience it, you dont know how uncomfortable it will be to exchange greetings with people who already feel insecure about not having got their top match for residency (or even had to match into a different field than they originally wanted!)....lots of em really really want you to sound like dingus to reaffirm their own biases/inner hatred of the Harvhaaaddds of the world.
B
b&ierstiefel
Ha! Funny. Actually, I never say that "I'm doing my residency at Harvard." Although, inside I'm quite pompous, I don't like to show it so I usually hesitate to mention me and Harvard in the same sentence. In fact, I've always stated, "I work at Brigham" which usually brings up the response, "Brigham Young? You don't look Mormon to me." Then I clarify by saying that I'm in Boston. That's it.
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I liked MGH a lot when I interviewed, ended up putting it #2 on my list and would have been happy to go there - I had some bad vibes from people who had previously trained there going in (and also from some people who hadn't trained there) but I had also heard good things, so I tried to keep an open mind and actually found it was my best interview day, apart from one severely bitter surg path fellow who almost singlehandedly brought the mood down in the lunch room. In the end, I just was getting tired of the Boston area and that was what swayed me.
Anyway though, one criticism I have heard in the past about MGH is that residents often spend too much time signing out with fellows instead of direct attending access. I have heard both views on this though, so am not sure if this is in flux, is better than it used to be, or is simply misinformation from people talking to me.
I should say though, I have had the opportunity to sign out with people at other institutions who trained or did fellowship at MGH, and they are nearly always very impressive in the scope of their knowledge and their commitment to the field, particularly in diagnostics.
Anyway though, one criticism I have heard in the past about MGH is that residents often spend too much time signing out with fellows instead of direct attending access. I have heard both views on this though, so am not sure if this is in flux, is better than it used to be, or is simply misinformation from people talking to me.
I should say though, I have had the opportunity to sign out with people at other institutions who trained or did fellowship at MGH, and they are nearly always very impressive in the scope of their knowledge and their commitment to the field, particularly in diagnostics.
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I am SURE I know exactly who the bitter lunch guy was. And you bet, he was bitter at that time. In fact, to my & others dismay he thought the best way to handle his bitterness was to tell all resident applicants that they would be better off training somewhere else. Now that he's bought a million dollar house and has a private practice gig that is reputed to be one of the best in the country, he certainly sounds a heck of a lot less bitter...
I always "warn" my applicants that MGH is not a touchy-feely type of place. At least it wasn't. The current residents--as well as most of the staff--are such nice people that it is feeling a bit more touchy-feely than it was even when I first came around. The person you probably mentioned made sure to keep a constant vibe of hostility that has actually left with him.
But the expectations are high, and you really do not get "thanked" for doing a good job--because you are expected to do a good job. I think it is a "hard" place for people who need constant assurance that they are okay. Hand-holding & back-patting are not easy to come by. You see the benefits once you become much more senior in the program. The first year is still a reasonably tough year (...though back in my day... 😉 Not for wimps!
How the heck are you doing Yaah?
Mindy
I always "warn" my applicants that MGH is not a touchy-feely type of place. At least it wasn't. The current residents--as well as most of the staff--are such nice people that it is feeling a bit more touchy-feely than it was even when I first came around. The person you probably mentioned made sure to keep a constant vibe of hostility that has actually left with him.
But the expectations are high, and you really do not get "thanked" for doing a good job--because you are expected to do a good job. I think it is a "hard" place for people who need constant assurance that they are okay. Hand-holding & back-patting are not easy to come by. You see the benefits once you become much more senior in the program. The first year is still a reasonably tough year (...though back in my day... 😉 Not for wimps!
How the heck are you doing Yaah?
Mindy
