Austin Residency

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monkeybutt

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I heard a rumor that there may be a residency starting up in Austin in a few years. That's all the info I have. Anyone know anything more?
 
The program will begin in July 2012. The initial plan is for 6-8 students/class. It is being run by University of Texas Southwestern...not Dallas, but a new affiliate here in Austin.

The program director is Todd Berger. He had been the associate program director at Emory.

The program will have it's core rotations at University of Texas Medical Branch - Brackenridge. Pediatric shifts will be at Dell Children's Hospital. Community months in the later years will include other hospitals within the Seton network.

The EM staff at Brackenridge/Dell's/Seton is a private group. There are no plans to change this. The staff will now receive clinical assistant faculty designations with UTSW-Austin. They are currently looking for dedicated, more academically rigorous faculty as well.

I work for this group which is why I am aware of all this. This has been 5 years in the making and was delayed because of Hurricane Ike in 2008. When UTMB-Galveston had to pull out for financial reasons, UTSW decided to take over.

Feel free to contact me with any questions though I think this is as much as I know and as much as we've publicly disseminated as of now.
 
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txterp98 said:
The program will begin in July 2012. The initial plan is for 6-8 students/class. It is being run by University of Texas Southwestern...not Dallas, but a new affiliate here in Austin.

The program director is Todd Berger. He had been the associate program director at Emery.

The program will have it's core rotations at University of Texas Medical Branch - Brackenridge. Pediatric shifts will be at Dell Children's Hospital. Community months in the later years will include other hospitals within the Seton network.

The EM staff at Brackenridge/Dell's/Seton is a private group. There are no plans to change this. The staff will now receive clinical assistant faculty designations with UTSW-Austin. They are currently looking for dedicated, more academically rigorous faculty as well.

I work for this group which is why I am aware of all this. This has been 5 years in the making and was delayed because of Hurricane Ike in 2008. When UTMB-Galveston had to pull out for financial reasons, UTSW decided to take over.

Feel free to contact me with any questions though I think this is as much as I know and as much as we've publicly disseminated as of now.
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Great info. Thanks. I'll look forward to applying there when I graduate in a couple of years. I wonder how they'll structure salaries for new academic staff.
 
I'm glad to see somebody asking about Brackenridge in here. I used to be a patient transporter in the brack ED, and now I'm an MS2 in San Antonio. My experience working in the emergency department was outstanding! I really enjoyed the environment, my co-workers, and even the crazy patients that I used to sit with. Right now I am heavily leaning towards EM as a residency choice, with UMCB at the very top of my list. In my opinion, Austin is the best city in the state, and I would love to move back there.

Do you have any thoughts about how competitive the residency might be in 2013? I understand that UTSW is pretty competitive, and that many people would love to live in Austin, but what about the newness of the program? I am selfishly hoping that some people will be concerned about how new it is and rank it lower. There is no doubt in my mind that the education will be outstanding.

I recall that UMCB will have a 3 year program. Do you think there is any difference between 3 and 4 year residencies in regards to fellowship opportunities? What about research opportunities?
 
I think the answers to your questions aren't really unique to this program. I think you're correct in thinking that a new program won't have as many applicants as more established programs. And you're likely correct that it won't be ranked #1 by as many.

But yeah, people really seem to like Austin. It's a great town with lots to do in your off time. This'll definitely be a big draw.

I don't really know how to answer the second part of your question. To take a stab at it, there are so many 3 year programs, I don't think it'll interfere with you ability to obtain a fellowship or engage in research.
 
Thanks doc, those are the answers I was looking for.
 
Well it won't be ranked #1 by many, but it will be ranked number one by a lot. I wouldn't instantly call it a second tier place yet. Charleston SC did ok its first year and has less national appeal and a worse physical plant.
 
My questions were more about applying to be faculty there in a couple of years, what salary structure would be like there compared to other academic programs nationally and to non-academic Texas programs, etc.
 
txterp98 said:
The program will begin in July 2012. The initial plan is for 6-8 students/class.
Click to expand...

That's awesome news. So does that mean we'll be seeing the program on our "program list" or however ERAS does it this fall for those in the medical school class of 2012?
 
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Dr.McNinja said:
Well it won't be ranked #1 by many, but it will be ranked number one by a lot. I wouldn't instantly call it a second tier place yet. Charleston SC did ok its first year and has less national appeal and a worse physical plant.
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Yeah, I'm sure there will be no shortage of interested applicants. It would be sweet to watch the reputation of the program grow while training there😀
 
As a graduate of UT-San Antonio, I want to promote their new program. Looking to come back and practice in the area, it will be interesting to see how each program grows.
 
Awww... it's like a class reunion 🙂
 
Anyone know when this program is gonna be put on ERAS? I couldn't find it.
 
hothause said:
Anyone know when this program is gonna be put on ERAS? I couldn't find it.
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Yeah, I don't know if it's even actually accepting applications this year. As far as I can tell, there's no website up or information online at all, aside from a press release from a couple of months ago.
 
Everything is going along as scheduled to date. Unfortunately, it is a rather slow process.

The projected start date is, in fact, July 1, 2012. Hopefully the program will be up on ERAS by then. If not, the first application will be done outside of ERAS. This is unlikely, though, as it'll likely be up on ERAS albeit late.

The website will be up shortly. The core faculty pictures were just taken.

Yes, I am core faculty.

Sorry for any delays. The program should be a good one.
 
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txterp98 said:
The projected start date is, in fact, July 1, 2012. Hopefully the program will be up on ERAS by then. If not, the first application will be done outside of ERAS. This is unlikely, though, as it'll likely be up on ERAS albeit late.
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Does this mean that accepted residents will start on July 1, 2012? Or does this mean that it will appear on ERAS starting that day thus will not be able to accept residents until 1 year later?

Thanks for the info. I'm very interested in this program!
 
We're currently awaiting our RRC visit. Upon receiving approval, the program should be on ERAS.

It is anticipated that the first group of residents will start on July 1, 2012.
 
I am very excited to here this!
 
Can anybody comment on the advantages/disadvantages of being the first class to enroll in a new EM residency? I would think that being a new program could be scary in that they haven't worked out all the kinks. At the same time, a new program may be more open to feedback from the residents. Thoughts?
 
WhateverMang said:
Can anybody comment on the advantages/disadvantages of being the first class to enroll in a new EM residency? I would think that being a new program could be scary in that they haven't worked out all the kinks. At the same time, a new program may be more open to feedback from the residents. Thoughts?
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One of the most enduring bits of "wisdom" that med students seem to know is "be wary of new programs". However, you never - EVER - hear anything from residents or attendings on the same topic. Why do you think that is? Maybe it's because that bit of "wisdom" isn't wise. It has never been borne out. No EM residency has failed in it's first 3 years in the past 20 years (a few have bitten the dust, but not fresh out of the gate). Of course, there will be bumps, but, at the same time, there are well-entrenched, very stable, long-existing programs that also experience bumps.

So, when a student says to be wary, think about from where it is coming - from someone with minimal - very - or less experience.
 
Apollyon said:
One of the most enduring bits of "wisdom" that med students seem to know is "be wary of new programs". However, you never - EVER - hear anything from residents or attendings on the same topic. Why do you think that is? Maybe it's because that bit of "wisdom" isn't wise. It has never been borne out. No EM residency has failed in it's first 3 years in the past 20 years (a few have bitten the dust, but not fresh out of the gate). Of course, there will be bumps, but, at the same time, there are well-entrenched, very stable, long-existing programs that also experience bumps.

So, when a student says to be wary, think about from where it is coming - from someone with minimal - very - or less experience.
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I think what you said is very sound advice. Obviously medical students don't have the experience to know much about this subject. However, being one, I understand the apprehensiveness that students may have when applying to a brand new program.

I haven't heard anything from anybody warning me to "be wary of new programs." It was just my own rationale that a new program has not had the chance to "prove itself" yet and might be susceptible to having its own set of problems with being brand new on top of those that an older program might have.

Even if that were true though, all that really matters is I get a solid training experience. I don't mind "bumps" as long as the training is not significantly compromised.

Having said all that, I appreciate the comments. I feel more confident about applying to new programs since "people in the know" don't feel that it is much of an issue. 😀
 
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WhateverMang said:
I think what you said is very sound advice. Obviously medical students don't have the experience to know much about this subject. However, being one, I understand the apprehensiveness that students may have when applying to a brand new program.

I haven't heard anything from anybody warning me to "be wary of new programs." It was just my own rationale that a new program has not had the chance to "prove itself" yet and might be susceptible to having its own set of problems with being brand new on top of those that an older program might have.

Even if that were true though, all that really matters is I get a solid training experience. I don't mind "bumps" as long as the training is not significantly compromised.

Having said all that, I appreciate the comments. I feel more confident about applying to new programs since "people in the know" don't feel that it is much of an issue. 😀
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I did not go to a new program, but rather a much older one. Like everyone else, I had this voice in my head while interviewing to 'steer clear from a new program'. As a seasoned person said above, I think this is a terrible viewpoint and one that needs to go away... I enjoyed seeing the statistic quoted above about no new programs shutting down in the last 20 years.

It takes MUCH coming together and collective minds to start a residency program. EVERY attending in the deparment MUST have starting a residency and resident education as the first goal of their minds. After literally hundreds of pages of paperwork, and days of meetings, do you think anybody wants to do anything to 'screw it up'? Also, the hospital/adminstration has to be behind the department as a whole to make it all happen. In essence, a new program is 'their baby' and the staff will bend over backwards to ensure resident education and experiences are extraordinary.....

Versus an old program, with old folks who 'want to do it the way we always did it' and are not open to change... maybe its worked for 10 years, but maybe its time to try something new.. it could be better. Good luck changing anything. You can argue that its worked, so why change... but times change... change is not always bad; we all know that.
 
I've been debating about whether to chime in on the new program issue, since I'm an intern and it's only July 17. However, so far I've found that being in a new program is fantastic. There are no seniors to take procedures, codes, or sick patients. We have a ton of attention and support. It's very clear that everyone in the department has put in a lot of work in preparation for the residency, and is heavily invested in our success. I couldn't ask for a better training environment.
 
Thanks for the input on all this everyone. It's really good to hear that the consensus on new programs is pretty much, "chillax med students. everything will be fine." Can't wait to apply to this program.

Any idea on when the RRC visit is going to be?
 
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This is great news! I'm really interested in making the move to Emergency Medicine. Do you know if the new program will be sponsoring visas for IMG's? J-1 visas maybe?
thanks!
 
Any news on when this program will be available on ERAS?
 
WhateverMang said:
Can anybody comment on the advantages/disadvantages of being the first class to enroll in a new EM residency? I would think that being a new program could be scary in that they haven't worked out all the kinks. At the same time, a new program may be more open to feedback from the residents. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I'm going to disagree with my friends in this thread. (Disclaimer, I'm a very old dog with 28 years at the same program. Years as a chair and as a program director probably give me a different viewpoint than junior and mid-level faculty.)

New programs usually have some problems that older programs have completed. The curriculum has to be written and implemented - a several year start up, then it must be endlessly revised. Most EM attendings are accomplished clinicians, but teaching talent has to be developed or brought in. Research programs have to be started. Remediation programs for marginal residents need to be established, once in place they are a giant faculty time suck.

Perhaps the most important aspect is that the EM program must find it's place in the power structure of the Hospital and the University. Procedures and agreements with established groups (IM, Surgery, etc) take time.

All of this takes several years. I'm not saying that a accreditation crisis is likely at a new program. Nor am I saying that a new program will provide a bad education. I am saying that every institution has its own problems, but a new one has some predictable ones.
 
Apollyon said:
One of the most enduring bits of "wisdom" that med students seem to know is "be wary of new programs". However, you never - EVER - hear anything from residents or attendings on the same topic. Why do you think that is? Maybe it's because that bit of "wisdom" isn't wise. It has never been borne out. No EM residency has failed in it's first 3 years in the past 20 years (a few have bitten the dust, but not fresh out of the gate). Of course, there will be bumps, but, at the same time, there are well-entrenched, very stable, long-existing programs that also experience bumps.

So, when a student says to be wary, think about from where it is coming - from someone with minimal - very - or less experience.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to disagree with my old friend here (it's been a long time 😀 A). I was originally part of a program that was in it's 3rd year, and I saw the painful progress that the upper levels had made inch by inch winning their turf from the consultants and establishing respect hospital wide for the program in general. But they did make remarkable progress. Now that I am on faculty at a program that has only 2 years worth of residents so far, I again see the difficulty the residents face as a new program among a very old traditional institution. But nothing is insurmountable. It'll just be a lot more challenging at a new shop.
 
corpsmanUP said:
I'm going to have to disagree with my old friend here (it's been a long time 😀 A). I was originally part of a program that was in it's 3rd year, and I saw the painful progress that the upper levels had made inch by inch winning their turf from the consultants and establishing respect hospital wide for the program in general. But they did make remarkable progress. Now that I am on faculty at a program that has only 2 years worth of residents so far, I again see the difficulty the residents face as a new program among a very old traditional institution. But nothing is insurmountable. It'll just be a lot more challenging at a new shop.
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Hey brother! Yours is sage advice (and to the esteemed BKN), but what I meant is that, even at a brand-spanking-new program, residents will get the teaching and learn to be good-to-great EM docs. I was in a program in it's 2nd year, and I was integral in getting one seriously ****ty rotation axed. I thought that working through the kinks was actually an advantage, as the residents learned through sweat about issues that often are not taught elsewhere (that will then be a much more difficult lesson when they're in practice, and there's real skin on the line). If you learn politics as a resident, you don't have face/position/a job to lose (as much) when you encounter it in practice (especially in the community).
 
Update:

Austin will be accepting applications outside of ERAS, but intends to enter the match. RRC accreditation should be determined before rank lists are due and the Austin folks will let applicants know which way it goes in time for them to rank accordingly. More info here: http://www.seton.net/em
 
Austin program doesn't participate ERAS this year. So, we need to send everything to them separately. Also transcripts. USMLE transcript costs $65.
 
coca said:
Austin program doesn't participate ERAS this year. So, we need to send everything to them separately. Also transcripts. USMLE transcript costs $65.
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And because of ERAS rules, your school cannot send on LORs & SLORs they received. They have to be resent from your letter writers. Or so I am told.
 
snoopy85k said:
And because of ERAS rules, your school cannot send on LORs & SLORs they received. They have to be resent from your letter writers. Or so I am told.
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uh, what eras rules would those be? I got letters sent from my school out to this program without problems...
 
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Austin not being listed on the SAEM residency directory or ERAS, how did people most people hear about this program?
 
Redrox said:
Austin not being listed on the SAEM residency directory or ERAS, how did people most people hear about this program?
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I heard about it here. And rumors at conferences.
 
Anyone that rotated or interviewed want to share their thoughts on the program?
 
Does anybody know if its possible for medical students to do away rotations here. This is quickly becoming my number 1 and would love an opportunity to rotate there this year. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
 
Redpen200 said:
Does anybody know if its possible for medical students to do away rotations here. This is quickly becoming my number 1 and would love an opportunity to rotate there this year. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Here is the page explaining the process, oddly enough you need to apply via the Galvanston branch campus:
http://www.seton.net/medical_services_and_programs/graduate_medical_education/electives/

And here is the link to the actual application (VSAS):
http://www.utmb.edu/enrollmentservices/about/USVisitingMedicalStudents.html

Great looking place, glad to hear people are getting excited about UTSW-Austin !
 
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Rotation is UTMB affiliated, residency is UTSW affiliated. Makes sense, but kinda confusing.

Heard it was going to be straight UTMB affiliated with initial plan but Katrina threw a wrench in the planning.
 
Redrox said:
Rotation is UTMB affiliated, residency is UTSW affiliated. Makes sense, but kinda confusing.

Heard it was going to be straight UTMB affiliated with initial plan but Katrina threw a wrench in the planning.
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It was a Hurricane, but dont think it was Katrina.

EDIT: Google says Ike.
 
It was Hurricane Ike-- but, the level of the region's disaster from Ike was compounded by the aftermath of Katrina. UTMB sends their students to Austin and will continue to do so until the hospitals in Galveston are completely rebuilt or replaced. UTMB also sends students, residents, fellows, nurses, and others in allied health education to facilities in the Texas Medical Center.

The wealth and determination of the University of Texas, the Sealy Foundation, and the locals are responsible for rebuilding UTMB. A private school would have closed after absorbing a billion dollars worth of damage, the loss off half its faculty, and the loss of two-thirds of its hospitals and campus.

I am an attending at the Austin hospital where the new EM residency will be centered. This hospital has offered several specialty residencies since 1972. The Austin EM program is starting off way ahead; a lot of resources, money, and national talent has been brought in, and it will quickly be as good as any other EM residency program.
 
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