Best EM Program Near Surf

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surjanky

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I'm open to both 3 and 4 year programs and want to go to the strongest program near surf (big or small). What are the strongest coastal programs?

Also, I heard USC lost their trauma to another dept. true?

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near good surf (within 30 minutes):
1. USC-LAC
2. Highland
3. Harbor-UCLA
4. UCSF-SFGH (too early to tell about the quality of EM there)
5. UCSD (not such a hard-core EM program, but some great surf and surfers nearby)

near only fair, very cold surf (but worth it if you can put off the best surf for a bit in exchange for OK surf but great training):
1. King's County/SUNY-Downsate
2. Highland
3. UCSF-SFGH

so says HH (former CA surfer, reformed)
 
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How 'bout some east coast love?
EVMS
ECU
Jax
Orlando

Admittedly, smaller surf but there are still some waves out here.

My life's goal is to start a residency program at University of Hawaii, any takers?
 
near good surf (within 30 minutes):
1. USC-LAC
2. Highland
3. Harbor-UCLA
4. UCSF-SFGH (too early to tell about the quality of EM there)
5. UCSD (not such a hard-core EM program, but some great surf and surfers nearby)

near only fair, very cold surf (but worth it if you can put off the best surf for a bit in exchange for OK surf but great training):
1. King's County/SUNY-Downsate
2. Highland
3. UCSF-SFGH

so says HH (former CA surfer, reformed)

I second this list. I dunno much about the NY surf though, looks cold.
 
Either UCI or UCSD (in terms of good surf only). At UCI, you're 10 minutes from Newport Beach (fickle, crowded, surf that can be world-class during Summer/early Fall). At UCSD, you have Blacks, Wind-n-Sea, Mexico, etc. At Harbor or USC, you are either driving 30 minutes north (to Malibu) or south (to North Orange county) to get good surf.
 
Either UCI or UCSD (in terms of good surf only). At UCI, you're 10 minutes from Newport Beach (fickle, crowded, surf that can be world-class during Summer/early Fall). At UCSD, you have Blacks, Wind-n-Sea, Mexico, etc. At Harbor or USC, you are either driving 30 minutes north (to Malibu) or south (to North Orange county) to get good surf.

Not necessarily. You can get good surf in Redondo Beach (where most Harbor residents live (15-20 minutes from hospital). I have classmates that walk to the beach from their homes (so do I, but I don't surf and live in long beach).
 
Best surf, and some excellent programs as well, are in CA. UCSD obviously, and the LA programs.

UCSF, Highland, and Stanford for the best surf in California (Full disclosure, I'm a NorCal native and biased)

On the East Coast- I'm at a program in NYC. I surf a fair amount on Long Island and at Rockaway. Jersey and Rhode Island are nearby as well for day trips. The surf out here can be epic. Not nearly as consistent as California however. Cold as hell in the winter, but you get a 6/5 fullsuit with hood, 7 mm boots and gloves and deal with it.

Also look into Maine Medical Center (Brrr), Brown, East Carolina, Eastern Virginia, MUSC.

And finally- The Chicago Programs. I did Med School in Chicago and surfed Lake Michigan plenty. Had some surprisingly good days (8-9 foot with calm winds and clean up conditions). it's not ideal for getting in the water as often as you'd like, as it probably is rideable 50-60 days a year(often with short windows of 3-4 hours) , but for being stuck in the middle of the country, it's not bad.
 
I'm open to both 3 and 4 year programs and want to go to the strongest program near surf (big or small). What are the strongest coastal programs?

Also, I heard USC lost their trauma to another dept. true?

where did you hear this?

?
 
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...surfed Lake Michigan plenty. Had some surprisingly good days (8-9 foot with calm winds and clean up conditions)...

...and a 3 second period, no thanks.

hands down UCSD/UCI (trestles is closer than you think!). You can try northern california if you want, but then the season is really only in the Fall & you'll probably spend all your time at ocean beach. Plus you'll be cold with a 4/3 and booties in the winter. of course there's more size in norcal but you just don't get those beautiful, clean, walled pointbreaks that you see in southern california. Don't waste your time in LA. It takes a pretty good sized swell to get waves there.
 
...and a 3 second period, no thanks.

hands down UCSD/UCI (trestles is closer than you think!). You can try northern california if you want, but then the season is really only in the Fall & you'll probably spend all your time at ocean beach. Plus you'll be cold with a 4/3 and booties in the winter. of course there's more size in norcal but you just don't get those beautiful, clean, walled pointbreaks that you see in southern california. Don't waste your time in LA. It takes a pretty good sized swell to get waves there.

I would sell my first born for a residency in Southern Cali. The waves are so clean and perfect🙁🙁
 
ECU has a great program (Lev 1 w/ helos etc) and is about an hour and a half from the nearest beach. You won't get really good waves unless you move more towards the outer banks....or if it's hurricane season 😱
 
Mt. Sinai in Miami Beach Florida

If you're going to throw this one in there, then you should also mention Texas A&M/Corpus Christi, TX.

However the original poster asked for the "strongest program," so I wouldn't include either.
 
(post deleted)
 
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If you're going to throw this one in there, then you should also mention Texas A&M/Corpus Christi, TX.

However the original poster asked for the "strongest program," so I wouldn't include either.

Can you honestly surf in TX? I've seen the video where they are surfing behind oil rigs, but are tehre any real waves there or just waves off the occassional hurricane?
 
If you're going to throw this one in there, then you should also mention Texas A&M/Corpus Christi, TX.

However the original poster asked for the "strongest program," so I wouldn't include either.

Well, I'm not going to try and defend either program... except to say that there are lots of definitions of what the "strongest" program is. Some people would find both of those programs quite good and an outstanding training environment because they have the personality and the learning method that flourishes there.

So because a discussion of the "strongest" programs is usually an effort in futility because consensus will never be reached, I instead opted to add to the ever-growing list of programs near good surfing and left the decision as to whether it is a strong program to the individual needs and desires of the OP (or whomever else uses this thread.

Unless someone wants to define the criteria of a "strong" program...
 
except to say that there are lots of definitions of what the "strongest" program is. Some people would find both of those programs quite good and an outstanding training environment because they have the personality and the learning method that flourishes there.

Exactly, what you just said. ...not my "exactly" as posted above. To anyone I offended above, I apologize. I will now try to delete that post, if able.

The strongest program debate is, as you have suggested, is an exercise in futility. I think opened my big internet mouth above too much without thinking. Error.

HH
 
Can you honestly surf in TX? I've seen the video where they are surfing behind oil rigs, but are tehre any real waves there or just waves off the occassional hurricane?

yes, you can surf in texas. Summers are pretty terrible with the best surf coming from storms. However, the winters bring thigh to head high surf 3-4 days per week. All winter long, there is a pattern of 5-6 days of onshore winds and then, about once every 6-10 days, a cold front swoops in, gives 30 min to 5-6 hours of offshore magic. then, flat until the front passes and onshores start again. periods >12s only happen 15 or 20 times a year, but it makes your week when it happens.
 
any nyc program. i'm at jacobi in the bronx and go to rockaway at least once/week. agreed, california is more consistent, but if you want to surf badly enough you will. where there's a will there's a way!
 
Considering it was probably some 18 year old kid that made the website and not the residents.

The residency coordinator is attractive and that might make up for any typos.
 
Considering it was probably some 18 year old kid that made the website and not the residents.

The residency coordinator is attractive and that might make up for any typos.

Dude if you saw her in person she would knock your friggin sox off too. I'm pretty sure I'd drink her bathwater. She has a boyfriend though...who is a tool.
 
Either UCI or UCSD (in terms of good surf only). At UCI, you're 10 minutes from Newport Beach (fickle, crowded, surf that can be world-class during Summer/early Fall). At UCSD, you have Blacks, Wind-n-Sea, Mexico, etc. At Harbor or USC, you are either driving 30 minutes north (to Malibu) or south (to North Orange county) to get good surf.

if you're at harbor ucla, you could also go to palos verdes
 
Dude if you saw her in person she would knock your friggin sox off too. I'm pretty sure I'd drink her bathwater. She has a boyfriend though...who is a tool.

They always are tools. That's how the world works. Of course, I have a hard time admitting when they are actually seemingly cool.
 
UCI/UCSD would get my vote. As mentioned, UCI is just down the road from Trestles (and also close to Huntington, Newport, San O (for longboarders), not too far from oceanside/carlsbad either.
 
6 foot walls w/ 16 sec period @ far rockaway (and pretty much every other nyc-adjacent beach) this sat according to the long-range forecasts! we get surf, just not as consistently as CA. summers are usually 1-2' and winters avg 2-3'. if you come out here for residency get a longboard, mini-mal, or a fish. --sp
 
Orlando Regional is about 45 minutes to Cocoa Beach - maybe an hour from the front door until you're in the water. Like the rest of the east coast, the waves are pretty variable, but good most days and amazing at least a few days of the year. More importantly, the water's always warm and you can surf year-round. There are a handful of residents, attendings and techs who surf here. Also, we have the world's best "fake" waves - Disney's Typhoon Lagoon can be rented for early morning sessions, and you can have any kind of wave you want...I guess the same could be said for Florida Hospital (if anything, it's slightly east of us and a little closer to the beach).

The allopathic EM program closest to surf on the east coast is probably Jacksonville - a lot of their residents live at Jax beach, about 20min from the hospital. The waves there are similar to Cocoa. MUSC is also about 20min from decent surf at Folly Beach, but it gets a bit cold there in the winter. As for further north, surfing on Long Island can be fun, but for months out of the year you've got to be a warrior (hoods and booties), and getting from NYC to the beaches is a real hassle without a car. The Jersey Shore has the same issue.

If your goal is to find a great residency with great surfing, I can't help but think the Cali programs (UCI, UCLA/USC, UCSD) are you're best bet.
 
I can't imagine doing about any ocean activity up north during the cooler months. I think "warrior" is an understatement! I live in north Florida on the Gulf side and the water is brisk here during the winter...(no waves...sorry)
 
Orlando Regional....
Florida's a bit too sharky for my liking. (I know, I know, statistically it's still very safe). I can handle water in the 30s here in the northeast winters (with the help of my 6-5-4), but for some reason the thought of all the sharks in Florida scares the bejesus out of me.

On another note, who on the East Coast is psyched for some real waves this weekend!?!!
 
I can't imagine doing about any ocean activity up north during the cooler months. I think "warrior" is an understatement! I live in north Florida on the Gulf side and the water is brisk here during the winter...(no waves...sorry)

Yeah, me either. I am in SoCal right now and still hear my full wetty for dawn patrol/sunset surf in the summer. </wimp>
 
Yeah, me either. I am in SoCal right now and still hear my full wetty for dawn patrol/sunset surf in the summer. </wimp>

how cold is the water out there? I'm terrible in the cold!
 
how cold is the water out there? I'm terrible in the cold!

Surfline says it is 65-69. The water itself isn't cold in the summer, it's actually pretty nice so long as the sun is out. The breeze can get pretty cool though if it's cloudy or early/late in the day.
 
Surfline says it is 65-69. The water itself isn't cold in the summer, it's actually pretty nice so long as the sun is out. The breeze can get pretty cool though if it's cloudy or early/late in the day.


I'd def have to wear my full wetsuit in that. I don't care if everyone thought I was a complete pansy for it.
 
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