BIDMC v. Stanford v. UW

[Sparkymd]

Struggling with some ranking. Any thoughts on these programs?

I think they are all very strong, but didn't know if anyone had insight that could be helpful.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[fakin' the funk]

Struggling with some ranking. Any thoughts on these programs?

I think they are all very strong, but didn't know if anyone had insight that could be helpful.

They are in very different places. Where do you want to physically BE for 3-4 years and potentially the rest of your career? That would be a good start.

 

[Sparkymd]

They are in very different places. Where do you want to physically BE for 3-4 years and potentially the rest of your career? That would be a good start.

I see myself in an academic career, pairing research (I have a strong research background) with fellowship trained practice. I am not caught up with name persay but I want the possibility to do a research fellowship (post-doc) at the institution (each other them offers that). This is not to say I am just interested in research. I seek STRONG clinical training and really want to work with patients and to have a good case mix.

I am fine with the geography of each. One is much closer to family, but it would also be exciting to live in a different region and explore in some of my off time.

 

[GasEmDee]

I see myself in an academic career, pairing research (I have a strong research background) with fellowship trained practice. I am not caught up with name persay but I want the possibility to do a research fellowship (post-doc) at the institution (each other them offers that). This is not to say I am just interested in research. I seek STRONG clinical training and really want to work with patients and to have a good case mix.

I am fine with the geography of each. One is much closer to family, but it would also be exciting to live in a different region and explore in some of my off time.

Then really the question is which institution is best for the area of research that you are interested in. Based on the other criteria, the three institutions appear to be interchangeable.

 

[IlDestriero]

It's hard to beat Palo Alto. Weather, the beach, surfing, skiing, proximity to all SF has to offer. It's all there. Oh yeah, it's a pretty good program as well.

 

[Sergio99]

Then really the question is which institution is best for the area of research that you are interested in. Based on the other criteria, the three institutions appear to be interchangeable.

I agree. You will be very happy in any one of the three.

 

[pnasty]

From what ive heard there are differences between them that can help you decide. Stanford is great but it is also well known that they work very hard there (no CRNAs, which is both good and bad). Ive heard the work load is surprising, and hasn't had a lot of time to enjoy Palo Alto. but it's still a great program. If you are looking to do research during residency you probably will not have a lot of time at Stanford. UW is also a great location, but if you are more east coast I would go BIDMC. Not a bad choice to have to make!

 

[Spacedman]

I checked out all three programs this year, and agree they are all great. That being said, there are differences between them that can help you decide. Stanford is great but it is also well known that they work very hard there (no CRNAs, which is both good and bad). One of my friends there was very surprised at the work load, and hasn't had a lot of time to enjoy Palo Alto. If you are looking to do research during residency you probably will not have a lot of time at Stanford. UW is also a great location and would be my choice out of three because I am more of a west coast person, but if you are more east coast I would go BIDMC. Not a bad choice to have to make!

have to disagree - we can get up to 9 months between CA-2 and CA-3. Very few other programs can match it, and as far as i know only UCSF has a dedicated research track that allows for more time (though spread out over a longer residency). I picked the program for the research oportunities & overall commitment to research in residency. Please feel free to PM for details.

 

[lakersbaby]

have to disagree - we can get up to 9 months between CA-2 and CA-3. Very few other programs can match it, and as far as i know only UCSF has a dedicated research track that allows for more time (though spread out over a longer residency). I picked the program for the research oportunities & overall commitment to research in residency. Please feel free to PM for details.

you disagree with the research time but how about the amount of time to enjoy palo alto. are the work hours really that crazy? i know residency is tough but can you at least have some sort of life at stanford?

 

[Spacedman]

you disagree with the research time but how about the amount of time to enjoy palo alto. are the work hours really that crazy? i know residency is tough but can you at least have some sort of life at stanford?

to be honest, our hours don't seem that different from what i've heard from friends @ ucsf and NYC programs. FWIW, when i interviewed, UCSF was the program touted to have "crazy" hours- i think you're talking about really small differences in work hours between top programs. its' residency, you're going to work. fortunately, in anesthesia, weekend call is pretty rare. that's the deal. if you want more detail, please feel free to PM me.

 

[cchoukal]

you disagree with the research time but how about the amount of time to enjoy palo alto. are the work hours really that crazy? i know residency is tough but can you at least have some sort of life at stanford?

Forget about the hours. It's all about the same. You can shave a few hours off by going to a low-ball program, maybe, but, come on; it's Stanford. Or Harvard. Or UCSF. Or whatever. Go to the best program that you can. The hours are still going to be way better than whatever your friends in IM and Surgery are doing.

 

[pnasty]

have to disagree - we can get up to 9 months between CA-2 and CA-3. Very few other programs can match it, and as far as i know only UCSF has a dedicated research track that allows for more time (though spread out over a longer residency). I picked the program for the research oportunities & overall commitment to research in residency. Please feel free to PM for details.

again, all are great programs. im just going by what some friends in the residency have told me, and of course these are just opinions. in my experience tho, once a couple of people have said the same thing its more of a trend and less of an opinion. and when you are deciding between great programs...it often comes down to the little things, and family.

 

[Sparkymd]

Thank you so much for the input. It is very helpful. In one interview day, it is really hard to get your head around a program. I know that I would be happy and very fortunate to be in any of these programs. I believe the differences between the programs is subtle, but present.

Interestingly enough, the late breaking horse in the race is MGH. I was surprised by my interview and now I am even more confused. I can easily make a case for any of them being number 1. I was hoping to have an overwhelming gut feeling, but I am torn by different factors.

Seems to be some love here from Stanford. I would love to hear more about any of the programs.

 

[cchoukal]

Thank you so much for the input. It is very helpful. In one interview day, it is really hard to get your head around a program. I know that I would be happy and very fortunate to be in any of these programs. I believe the differences between the programs is subtle, but present.

Interestingly enough, the late breaking horse in the race is MGH. I was surprised by my interview and now I am even more confused. I can easily make a case for any of them being number 1. I was hoping to have an overwhelming gut feeling, but I am torn by different factors.

Seems to be some love here from Stanford. I would love to hear more about any of the programs.

It's a high-class problem, but a problem nonetheless. You can weigh all the relevant factors, but, eventually, your gut will steer you in the right direction, if you'll listen. An additional factor might be whether you want to practice in Boston or the bay area. I know plenty of people who wanted to go to Seattle and were able to, having trained all over, but very few people seem to be able to break into Boston or the Bay without training there. This isn't always true, but if you need something to help break the tie...

 

[nycitygas]

IMHO, work hours shouldnt be the deciding factor unless its something obscene (>80hrs, Q3 call, ect). Its best to see and do as much as you can while you have back up, rather than when you are an attending.

 

[Sparkymd]

IMHO, work hours shouldnt be the deciding factor unless its something obscene (>80hrs, Q3 call, ect). Its best to see and do as much as you can while you have back up, rather than when you are an attending.

I hadn't planned on it. Residency is a very short time that I have to learn all I can to form a basis for the rest of my career. I would be disappointed if I didn't have to work hard. That said, if I wanted to be in the hospital 80 hrs a week, I might have chosen another specialty. 🙂 In reality, from what I heard from residents and the department average from their presentations- MGH, Stanford, and UW are about the same. BI might have slightly better hours, but it would still be close.

I think I might be struggling with this decision largely for reasons not related to the programs. I really like them all... a lot. But the outside of the hospital stuff is confusing me. My wife and I want to go to the west coast a little more, but both sides of our family are east coast and we have will have a one year old. I am having trouble weighing these differences personally, and therefore trouble deciding with any objectivity. I am happy and feel lucky to have this decision to make... but it isn't easy.

 

[Sparkymd]

I hadn't planned on it. Residency is a very short time that I have to learn all I can to form a basis for the rest of my career. I would be disappointed if I didn't have to work hard. That said, if I wanted to be in the hospital 80 hrs a week, I might have chosen another specialty. 🙂 In reality, from what I heard from residents and the department average from their presentations- MGH, Stanford, and UW are about the same. BI might have slightly better hours, but it would still be close.

I think I might be struggling with this decision largely for reasons not related to the programs. I really like them all... a lot. But the outside of the hospital stuff is confusing me. My wife and I want to go to the west coast a little more, but both sides of our family are east coast and we have will have a one year old. I am having trouble weighing these differences personally, and therefore trouble deciding with any objectivity. I am happy and feel lucky to have this decision to make... but it isn't easy.

I know with such personal situations underlying the decision it seems odd to ask for opinions from strangers on the internet, but that is almost why I am asking! I am looking for facts that I might have missed or impressions from more than one view point. Additionally, maybe someone here has switched coasts and can comment on what that move is like. I am just trying to gather information to make an educated decision.

 

[pnasty]

I hadn't planned on it. Residency is a very short time that I have to learn all I can to form a basis for the rest of my career. I would be disappointed if I didn't have to work hard. That said, if I wanted to be in the hospital 80 hrs a week, I might have chosen another specialty. 🙂 In reality, from what I heard from residents and the department average from their presentations- MGH, Stanford, and UW are about the same. BI might have slightly better hours, but it would still be close.

I think I might be struggling with this decision largely for reasons not related to the programs. I really like them all... a lot. But the outside of the hospital stuff is confusing me. My wife and I want to go to the west coast a little more, but both sides of our family are east coast and we have will have a one year old. I am having trouble weighing these differences personally, and therefore trouble deciding with any objectivity. I am happy and feel lucky to have this decision to make... but it isn't easy.

if you have a family and a kid on the east coast I think it would be very hard to leave the east coast. Residency is hard enough without having to worry about other things. Everyone is happy this way. I know it's hard to stay on the east coast if you feel you belong on the west coast, but staying at a great east coast program until your kids are more grown up will prob be better for them and you long term. Just my opinion.

 

[smle18]

sorry to hijack the thread. i'm also trying to figure out how to rank these 4 programs. i'm from the east coast, but i loved seattle/UW. my only concern is that if i go there it'll be tough to go back east afterwards. it's not a foregone conclusion that i will want to go back, but i'd like the option. does anyone have a sense of how well-regarded UW is on the east coast in terms of jobs and fellowships?