boston university, BMC

[gotdoc]

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hello! anyone have any inside info on BU for categorical and if they are still sending invites? I know their deadline is late but I have been looking forward to an interview there since I decided to do medicine.

Any inside info will be very much appreciated.

 

[GoUSFBulls]

Ditto... its the only program I havent heard anything from at all.

 

[JSI124]

This is what I got from them last year on 3/17 (after the match was over):

"Dear Applicants:
Thank you for your interest in the internal medicine residency program. We have completely filled our positions."


LOL

 

[ResidentMD]

This is what I got from them last year on 3/17 (after the match was over):

"Dear Applicants:
Thank you for your interest in the internal medicine residency program. We have completely filled our positions."


LOL

ROTFL.

Meanwhile, I went through the BMC website and I found the program to be really good on paper. I am just wondering, why does this program not get the respect that it deserves? They have some awesome fellowship matches, and being in Boston is always an attraction. They also possibly see the maximum patient load in Boston. Any inputs?

 

[ShapeTheFuture]

ROTFL.

Meanwhile, I went through the BMC website and I found the program to be really good on paper. I am just wondering, why does this program not get the respect that it deserves? They have some awesome fellowship matches, and being in Boston is always an attraction. They also possibly see the maximum patient load in Boston. Any inputs?

I can share some light on this given that I've trained at the various levels of the associated BU and Harvard institutions (med school, residency, fellowship, attending level).

- BMC/BU program produces excellent clinicians w/ great autonomy. They are sought after due to their clinical skills 2/2 to their clinical experience. They get great fellowships and job placements.
- some of the reputation probably results from a number of years back where they were considered being malignant given that residents were overworked. However, from my dealing w/ residents and attendings, BU had made changes recently. Their new PD David Halle is also very approachable and receptive to change and making things work for residents and stiking the balance btwn clinical experience and life satisification. The BU resident workhours seem comparable to the BWH/MGH residents. They have also made an institution commitment to teaching.
- The last few years there has been an explosion of new updates and activities w/ the number of new buildings and a new ambulatory center currently being built right now. THe BU med campus is actually a very large campus w/ a number of research buildings. Obviously one can't compare to the longwood medical area given the sheer size and the number of institutions there. On a per-capital basis, BU med campus conducts research at the level or exceeds the level of the longwood area. Specifically the cardiology, GI, pulmonary, and rheumatology has a number of excellent research programs. They also have the BU Framingham Heart Study.

In summary, the key differences in a short sentence or 2 of the different institutions would be:

BWH- research driven. smart.
MGH- research driven.
BMC- excellent clinicians w/ lots of autonomy. interesting pathologies given the nature and mission of the institution.
BIDMC- very education/teaching driven. Slightly less pt admissions than the aforementioned 3 institutions.
Tufts- much smaller institution than the previous 4 places. Does community care very well. Has excellent cards transplant service.

Training at any of the places in Boston would be excellent. BWH/MGH are very research driven and you will learn the latest research and trials. BMC is very hands-on and their residents are superb clinicians. BIDMC does great teaching.

Best luck in your search.

 

[ResidentMD]

BIDMC- very education/teaching driven. Slightly less pt admissions than the aforementioned 3 institutions.

Training at any of the places in Boston would be excellent. BWH/MGH are very research driven and you will learn the latest research and trials. BMC is very hands-on and their residents are superb clinicians. BIDMC does great teaching.

Best luck in your search.

Does this result into anything? I mean, you can be taught as much as possible, but still be a mediocre clinician. Just wanted to get an honest perception on this from someone who has interacted with the residents/graduates from BIDMC.

 

[sam1999]

Does this result into anything? I mean, you can be taught as much as possible, but still be a mediocre clinician. Just wanted to get an honest perception on this from someone who has interacted with the residents/graduates from BIDMC.

What you are saying is so true and I wonder does it really matter then where does one training? I heard in an other thread that even a trained monkey can do internship. Not sure what is your point/question?😴

 

[ResidentMD]

What you are saying is so true and I wonder does it really matter then where does one training? I heard in an other thread that even a trained monkey can do internship. Not sure what is your point/question?😴

I dont know if your point is to support or diss me...regardless, I was trying to say that BIDMC is often portrayed to be better than it truly is....the post that I replied to...the only point it supports for BIDMC is great teaching. But what about the patients and the clinical experience? So is 'teaching and good education' a strong enough point to choose a residency over another? And more importantly, if you only have 'teaching and education', and not necessarily 'residents being involved' or 'residents seeing much patient diversity and getting hands-on experience', does that lead to producing good internists?

Regardless, I can see a direction in which this thread could now go, so lets stop the argument. I just clarified my question for you, as you had asked.

P.S. I wonder if you would let any of your family members be taken care of by a trained monkey....lets stop the cliches please.

 

[Scaredshizzles]

I dont know if your point is to support or diss me...regardless, I was trying to say that BIDMC is often portrayed to be better than it truly is....the post that I replied to...the only point it supports for BIDMC is great teaching. But what about the patients and the clinical experience? So is 'teaching and good education' a strong enough point to choose a residency over another? And more importantly, if you only have 'teaching and education', and not necessarily 'residents being involved' or 'residents seeing much patient diversity and getting hands-on experience', does that lead to producing good internists?

Regardless, I can see a direction in which this thread could now go, so lets stop the argument. I just clarified my question for you, as you had asked.

P.S. I wonder if you would let any of your family members be taken care of by a trained monkey....lets stop the cliches please.

This goes into the right program for the right person theory though. Some people are convinced the only way they can learn and get good at something is through rote practice. Other people believe in mental preparation before hand, which makes your hands on practice time more productive---i.e. you need less hands on experience if you are prepared beforehand to make the most of it. You have to decide how you yourself learn and become better at something. It is no different than sports....some athletes (Peyton Manning) love to watch hours of game tape...others like practicing extra hours shooting jumpers and free throws.

 

[ResidentMD]

This goes into the right program for the right person theory though. Some people are convinced the only way they can learn and get good at something is through rote practice. Other people believe in mental preparation before hand, which makes your hands on practice time more productive---i.e. you need less hands on experience if you are prepared beforehand to make the most of it. You have to decide how you yourself learn and become better at something. It is no different than sports....some athletes (Peyton Manning) love to watch hours of game tape...others like practicing extra hours shooting jumpers and free throws.

Agree - I definitely know that BU residents clearly say that this is a program for you, if you believe you learn best by hands-on training. Btw, I was totally impressed with that program. Could not find anything negative about it, especially if you are willing to work hard in PGY1.

 

[bkflaneur]

I can share some light on this given that I've trained at the various levels of the associated BU and Harvard institutions (med school, residency, fellowship, attending level)....

Helpful post. Thank you.

 

[bkflaneur]

Agree - I definitely know that BU residents clearly say that this is a program for you, if you believe you learn best by hands-on training. Btw, I was totally impressed with that program. Could not find anything negative about it, especially if you are willing to work hard in PGY1.

I was also impressed with BU on interview day. But I'd love to hear more from current residents or possibly BU med students. On my interview day, I didn't feel like we got a great view of the program - no morning report or noon conference that day. We went to grand rounds, but I don't think that tells you anything about the training program or the residents. I was able to talk to residents during my tour and at lunch. But otherwise, it felt kind of limited. (night before dinner was several days before my interview, and I couldn't make it)

I love the idea of BMC and training at a city hospital with huge pt diversity and lots of hands on learning and autonomy. I've heard BMC described as "intense" and I guess I wonder if that's sometimes codeword for malignant?? I fully agree with what's been said above with regard to finding the right program style for you. And while I'm excited to work hard and have lots of autonomy, I still want a supportive program and want a place that respects work hour rules. Any more insight to this aspect of BU would be great. Thanks.

 

[ResidentMD]

I was also impressed with BU on interview day. But I'd love to hear more from current residents or possibly BU med students. On my interview day, I didn't feel like we got a great view of the program - no morning report or noon conference that day. We went to grand rounds, but I don't think that tells you anything about the training program or the residents. I was able to talk to residents during my tour and at lunch. But otherwise, it felt kind of limited. (night before dinner was several days before my interview, and I couldn't make it)

I love the idea of BMC and training at a city hospital with huge pt diversity and lots of hands on learning and autonomy. I've heard BMC described as "intense" and I guess I wonder if that's sometimes codeword for malignant?? I fully agree with what's been said above with regard to finding the right program style for you. And while I'm excited to work hard and have lots of autonomy, I still want a supportive program and want a place that respects work hour rules. Any more insight to this aspect of BU would be great. Thanks.

I too would love to hear from BMC residents. Here are two things from my interview day that may help you -

1. We attended noon conference on my day. It was actually one of the practical conferences I have attended on my trail. An attending led the discussion with a resident presenting (rather than chief resident leading the discussion), and the residents participated. It was very clinically oriented. They had the concerned subspecialists attending (ID and Nephro I think?) who would regularly chip in when called upon.

2. I attended the pre-interview dinner. The residents there are very happy. Yes, they work their asses off in first year, and I think they often cap (they may even go above rarely), but they seemed to cap often. Having said that, BMC draws those residents who would like to work hard in order to become good clinicians. Hence, these residents didnt seem unhappy. Rather they were proud of how well trained they were. They liked the bedside teaching. They also did not seem to have an issue with work hour rules - which they said were well enforced. The PD and the chief residents are receptive to change, and I believe they have a residents union that takes up any issues that residents may have. Yes, the teaching isnt as much as say BIDMC, but they seem very confident in their training.

The program actively encourages second looks. Hence, if you are really interested in it (as I am), I would arrange a second look. The residents really want to share their perspective and seem to be very open to discussion, so you may get a lot of your questions solved there as well.

Meanwhile, I too would like to hear more from others who have had a direct experience of working at BMC.

 

[MDLatin]

This is def. an interesting thread because I too had similar questions regarding their program. I'll be interviewing with them on Dec 21st, and have really been looking forward to learning more about them. However, during my interview trail I ran into a fellow 4th year that said she had just been at BU and didn't like it. When I asked her why, she responded by saying that "it was clear that the residents were working pretty hard...too hard, and it seemed that they hit 80hrs often....and quite frequently pushed over our weekly 80". She also mentioned that some of the residents/interns she met weren't happy, and she was told that a malignant environment did reside within BU's program.

She got most of this during the dinner she attended only though, as the interview day that followed went "deceivingly" great. This worries me because I too won't be able to make any of the dinners they had scheduled.

...I don't know this girl from a hole in the wall, but was pretty concerned?! Hence, I'd love to really get some continued feedback about this program. Many Thanks

 

[thnxforum]

All kinds of things are being said about BU but let me give u an insider perspective as a BU intern!!!
-BU residents work hard no doubt but never exceed 80 hrs . Max 70-75 .
-Clinical training excellent with 3 hospitals , HAC campus, ENC campus and VA.
-Excellent patient population and by far the diverse that any hospital can get.
-Ample autonomy for interns which you cant expect in any other boston hospital as all of their patients are private patients with private attending. BU housestaff sees all patients whether private , medicare or medicaid insurance.
-Excellent opportunity for research with great and easily available mentors in all fields both at BU and Brigham since we share VA.
-Residents from Brigham regret the fact that they lack autonomy which BU residents get.
-Ample research time even during intern yr 3 months of ambulatory + elective.2 and 3rd yr have 2-5 months each yr
-Excellent teaching in the units with experts in their fields. All subspecialities extremely strong.
-Chief residents excellent and thoroughly promote patient oriented evidenced based medicine with EBM lectures each week.
-few foreign grads as the chair and PD wants to bring in diversity.
Overall excellent fellowship placements on par with any top program in US