Boston University Vs. UC Davis

[vosswater]

Have to decide between general surgery at Boston University and UC Davis as interview dates conflict.

Does anyone know where residents who graduated from these two programs have gone in the recent past? (Boston posted a list from before 2006 http://www.bumc.bu.edu/generalsurgery/residency-training-program/graduates/) and UC Davis has not posted anything on the career plans of their alumni.

-UC Davis has slightly higher avg board pass rates than Boston Univ. over the last 5 years (100% vs. 91% on the written).

-UC Davis is however, losing their current program director in 2011 and they are also looking for a dept. chair.

-similar case volumes for graduating chiefs at both (900-1100 at Boston per website and 800-1000 at Davis per website)

-5 (Boston Univ) vs 8 categorical residents at UC Davis.

Besides the location factor (Sacramento vs. Boston), anyone have any insight on the training environment at these two programs?

Thanks!🙂

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[winthug]

Where did you hear that the program director, Dr. Gauvin, is leaving in 2011 and where is he going?

I had an interview at UC Davis and although I can't recall all the facts, their graduates do go on to pretty good places w/ no limitations in specialty type (more recently, someone got into Peds and Onc). The board scores, I wouldn't look too much into. UC Davis is going to have smart people just due to its location and people wanting to go there, but anything > 90% is on the same level in my book. Boston's oral boards are 81% though which is below average.

I'm looking at Boston U w/ strong interest but haven't interviewed there yet. Do you know anything else about the program?

 

[JackADeli]

Have to decide between general surgery at Boston University and UC Davis as interview dates conflict...

-5 (Boston Univ) vs 8 categorical residents at UC Davis.

Besides the location factor (Sacramento vs. Boston), anyone have any insight on the training environment at these two programs?..

I got no insights. But, I would just say, being old and having spent too many years north in too many winters, I would look carefully at traffic and housing cost and if at all possible choose Cali over Boston 😀

 

[vosswater]

Where did you hear that the program director, Dr. Gauvin, is leaving in 2011 and where is he going?

I had an interview at UC Davis and although I can't recall all the facts, their graduates do go on to pretty good places w/ no limitations in specialty type (more recently, someone got into Peds and Onc). The board scores, I wouldn't look too much into. UC Davis is going to have smart people just due to its location and people wanting to go there, but anything > 90% is on the same level in my book. Boston's oral boards are 81% though which is below average.

I'm looking at Boston U w/ strong interest but haven't interviewed there yet. Do you know anything else about the program?

Thanks for the info on Davis graduates. Thats great!

I heard that Dr. Gauvin is leaving Davis to go direct another residency program in 2011.
I just hope that UC Davis has someone else in the dept who is as highly interested in teaching residents as I heard Dr. G is, and who will take over when he leaves? I just dislike program instability...😕

 

[JackADeli]

...I heard that ...is leaving Davis to go direct another residency program in 2011...I just dislike program instability...😕

Just to add a little bit of realism. Residencies are very much like college sports teams.

HS students accept scholarships at certain colleges often with an expectation for the "famous" coach to be there. Unfortunately, that fame makes for new opportunities and can result in coaches going elsewhere. There are no guarantees.

Residencies are the same. Often, a world famous PD has made a mark. Some will stay put their entire careers. Some will stay put for a decade at a time and continue to "bounce up" the academic ranks through changing institutions. Add to that the recent economics and future uncertainty of healthcare compensation. Many are considering getting a high paying gig for the next five or so years before that window potentially gets shut.

However, you do not want a program that rests too much on just a few renowned individuals. Even if they were planning to stick around for their entire careers, maybe they get hit by a car, struck by lightning, car-jacked, paralyzed skiing, have a stroke, etc... Like in college sports teams, the key is to look for an over all program. In general, a solid program will not have any significant "instability" with the depature of the PD.

Yes, great if there is that one person there that "might" be able to help you as you graduate. But, the over all caliber of the program is most important. Otherwise, you get a sense of betrayal as faculty turns over... which happens at just about every institution.

 

[winthug]

Frankly, that's unfortunate that he's leaving. UC Davis is a solid residency program but it doesn't hold a candle to any of the other California Gen Surgery residencies (UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, UCSD, etc.) in terms of fellowship match, case load, complexity, etc. I know a lot of people who chose UC Davis simply because they met Dr. G and thought he was the best guy in the world and that he would vouch for residents on everything and anything. That's probably the wrong reason to choose a school due to the reasons mentioned above, but people do it nevertheless.

 

[Lioness]

Placements for UC-Davis graduating Chiefs:

2008:
Surg Onc - MD Anderson
Plastics - UC-Davis
Colorectal - Mayo Clinic (Minnesota)
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis (x2)
Military placement - Landstuhl AFB, Germany
Trauma\Critical Care - Louisville
Private Practice - Boulder, CO
Endocrine - (sorry, forget where)
Vascular - U Wisconsin

2009:
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis
Surg Onc - John Wayne
Military placement - US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
Surg Onc - Moffitt
MIS - UC-Davis
CT Surgery - Texas Heart Institute
Peds Surg - U Washington\Seattle Children's

2010:
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis
Military placement - Lakenheath AFB, England
Trauma\Critical Care - OHSU
Vascular - U Utah
Transplant - U Wisconsin
Colorectal - Creighton
Plastics - UT-San Antonio

2011 (current chiefs):
Vascular - Emory
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis
Peds Surg - UT Houston
Peds Surg - Gainesville
Plastics - U Indiana
MIS - haven't heard where yet
1 in-the-works

Have to decide between general surgery at Boston University and UC Davis as interview dates conflict.

Does anyone know where residents who graduated from these two programs have gone in the recent past? (Boston posted a list from before 2006 http://www.bumc.bu.edu/generalsurgery/residency-training-program/graduates/) and UC Davis has not posted anything on the career plans of their alumni.

-UC Davis has slightly higher avg board pass rates than Boston Univ. over the last 5 years (100% vs. 91% on the written).

-UC Davis is however, losing their current program director in 2011 and they are also looking for a dept. chair.

-similar case volumes for graduating chiefs at both (900-1100 at Boston per website and 800-1000 at Davis per website)

-5 (Boston Univ) vs 8 categorical residents at UC Davis.

Besides the location factor (Sacramento vs. Boston), anyone have any insight on the training environment at these two programs?

Thanks!🙂

 

[vosswater]

Placements for UC-Davis graduating Chiefs:

2008:
Surg Onc - MD Anderson
Plastics - UC-Davis
Colorectal - Mayo Clinic (Minnesota)
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis (x2)
Military placement - Landstuhl AFB, Germany
Trauma\Critical Care - Louisville
Private Practice - Boulder, CO
Endocrine - (sorry, forget where)
Vascular - U Wisconsin

2009:
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis
Surg Onc - John Wayne
Military placement - US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
Surg Onc - Moffitt
MIS - UC-Davis
CT Surgery - Texas Heart Institute
Peds Surg - U Washington\Seattle Children's

2010:
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis
Military placement - Lakenheath AFB, England
Trauma\Critical Care - OHSU
Vascular - U Utah
Transplant - U Wisconsin
Colorectal - Creighton
Plastics - UT-San Antonio

2011 (current chiefs):
Vascular - Emory
Trauma\Critical Care - UC-Davis
Peds Surg - UT Houston
Peds Surg - Gainesville
Plastics - U Indiana
MIS - haven't heard where yet
1 in-the-works

Thank You so much for answering my original question! this list is impressive.

 

[Lioness]

Welcome 😀 Happy New Year!

Thank You so much for answering my original question! this list is impressive.