Chances for RadOnc in Ohio area?

[WashMe]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm interested in RadOnc, but geographically I'm 100% limited to programs in Ohio or adjacent states (family reasons)... I'm trying to get an idea for my chances as well as what I need to do to become more competitive.

-- Top 5 med school
-- Probably middle third, possibly top third OR bottom third class rank after basic sciences (12 H, 5 HP, 0 P)
-- Step I score: 252
-- 4 publications (1 first author), 1 national meeting poster, but all from undergrad and related to neuroscience
-- One summer of research during med school; no publications
-- No club participation, minimal volunteering
-- No contacts yet at home RadOnc dept
-- Just started clinical years; no grades received yet

Also, I'd like to hear some opinions about which programs are the best in the Ohio/Michigan/western PA/Indiana area. I'd consider Kentucky and West VA if necessary, but I'd like to be near the Ohio border...

 

[Neuronix]

If you're going to apply rad onc, throw your chips all in and apply all over. If you don't apply to at least 30 programs, you are crazy. It might work out that you get to go where you want, but in this field you better be prepared to match to wherever you get a spot.

 

[hot sauce]

You are in a bit of a bind as Neuronix said even with a strong application it is difficult to be assured a spot in any particular geographic area in rad onc right now.

I see your sig suggests you are considering a couple other fields and while I am partial to radiation oncology if you really have to stay in the Ohio area I believe you would be safer applying to one of those fields. Of course you can always apply to more than one field but that can be tricky as people will wonder why you have rad onc research at a psych interview for example. And no one likes to be a backup field. If you are applying to rad onc strictly in the area you mentioned be aware that you are increasing the chance that you will not match. Only you can know if it is worth that risk.

As far as improving your application you should get some medical school research experience for your application (preferably in radiation oncology) and start making connections at your home program. Obviously get good grades in your clinical rotations. You may also want to be careful how much you share your need to stay in Ohio area when interview season comes around (and on your statement). It is one thing to say I really want to stay in this area for XYZ reason but another to say I'm going to go to another field if I can't match to a program in Ohio as that suggests you aren't committed to the field and many will frown on that.

Hope I wasn't too negative as if you really want to do radiation oncology you should have a strong application if you get some rad onc research in.

 

[thesauce]

I'm a Midwesterner who went to med school in Ohio and is doing residency. I think your stats and others stuff is pretty good.

In terms of programs, you are in luck that there are a lot of programs that meet your geograpic constrains, here is my take on the programs that meet your requirements, in no particular order:

1. Beaumont- my home program, obviously biased but I think one of the top 10 programs in the country. Excellent nationally recognized mentors in multiple subsites, lots of research opps, clinical training in everything from gamma knife to HDR to state of the art IGRT.
2. University of Michigan- powerhouse program with great faculty and reserach opps
3. Henry Ford- Strong chair in Dr. Movsas, residents seem happy
4. Wayne/DMC- Changing dynamic with Dr. Konski as new chair over past 2 years. Good volume including peds.
5. Cinci- Strong clinical training, not sure about research opps
6. Case- dont know much about this program
7. Cleveland Clinic- I have heard this is an excellent training program with strong education/didactics, lots of potential research, and good mentorship available
8. IU- Strong clinical program. This program was in a state of changing faculty when I visited a few years ago, not sure what is going on now
9. Pitt- I have only heard good things about this program. Strong Gamma Knife center and clinical training. I think Simul could obviously tell you more.
10. Kentucky- don't know much about this program, from what i remember it is not part of the match

Case is a solid program. They have a new cancer center with great technology, volume, and research. They may be low on support staff at the moment, but residents are very well trained and seem to have great employment opportunities after graduation.

Ohio State is another program in that region. I know very little about them except that their rejection letter is very pleasant.

Kentucky is now part of the match, although they didn't fill during my application cycle.

I interviewed at most of these programs and agree with the above post. Also, I would refer the OP to the "interview impressions" and "rankings" threads.

If the OP is going to have a geographical preference, this is not a bad one to have. I would say that if he/she is TRULY limited to that region, then he should go ahead and put it in his personal statement as it will probably net him a few more interviews there. He/she has a strong application and with a few away rotations in that region should be able to pull something off, IMO.

 

[stankem]

Hey fellow midwesterner here. If you have to be geographically tied to a place that might be one of the better ones. Solid programs/no one wants to live there. I think Roswell Park in Buffalo should be another one on your list - less than three hour drive to Cleveland. I thought Case was great, though maybe not as didactically well structured as some others. They somehow did not fill in the match this year which I thought was shocking. Their new cancer center is tits.
Cleveland Clinic, Michigan and Beaumont are obvious great programs.
You've got a great shot - doing aways at the smaller programs in that locale with your school name + pubs means your golden.

 

[LasersPewPew]

My advice would be to apply widely and then be picky after you get interviews.

 

[BraggPeak]

If you want to go to Ohio, you've got a good job. Not a typically desirable place but they have four programs, so they all probably go down on their rank list to a certain extent. Do aways and you'll be fine, assuming they like.
Ohio state is good now that they have a new chair and they are trying to build up the program. Cincinnati is strong clinically, nto that strong for research. Case is much better now that Machtay is the chair. Clinic is used to be the best program in ohio, but i think this may change with the new chairs at case and at ohio state. Chair at Ohio State managed to get 100 million in grant money from obama administration just for the rad onc department and the ohio state cancer center has a lot of money to begin with.

I would rotate at a couple of those to try to 'guarantee' the interview. You have a good shot!

 

[WashMe]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I'm sorry it's taken a while for me to respond; I'm on my surgery clerkship right now so I've been reading SDN but I haven't had much time to post. I like the idea -- as some have suggested -- of applying very broadly in RadOnc and applying more narrowly in my second-choice field (probably anesthesiology), then being selective after my interviews are finished. I might be able to make it work if I can get a RadOnc spot within a 7-9 hour drive of Ohio, but I wouldn't take an anesthesiology spot beyond about a 4-hour drive... and there's no reason I shouldn't be able to pull down an Ohio gas spot (since I'm not worried about going to a "prestigious" program).