Colorado vs. Oklahoma

Colorado. Location. Family nearby. My home state. Skiing for my husband and children to do. Easier work relocation for my husband (he's certified in the state of CO). Also they have a new cancer research facility, and at this point cancer is a big interest of mine. The rotation sites are really good (I worked as a paramedic around Denver for a few years).

I know nothing about Oklahoma, so the decision is pretty simple for me. Anyone care to give an Oklahoma viewpoint?

 

Colorado!! The school is ranked 30th by US News, 11th for primary care. Great weather, great location, nice people, brand new facilities, great research, etc... I don't know anything about Oklahoma, but I know that students here are very happy.

 

CU all the way!! Go Buffs!!

 

I've read in more than one source that colorado's out-of-state tuition is $69,000 Thats a typo, right?

 

Ahhh, that makes sense.

 

I recently moved to Oklahoma City were I work as a paramedic. I've have heard both good and bad things about OU COM. I don't know much about the med school but, I can comment on the OU Medical Center and it's physicians. Please take into account my profession tends to be based mostly on the EM aspect since these are the ppl I work with on a daily basis.

OU Medical Center is a large sprawling complex which is constantly under renovation. OUMC recently open a new 50+ bed ER which consolidated the 'Trauma' Center and the Medical Center. The OUMC Children's hospital will also be consolidated soon. At one point OU Medical center was three separate hospitals ('towers'). The word trauma is put in put in half quotes b/c that is what the hospital claims to be. The trauma system in Oklahoma is in its infancy at best (I consider it to be a neonate ) OUMC declared themselves to be a level one trauma center but has sense lost it's EM residency program due to "lack of ER visits". The reason they have a lack of ER visits is because they are constantly diverting EMS units to other hospitals in the metro. This problem has not been as severe lately since the opening of the new, larger ER. I here they are working on getting to EM residency back. Another thing about the trauma center is they do not have the ability to take level one isolated neuro injuries i.e. GSW to the head, or low level fall with ALOC and neuromotor changes. These trauma's must be diverted to the on call level two trauma center for the day. Its all very confusing and frusterating for EMS personel. OUMC ER residents in the trauma side treat EMS personel like sub-human fecal matter. The general surgery residents in the ER think they are better than everyone else.

I would write more about OUMC but, I have worked myself into a sour mood because I have to go to work later and deal with this mess. Sorry for the ranting.

On another note: My wife is an NP and works for a OUCOM grad and he is a very nice, competent MD. I do know several OUCOM grads and they are very good docs... BTW Ok State COM (D.O.) has an EM residency program at Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) in OKC and I consider it to be the best ER in the Metro. I hope to be a resident at SWMC ED as a D.O. in the not so distant future.

Good Luck

 

Dang. Oklahoma's messed up. Denver's system is a bit better: DG (oops, this should be "Denver Health" but it'll always be DG to me) is the top level 1. Period. CU, Swedish, and St. Anthony's Central (as we call it "Holy Tony's") used to be level 1, and still operate as level 1. I think Swedish and holy tony's went back to their level 1 status - there's more than enough trauma to go around and Denver is growing at an alarming rate. No level 1 diverts major trauma. Period. CU never diverts burns. There are a few other things that never (ever) go on divert. I remember more than once taking in an altered trauma and having the neurosurgeon opening the back door to my ambulance... the residents and attendings at all the Denver hospitals are very helpful, want to share information (with the medics at least), and have been good teachers in my opinion. When a really good case shows up, DG calls in their ambulance crews one by one to have them look at it. And I've been held at DG more than once because the neuro team wanted to talk to me regarding LOC because the pt got sedated and intubated. Same thing with CU. And all medical personnel, regardless of levels, are encouraged to go to all training. I've had many classes with docs, nurses, medics, etc... all working together. It's pretty darn cool.

I think the bottom line with the Denver hospitals is if you prove yourself competent, they will absolutely teach you. If you prove yourself incompetent and unable to ask for help, they'll treat you as such.

OK... Now can I *PLEASE* have an interview from CU??!!?!? My own state school!??!?!

 

Do not worry about this issue if you are a current applicant. Although they have been telling every class for a few years that they will move to Fitzsimons, the new education building has not even begun construction yet; it is scheduled to be completed in 2008.

The Class of 2010 will almost certainly stay at 9th and Colorado and not have classes at Fitz during years 1 and 2, unless a miracle happens, so you will not be split between campuses. This issue is really not a problem for current MS1 and MS2 students. For years 3 and 4, you will be rotating all over the city and state, as has always been the case.

 

if all things were equal, i'd probably pick colorado. it's got a better reputation (don't know how much that matters), and it's in denver. oklahoma city's not exactly a cool and thriving city.

 

Would you give the same advice today?

 

Good god, yes! Oklahoma City has not won me over -- in fact, I like it less than I thought I would.

 

i'm gonna say Oklahoma. Because i want your seat at CU.

Where do you live, btw? It's my state school too.