Community in home state vs Academic OOS program

[2ndmed15]

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At this point, I'm not sure if I want to be a generalist or pursue fellowship (maybe urogyn? MIS? But who knows!), but I'd like to keep my options open. Most of the programs on my rank list are academic for that reason, in case I end up wanting to do a fellowship... but there are 2 programs I can't decide how to rank them.

1. Academic program with fellowships in a kind of random state, with no family/friend connections.
2. Community program in my home state. Great clinical exposure (high volume). Despite the small resident class size, they seem to have good fellowship placement in recent years.

That being said, I loved BOTH programs. The residents and program directors were really great. I could see myself going to either program, I felt like I fit in at both places. I just wasn't as keen with the place the academic program was located.

Here are my questions:

1. How important is it exactly to go to a strictly academic program for fellowship?
2. Did anyone here regret going to a community program or felt like they had more difficulty coming from a community program applying for fellowship?
3. If I attended the OOS academic program, how difficult would it be to get a job back in my home state?

(PS: I apologize about the vagueness of my post, I'd prefer to keep anonymous if possible)

 

[dabeags]

At this point, I'm not sure if I want to be a generalist or pursue fellowship (maybe urogyn? MIS? But who knows!), but I'd like to keep my options open. Most of the programs on my rank list are academic for that reason, in case I end up wanting to do a fellowship... but there are 2 programs I can't decide how to rank them.

1. Academic program with fellowships in a kind of random state, with no family/friend connections.
2. Community program in my home state. Great clinical exposure (high volume). Despite the small resident class size, they seem to have good fellowship placement in recent years.

That being said, I loved BOTH programs. The residents and program directors were really great. I could see myself going to either program, I felt like I fit in at both places. I just wasn't as keen with the place the academic program was located.

Here are my questions:

1. How important is it exactly to go to a strictly academic program for fellowship?
2. Did anyone here regret going to a community program or felt like they had more difficulty coming from a community program applying for fellowship?
3. If I attended the OOS academic program, how difficult would it be to get a job back in my home state?

(PS: I apologize about the vagueness of my post, I'd prefer to keep anonymous if possible)

I think if you read the pinned thread about fellowship advice there is a big writeup from a resident that matched into fellowship from a community program. Generally I think the advice is that it can be done, but you will have to work a bit harder at building connections and doing research and such. Basically you will have to set out yourself to do the stuff that would otherwise be included in an academic program.

What your home state is and where the OOS academic program probably make a difference on how easy it would be to get back to your home state for work. If your home state is on the the coasts and your OOS academic program is in the Midwest, it could get dicey. If it is the other way around then you would probably be fine.

Link - http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/ob-gyn-fellowship-advice.1040326/

 

[2ndmed15]

Thanks for your reply, I did read that pinned thread on fellowship advice. I guess I was wondering if anyone had any advice for someone who was undecided (fellowship vs. generalist) and for someone who was torn about location vs. academic.

If your home state is on the the coasts and your OOS academic program is in the Midwest, it could get dicey.

Yes, this is essentially the case... which is why I'm worried if I end up being a generalist and want to come back to my home state, it will be difficult not having any connections (and the academic program isn't a huge name).

 

[anonperson]

At this point, I'm not sure if I want to be a generalist or pursue fellowship (maybe urogyn? MIS? But who knows!), but I'd like to keep my options open. Most of the programs on my rank list are academic for that reason, in case I end up wanting to do a fellowship... but there are 2 programs I can't decide how to rank them.

1. Academic program with fellowships in a kind of random state, with no family/friend connections.
2. Community program in my home state. Great clinical exposure (high volume). Despite the small resident class size, they seem to have good fellowship placement in recent years.

That being said, I loved BOTH programs. The residents and program directors were really great. I could see myself going to either program, I felt like I fit in at both places. I just wasn't as keen with the place the academic program was located.

Here are my questions:

1. How important is it exactly to go to a strictly academic program for fellowship?
2. Did anyone here regret going to a community program or felt like they had more difficulty coming from a community program applying for fellowship?
3. If I attended the OOS academic program, how difficult would it be to get a job back in my home state?

(PS: I apologize about the vagueness of my post, I'd prefer to keep anonymous if possible)

1. Depends on the fellowship. For Gyn Onc and REI, it is nearly mandatory to be at an academic program.
2. I went to a community program for a variety of reasons but have a more academic/research oriented background. I felt a little out of place at my program initially but they trained me well and I learned a ton. Fellowship matching will always be more difficult from a community program.
3. Depends on the location you want to come back to. Getting a job as an OB GYN isn't too difficult due to the high stakes nature of the job, early retirement, physician burn out etc. Again, this is location dependent though.

If you want to PM me with the specific program, you can. I can give my thoughts on how "good"/known of a program it is. I don't care if you do or don't though.