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As everyone is probably aware, I am a CA-1 here at Dartmouth. So, if ya have a few questions or want my opinion, just reply here.
Dartmouth Interviews?
- Thread starter OldManDave
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Hmmm...in the depths of winter you will be. Be sure to look me up. Most everyone knows who I am - at least in the gas dept...but you might ask for Dave or Dave Kelley in lieu of OldManDave. Not everyone here's knows my alter ego on SDN...LOL!JP2005 said:
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Overall caseload - quite heavy...in fact, we're in the latter stages of significantly expanding the number of OR & pre/post op services to deal with the volume. We just opened 4 new ORs (and man are they sweet! - I got to de-virginate the new vascular OR) & plan to serially close blocks of the older ones (I say "older", but the entire med center's facilities are only 12 years old) for remodeling.googled said:
Peds volume: sufficient to get the numbers you will need w/o having to bump elbows or compete w/ other residents to do so, but inadequate to support a peds anesth fellowship. However, DHMC is actively recruiting another peds GS because the expansion of current volume & demand for services. Due to proximity w/ Maine Med, Hasbro Children's (Providence, RI) & Boston Children's - we do not do, nor appear to be planning to start peds cardio surgery.
Transplant: Currently, DHMC only does renal transplants, but does quite a few of those. There are talks about adding additional transplant services, but that has not become a reality yet.
Cardio: Pretty damned impressive crew of CT cutters & being a tertiary referral center, we don't get too much of the garden variety CABGs. We tend to get the ones that fall apart in the cath lab or more than most want to take on. Two of our cutters do some pretty elobarate stuff in particular. And, we just added a non-cards thoracic surgeon to deal w/ the increasing volume of non-cards chest procedures.
All in all, especially for a facility significantly removed from a major metropolitan area, you will be most pleasantly surprised at the quantity & qaulity of your operative exposure here. Plus, if you're not fond of cities, you cannot beat this place in as far as lifestyle, friendly people & beauty.
As for me & my family...why were we attracted to this program? Well, I was seeking a high-volume, high-acuity, high-variety university-afilliated program in a small to med sized community. We both grew up in & have lived in large cities & no longer have any desire to live in one. So, as you might imagine, your list of options shrinks dramatically with that parameter. However, there are several good programs that fit that billing: Dartmouth, UFL, UVA, Penn St, URochester & VCU to name a couple off of the top of my head. But, we both love New England & the program here is superb! Personally, I would rate it in the top 20, maybe top 10 - but that is my opinion only. Furthermore, they offer the ability to undertake a co-residency in Leadership/Preventive Med where you add on a year earning an MPH & will be board eligible in Prevent Med. Plus, as I am interested in critical care med, they also offer a very strong ICU fellowship...all of this in a friendly, smallish community that is gorgeous & full of friendly people. Essentially everything we sought rolled into a single program.
The downsides of this area? Only 2 concrete things & 1 relative one come to mind.
Cost of housing - depending upon where you are from, housing prices & rent can be a Kodak moment.
Childcare - generally, the childcare that is here is of good quality, but it is spread very thin, esp if you have a child under 2 years. And, it can be quite expensive.
Winter - we love it, but it can be quite intense. What does bother us is the duration! It generally is pretty solidly winterish by mid-Nov & stays that way until April & can snow into late-April & May. But, if you love winter, or at least don't mind it, it is an awesome place to live. Summers are nice. Spring (mud season) is even better & fall is incredible.
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Winter is long & intense w/ lots of snow - ave annual is around 100 inches here...a smidgen more than FL, I suspect. But, if you learn how to appropriately dress for winter & adopt somoe outdoors winter activities, winter can be an absolute blast! Lots of skiing nearby (small family-run downhill run less than a mile from my house), both downhill & cross country. My wife & I have taken up snowshoeing - lots of fun!Gator05 said:
It is all in what you make of it!
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I look forward to seeing you in January. Dartmouth sounds like a great program in a family friendly environment. One of my upperclassmen matched there for g-surge this last year and loves it. See you in a few months.
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Zeffer said:
Zeffer,
Who might your upperclassman friend be?
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To be honest, I don't know. Those stats change annually & since I past that stage, was not a point of concern. I do know that they're only interviewing 75 or so applicants & that virtually all of those slots have been offered up to people, although there were still a few yet to respond/confirm an interview invite. I think we got circa 400 apps...
What do they look for? Generally, they look for a well-balanced applicant, with superb LORs, the ability to work hard & get along well with others who may be different than themselves & who they feel will fit well into our system & community at large. I know - pretty damned cliche answer...but it is the truth. I personally know that MD vs DO is not a factor for them. I think a truly elite program (as I feel Dartmouth is) can look beyond immaterial issues such as that. Of course, you couldn't throw a stick on SDN w/o hitting someone out there who will loudly disagree w/ that statement. But, it is my opinion, I'm entitled to it & I will stick w/ it! 😀 😍
What do they look for? Generally, they look for a well-balanced applicant, with superb LORs, the ability to work hard & get along well with others who may be different than themselves & who they feel will fit well into our system & community at large. I know - pretty damned cliche answer...but it is the truth. I personally know that MD vs DO is not a factor for them. I think a truly elite program (as I feel Dartmouth is) can look beyond immaterial issues such as that. Of course, you couldn't throw a stick on SDN w/o hitting someone out there who will loudly disagree w/ that statement. But, it is my opinion, I'm entitled to it & I will stick w/ it! 😀 😍
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googled said:
Yes, it varies on some years, but I believe that there are 4 PGY-1 slots & 3 or 4 PGY-2 slots. We just expanded our class size - mine is 8 people. However, I am uncertain if they will cont with 8/class or only 7/class - prior to my year, it was 6/class.
Research is certainly here if you want it. There are some well published people here: David Glass, Mark Yeager, Brian Sites, Joe Cravero, Gregg Hartman just to name a few. And, they are very amenable to folks undertaking one of the several Dartmouth affiliated research/masters degree in conjunction w/ your residency.
Be sure & ask about all of this when you interview. Personally, as I could not be less excited about bench research, I am not a good resource person to expound upon our research options. But, I am applying to undertake a co-residency in Leadership & Preventive Medicine where I will pick up a MPH from Dartmouth & have several emphasis options for the MPH - I plan to opt for Health Policy.
OMD
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I can tell you how useful my M.P.H. has been for me: 😴
