Difficulty getting in touch with a program

[jellybelly8]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Has anyone had trouble getting in touch with the faculty at UT Southwestern? Two weeks ago I emailed the PD several questions and she responded to all but one of them. Since that one question is kind of a deciding factor for me choosing a program I decided to email the assistant PD and also ask the program coordinator for some of the residents’ email addresses. I have not heard back from the assistant PD or the PC and it’s been nearly 2 weeks. I managed to scrounge up one of the resident’s email and no response from him either. I was just wondering if anyone else has had trouble getting in touch with them.


Also, would you not rank a program highly based on this? I feel like if it is hard to get answers from the dept now, then how would it be any different if I were to match there? Or maybe they are not ranking me and therefore do not feel the need to answer me. I am disappointed bc I was pretty impressed with the place and wanted to rank it very highly.



Any thoughts/opinions on this subject are much appreciated.

 

[JacobMcCandles]

That's tough to say. On one hand, you know how busy they are and how valuable their time is but on the other hand, they're the ones in charge of the program so you'd think they'd be obligated (or at least want) to answer questions and concerns for potential applicants. It wouldn't be unheard of if the people you emailed saw your email but didn't have the time to respond right then and forgot about it when they did have the time to respond.

I'd probably have sent the PD another email. I've sent several emails with questions to my top program and the PD has been extremely nice and quick with his replies. That kind of welcoming feeling only adds to my ambition to train there.

 

[jellybelly8]

I thought the same thing...it's not unheard of for someone to just forget to reply to the email later on. But all three, the assistant PD, the Program Coordinator and a resident....that seems almost intentional.

And I definitely am looking more favorably towards the programs that called me up or emailed me immediately after I emailed them - or at least had the decency to respond at all. I just hate that now I am so deflated bc of this. I was so pumped about them after I interviewed.

 

[blackavar]

Honestly, I think you're reading too much into it. EMPs are no different then other people, some are great with email and others are notoriously bad with it. With that in mind, the fact that they responded to one email, but not another likely has nothing to do with their view of you and how they're ranking you.

As to whether or not you should rank the program lower, remember it is to your DISADVANTAGE to rank a program lower on your list because "you don't think you're high on their match list." (Here's a reminder of how the algorithm works: http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/about_res/algorithms.html). The take home point from that explanation is that you should ALWAYS rank the programs in the order of desirability to you.

Great communication and quick responses from programs don't necessarily equal definite match, just as lack of communication or expression of interest don't necessarily equate a lack of interest in you. I think you're better off trusting your initial feelings based off your interview experience, as that's a much larger pool of info then a few emails that didn't get responded to.

If you really have a single question that is limiting how you ultimately are going to rank a program and you aren't getting responses to your emails, I would recommend calling the PC or the department and asking to speak with someone about the issue. It's good practice, as future EP you're going to spend plenty of time on the telephone anyways!

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

Hey guys--

I heard through a very reliable source that Mike Wainscott, the PD at UT-SW, passed away recently. I imagine that this is why the others have been slow to respond, and would not let this affect your opinion of the program or try to infer from it their opinion of you.

I only knew Dr. Wainscott by his outstanding reputation as an EM educator and would fully expect that the strong residency that he helped to create at UT-SW will continue as his legacy. His obituary can be seen here for those who are interested: http://www.legacy.com/link.asp?i=ls000155828674.

 

[Apollyon]

Hey guys--

I heard through a very reliable source that Mike Wainscott, the PD at UT-SW, passed away recently.

His obituary can be seen here for those who are interested: http://www.legacy.com/link.asp?i=ls000155828674.

These are discontinuous - referring to "a very reliable source" is secretive, unless you refer to all legitimate publishing sources as "very reliable sources", which is a bit peculiar.

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

These are discontinuous - referring to "a very reliable source" is secretive, unless you refer to all legitimate publishing sources as "very reliable sources", which is a bit peculiar.

I was actually referring to an email from colleague. That email contained the obituary link. Not trying to be secretive, and actually hesitated to post since I didn't personally know Dr. Wainscott nor do I have a personal connection to the program. But I didn't want applicants to read too much into this situation or cause them to view the program in a negative light due to the understandable delays in responding.

 

[gutonc]

I was actually referring to an email from colleague. That email contained the obituary link. Not trying to be secretive, and actually hesitated to post since I didn't personally know Dr. Wainscott nor do I have a personal connection to the program. But I didn't want applicants to read too much into this situation or cause them to view the program in a negative light due to the understandable delays in responding.

Don't sweat it. Apollyon's unemployed right now and has nothing better to do than bust balls on the intertron.

 

[Apollyon]

Don't sweat it. Apollyon's unemployed right now and has nothing better to do than bust balls on the intertron.

I'm just as much of a dick when I'm working.

 

[Apollyon]

In my defense to the above rib, though, I did get credentialing paperwork today for a temporary gig to commence soon.

 

[gutonc]

I'm just as much of a dick when I'm working.

Oh...I know that. You just have more time to do it while you're unemployed. Congrats on the new gig though.

 

[WilcoWorld]

I'm just as much of a dick when I'm working.

kudos

 

[Dr.Acula]

It's not really a secret. TCEP sent out an email about it to everyone a few days ago. T&P to the Wainscott family, but I hardly think that's the reason why the OP hasn't had his emails responded to.