Does fellowship prestige matter?

[klumpke]

Curious if you all who have been out for a while even know what the top programs are for training these days?

Do you think the program prestige matters for finding a job post fellowship? What do you think is more important for finding a job in a specific region, fellowship prestige or location/connections?

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[BoardingDoc]

Curious if you all who have been out for a while even know what the top programs are for training these days?

Do you think the program prestige matters for finding a job post fellowship? What do you think is more important for finding a job in a specific region, fellowship prestige or location/connections?

Like almost every other specialty, the connections you make during training can obviously help you find a job but that's true of every program.

There may be niche cases where a certain job, possibly in large academic centers, will prefer a candidate who trained at another large name academic institution.

All of that said, it won't matter in 95+% of cases as long as you seem competent and don't act like a serial killer during any interviews.

 

[Agast]

For fun, you can follow the KOL bios on LinkedIn and see where they trained at. Some of them never did ACGME fellowship. So does it matter to your income earning potential? The only barrier is a sense of shame or lack thereof.

 

[mdo1738]

Prestige is essentially meaningless, unless you are seeking an Ivory Tower academic job (which, having done fellowship at such a place, are generally bad jobs).

 

[RoloTomassi]

It matters to some patients. Depends on your patient demographic. Had one patient see me then switch to my partner because he had a "better pedigree". I'm sure he's not the only one.

To that end, it matters to us to an extent when we interview, as it's marketable, and it's a high competition market. If two applicants are similar in personality, skill set, etc, it can be a differentiator.

 

[klumpke]

It matters to some patients. Depends on your patient demographic. Had one patient see me then switch to my partner because he had a "better pedigree". I'm sure he's not the only one.

To that end, it matters to us to an extent when we interview, as it's marketable, and it's a high competition market. If two applicants are similar in personality, skill set, etc, it can be a differentiator.

Then in that line would it be better to do a fellowship at a place with lay prestige like Columbia over one with prestige within the field like Rush?

 

[BobBarker]

No, it doesn’t matter at all in private practice or working for the hospital.

 

[RoloTomassi]

Then in that line would it be better to do a fellowship at a place with lay prestige like Columbia over one with prestige within the field like Rush?

I would still go wherever you get better training.

 

[Status Sciaticus]

For fun, you can follow the KOL bios on LinkedIn and see where they trained at. Some of them never did ACGME fellowship. So does it matter to your income earning potential? The only barrier is a sense of shame or lack thereof.

tell us 🙂
which KOL didnt do a pain fellowship?

 

[BobBarker]

Kasra is a fm doc.

 

[SpineandWine]

tell us 🙂
which KOL didnt do a pain fellowship?

Tim deer

 

[SpineandWine]

No prestige don’t matter
Most people can’t tell difference between DO or MD
They don’t even know if PA is a doc or not at times

 

[TIVAndy]

it's not a deal breaker but in a competitive market it may open some doors for you. I occasionally get patients commenting on my pedigree. if that's important for the patient in selecting who to see it does give you a small competitive edge. but once you are established with good reputation it won't matter in a grand scheme of things.

 

[clubdeac]

If patients call their PA primary care provider doctor, which all of mine do, then I don’t think they care where you did your fellowship

 

[SSdoc33]

Ha.

No.

 

[Orin]

Relationships matter. It is harder to get a good job when your faculty don't have relationships in your target region or work type.

Patients care about brand to an extent, but they don't know the best pain programs. They're ranking is based on basketball/football/Ivy/overall reputation/etc.

 

[cowboydoc]

It matters to some patients. Depends on your patient demographic. Had one patient see me then switch to my partner because he had a "better pedigree". I'm sure he's not the only one.

Sounds like a great PIA patient filter. My Stanford colleague can have ALL those patients!

 

[Painologist]

I believe fellowship prestige does matter. It's not about their name, but their reputation for producing high quality, efficient, and skilled physicians. For example, many big name fellowships provide poor procedural experience, while some lesser known ones may have great procedural experience. Procedural experience and reps, as well as efficiency is the most important. I'm looking to hire another physician soon for my practice, and I will definitely be selective regarding fellowship credentials.

 

[painquestions8989]

Then in that line would it be better to do a fellowship at a place with lay prestige like Columbia over one with prestige within the field like Rush?

Shots fired at Columbia!

 

[DrSpine]

The worst Pain Doctor I ever worked with trained at a big time prominent institution. He sucked at everything in life.

 

[Agast]

It doesn’t matter how prestigious the pain doctor you have when you are stuck seeing their NP who graduated from Hollywood Upstairs School of Online Nursing