Duke Family Med Residency Program CLOSING

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TommyGunn04

TommyGunn04

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Here's a local news article about Duke's Family Medicine residency program closing:

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/445442.html

I can't say I'm surprised given all the negative things I've heard over the past few years. Still, it's sad that things seemingly couldn't be worked out. I think it's a bit extreme to just close the program, but I guess it was really THAT bad. From what I've heard, people weren't choosing to apply/match there because of all the negative things that've been said about the program director and the negative atmosphere she created (see SCUTwork.com and do a search here on SDN for some examples). Why couldn't they just replace her, and maybe a few others, and try to make things better??? I wonder if maybe the ACGME forced their hand after the awful letters those former residents sent in (as seen on SCUTwork).

Anyone else have any insight/opinions?
 
Nah, just kidding. I'm thinking about what I want to say about it and I ask your indulgence as I will probably post something on my blog shortly.

I will note that everybody, including the OP, the faculty, and the Chairman are taking the position that it was somehow the resident's (both current and former) fault which is typical.
 
TommyGunn04 said:
Here's a local news article about Duke's Family Medicine residency program closing:

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/445442.html

I can't say I'm surprised given all the negative things I've heard over the past few years. Still, it's sad that things seemingly couldn't be worked out. I think it's a bit extreme to just close the program, but I guess it was really THAT bad. From what I've heard, people weren't choosing to apply/match there because of all the negative things that've been said about the program director and the negative atmosphere she created (see SCUTwork.com and do a search here on SDN for some examples). Why couldn't they just replace her, and maybe a few others, and try to make things better??? I wonder if maybe the ACGME forced their hand after the awful letters those former residents sent in (as seen on SCUTwork).

Anyone else have any insight/opinions?
Click to expand...

They did replace the program director. The new one had been working hard to fix things and I believe the announcement caught him by surprise too.
 
Panda Bear said:
I will note that everybody, including the OP, the faculty, and the Chairman are taking the position that it was somehow the resident's (both current and former) fault which is typical.
Click to expand...

whoa there...I don't blame the residents! (and I'm not sure what gave you that idea) Actually, given what I've heard directly from some of them, I'm much more inclined to think it's the old PD's fault, and also due to the way FP residents are treated on other services like OB and surgery, which I've witnessed firsthand. It's a tough program to run at such a specialized hospital. But in no way do I blame the residents! Sheesh... 🙄
 
If you read Dr. Michener's explanation of the reasons for closing the program, parsing carefully you will discover that the residents were providing inconsistent care to the patients and closing the program was the only way to stop the insanity.

This is typical. Although every other program at Duke has continuity clinics where the patients recieve the same kind of "inconsistent" care from residents who have large blocks of their time dedicated to inpatient rotations, this is only a problem at Family Medicine. I guess they have to burn the village to save it.

The truth is that until a few years ago Duke was a well respected program which, although effected by the general decline in popularity of Family Medicine, always managed to fill its quota in the match (although to be fair the program was shrinking, going from 18 residents per class in the seventies to six when I signed on). It was the implementation of Dr. Michener's nightmarish vision of Commuity Medicine which sank the program, beginning several years ago when almost a third of the residents either quit in disgust or were driven away.

You'd think that this would have given someone pause but apparently the reaction was "good riddance" and the program continued towards the iceberg which it hit two weeks ago. And, to continue the metaphor, the deck chairs were being re-arranged while the program sank as numerous Task Forces, working groups, and committees were set up to explore such vital things like a new form to evaluate the preceptors and all other manners of beauracratic foolishness.

Do I care? Yes and no. Like I said, it bothers me that the new program director has been treated so shabbily. He's a good man, very resident-oriented, and he deserves better. Like many of the residents, he moved his family a great distance to accept the position and now he's got to look for antother job, something he had probably not counted on doing. I also feel bad for my collegues who wanted to stay but are now faced with the difficult choice of staying and risking graduating from a non-accredited program or pulling up stakes and finding new positions.

Did I get good training at Duke? Of course I did. There is nothing wrong with the fmaily medicine clinic, at least from my point of view, and I think I got excellent precepting. It goes without saying that the training on the off-service rotations is exceptional.
 
Sad.

As I begin residency at a program I respect very much - and has filled their spots every year for forever - it's a little chilling to think that in a few short years it also could spiral out of control and dissappear into oblivion.

Guess it just takes one or two punks to destroy something great.
 
secretwave101 said:
Sad.

As I begin residency at a program I respect very much - and has filled their spots every year for forever - it's a little chilling to think that in a few short years it also could spiral out of control and dissappear into oblivion.

Guess it just takes one or two punks to destroy something great.
Click to expand...

No no no. The program was destroyed by the administration, not a couple of people posting on the internet. That's what I mean about the program blaming the residents. They're just looking for easy scapegoats to avoid facing up to the fact that "community medicine" has been a disaster. Don't forget that eight out of 18 residents quit over the last two years and two of the interns left this year.

Just watch for the signs that your program is marginalizing the residents at the expense of the mid-level providors. You should be all right as most programs view the education of physicians as there priority and not an inconvenient side-line that interferes with the political goals of the program.
 
Okayyyy...Im confused, why the hell is community medicine a disaster? Did the residents kill people? This sounds intriguing....is there a racial component, like all the sudden the matches were f.o.b's deep in the South?

Interesting....
 
LADoc00 said:
Okayyyy...Im confused, why the hell is community medicine a disaster? Did the residents kill people? This sounds intriguing....is there a racial component, like all the sudden the matches were f.o.b's deep in the South?

Interesting....
Click to expand...

All will be explained. Keep checking my blog. I am about ready to burn the mother down.

Well, not really. But I am going to give my opinion on a few things.
 
Panda Bear said:
All will be explained. Keep checking my blog. I am about ready to burn the mother down.

Well, not really. But I am going to give my opinion on a few things.
Click to expand...
You keep saying this, but never deliver. It's pretty much all I can do to even remain remotely interested in an FP program's demise. Personally, I don't know why they don't just shut all of them down and let the nurses be the official gatekeepers.

But if you're going to keep promising this "explanation" at least deliver on it soon before I die of boredom.
 
sophiejane said:
Let's all collectively agree not to feed the troll.
Click to expand...
Disgruntled osteopath?
 
jrisley said:
You keep saying this, but never deliver. It's pretty much all I can do to even remain remotely interested in an FP program's demise. Personally, I don't know why they don't just shut all of them down and let the nurses be the official gatekeepers.

But if you're going to keep promising this "explanation" at least deliver on it soon before I die of boredom.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm moving in a week. I love SDN and it and my blog are my only hobbies but I am swamped. I ask for your patience.
 
We have a PGY2 position available for Family Medicine at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. Position became available May 2006. Both community and university components to our program. Excellent group of residents to work and socialize with in a beautiful city! Please email me if interested. Check out our website www.mc.uky.edu/familymedicine

Karla Groves, MD
FM Chief Resident
[email protected]
 
I for one am sad to see the FP program go. Years ago, I received EXCELLENT care by the FP residents there while receiving treatment for an illness that almost killed me.🙁
 
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