DUKE vs UNC

[doctormom18]

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I've done the interviews and got the details on these programs, but I'm interested to hear what kind of feel anyone has gotten from the program. On rotation at UNC, they actually seem more intense and the residents not as freindly. On rotation at Duke, they seem more laid-back and actually happier. I also like that the shifts are 7-5 for days and 5-7 for nights.

 

[UFPatch16]

I interview at both and was actually told by a resident at UNC not to go there because she had zero support from her department to help develop her fellowship application.
I also felt the residents at UNC talked a lot about how scared they were, how they would call for help etc. AKA not competent or like they were gaining autonomy in residency.

At Duke they were definitely more cynical at my interview, at times inappropriate/unprofessional but I guess that happens to everyone in residency?? hope not..
They definitely had better subspecialty opportunities, better research opps, more well known faculty, etc. I have also been getting much more follow up from Duke than UNC in regards to letters/emails/thank you notes suggesting a bit more effort on the part of the PD and APDs to make the residents happy/good. Overall I am not ranking UNC, but will rank Duke. Hope that was helpful.. and again just my impression I'm sure there are residents at each program that are very happy, you just have to find the program that is right for you.

 

[Thorzuul]

As a medical student, I met a 2nd year resident that had matched to UNC and transferred out after her intern year... pretty much sum up her description of UNC as "malignant." Obviously her viewpoint must be taken with a grain of salt. She felt fellows were too involved, writing/changing orders without telling the intern, so when rounds came around, she looked clueless on her presentations. She described the program as having a very strong hierarchy. Attendings didn't seem to care much about interns except when they messed up. She felt she was not the only one very upset at the program her intern year.

I also met a med-peds trained, program director... recommended UNC for med-peds, but NOT peds only.

Close friend interviewed at UNC, ranked them highly... so it really depends who you ask.

 

[ZekeMD]

As a medical student, I met a 2nd year resident that had matched to UNC and transferred out after her intern year... pretty much sum up her description of UNC as "malignant." Obviously her viewpoint must be taken with a grain of salt. She felt fellows were too involved, writing/changing orders without telling the intern, so when rounds came around, she looked clueless on her presentations. She described the program as having a very strong hierarchy. Attendings didn't seem to care much about interns except when they messed up. She felt she was not the only one very upset at the program her intern year.

I also met a med-peds trained, program director... recommended UNC for med-peds, but NOT peds only.

Close friend interviewed at UNC, ranked them highly... so it really depends who you ask.

I am actually a resident at UNC who is currently finishing and I disagree with just about everything above. I know the person you mentioned above who transferred out after her intern year and there is more to the story than you are telling. To the best of my knowledge, that person was asked to repeat her intern year (because of lack of knowledge and poor performance). She did not want to do that and somehow managed to transfer up north and enter as a second year resident. We then heard that she was bad-mouthing the program at UNC as applicants came through.

When you say "malignant," yes we work hard, but we also receive excellent training. I feel completely confident going into fellowship and we have had an excellent fellowship match this year with everyone matching at their top choice. I enjoy the people I work with and have a good relationship with attendings.

So say what you want about UNC, and if you end up not ranking it, that will be your loss.

 

[Sweet Tea]

UNC>>>> Dook.






Oh wait, we're not talking about basketball.

 

[Swiper]

As a medical student, I met a 2nd year resident that had matched to UNC and transferred out after her intern year... pretty much sum up her description of UNC as "malignant." Obviously her viewpoint must be taken with a grain of salt. She felt fellows were too involved, writing/changing orders without telling the intern, so when rounds came around, she looked clueless on her presentations. She described the program as having a very strong hierarchy. Attendings didn't seem to care much about interns except when they messed up. She felt she was not the only one very upset at the program her intern year.

I also met a med-peds trained, program director... recommended UNC for med-peds, but NOT peds only.

Close friend interviewed at UNC, ranked them highly... so it really depends who you ask.

Thorzuul, this doesn't sound very upset 2/3 of the way through intern year:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=7688629#post7688629

I've been exposed to both programs extensively, and there are pros/cons for both. OP, as you're probably aware Duke and UNC have very different personalities. You have to go with the best fit for you.

 

[Thorzuul]

Thorzuul, this doesn't sound very upset 2/3 of the way through intern year:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=7688629#post7688629

I've been exposed to both programs extensively, and there are pros/cons for both. OP, as you're probably aware Duke and UNC have very different personalities. You have to go with the best fit for you.

Shrug, I'm just reporting the opinions of people I've met about the program, hence how I mentioned that some opinions must be taken with a "grain of salt." Its not everyday that you meet someone who transfers out of a program, and obviously none of us here is going to know the entire details as to why. I'm just reporting as I hear'em, everyone is free to make their own interpretation.

 

[DickyV]

I interviewed at and liked both, but preferred UNC, as I think it was just a better fit for my personality. Everyone seemed a bit more outgoing and friendly at UNC (and I've always rooted for the 'Heels over the Blue Devils).

I will say that one of the UNC residents did point out that Duke might be a better place to go if you know you want to do a fellowship, but I recall a rather good percentage of graduates going on to do fellowship training.

 

[RinRin]

I can't speak for UNC as I have no experience there, but I will say that the Duke residents are very friendly, laid-back and supportive of each other. The faculty at Duke are also very supportive of the residents' learning and balancing that with patient care.