I loved both of these programs--would like to hear how everyone thinks they compare. Both seemed strong in cardiac and ICU. I got the impression WashU may be stronger in peds and Duke stronger in regional. What do you think?
Duke vs. WashU
- Thread starter Cathyran
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2007
- Messages
- 4,831
- Reaction score
- 3,250
Duke certainly has a strong regional program.
WashU is really strong in it's offerings of a free zoo - and it is an excellent zoo at that. Also, WashU offers a town with phenomenal ice cream (Ted Drewes is amazing). In addition, WashU has an arch in it's town. Finally, there are river boat casino's in the WashU town. These things I mentioned are important facts when deciding where to go.
Also, I'm not sure the size of cockroaches in Duke's town, but if you like big ones, WashU has those as well.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
- 324
- Reaction score
- 28
At Duke, aside from obviously superb training, you would also be indoctrinated into the most reviled fan base in the history of sports. NO ONE, really, NO ONE but other Dukies like Duke. It isn't like most college bball teams where their rivals hate them and everyone else is indifferent, nope, you would be the hated Duke guy/gal at any sports related function or discussion. Everyone would band against you. You become the sports worlds Antichrist.
But, you will be damn good at anesthesia.
But, you will be damn good at anesthesia.
I have zero alliance to the sports teams of the university where I did my residency training. Born and bred fan of my undergrad and med school alma mater.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
- 324
- Reaction score
- 28
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2002
- Messages
- 24,232
- Reaction score
- 16,294
Having been a resident at Duke (in another field) (and I fully expect a certain person to be a dick and say something dickish about that, referring to me), the most apt analogy I can offer for the medical center is like the US Marine Corps is to the US Navy; the medical center is under the Duke name, but that's where it ends. Even if we wanted, we couldn't get tickets or do EMS for the basketball games. More than once, walking out the back of the medical center onto the quad, I couldn't find my way back. Wasn't even labeled, and very nondescript.
To say that being a resident there would lead directly to being a college sports pariah, in my anecdotal evidence, does not bear out.
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2004
- Messages
- 450
- Reaction score
- 5
WashU only had one clinical weakness - regional. That changed when they hired a new regional director. Ironically, he did his regional fellowship at Duke.
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Messages
- 1,145
- Reaction score
- 36
He's a frequent poster here and can probably compare the two better than anyone else.
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2005
- Messages
- 2,086
- Reaction score
- 1,370
In order of allegiance, I'd say it goes undergrad >>>> med school > residency.
FWIW, "most hated" is region-specific. I think you could say the same thing about the Cowboys, the Pats, the Lakers, the Yankees, etc. At least at Duke you get to root for a clean (except for the language) and successful program. How many universities can say that in this day and age? If people are going to hate on you for that, so be it.
The clinical opinions on here seem pretty accurate.
North Carolina's cockroaches don't hold a candle to the ones in Louisiana when I lived there.
FWIW, "most hated" is region-specific. I think you could say the same thing about the Cowboys, the Pats, the Lakers, the Yankees, etc. At least at Duke you get to root for a clean (except for the language) and successful program. How many universities can say that in this day and age? If people are going to hate on you for that, so be it.
The clinical opinions on here seem pretty accurate.
North Carolina's cockroaches don't hold a candle to the ones in Louisiana when I lived there.
Last edited:
I'll go ahead and confirm this. I know it must be a dealbreaker for the Duke vs WashU debate.
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
- Messages
- 142
- Reaction score
- 29
They are both really strong programs. I think having a separate childrens hospital for peds cases really enhances the peds experience at SLCH/Wash U (a lot more bread and butter peds in addition to the complex cases.) Regional is definitely more established at Duke but Wash U is up and coming (we average about 300 blocks/month divided among 3 regional residents). The new regional/ambulatory division has 3 regional fellowship trained faculty (all from different fellowship programs so many different techniques to learn). Any other questions, feel free to PM me. But, either way, you can't go wrong.
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2005
- Messages
- 2,086
- Reaction score
- 1,370
Concur with the above poster. Duke definitely doesn't have the volume of peds cases, though we do see really sick kids and there's only one peds fellow, so you don't have to worry too much about fighting. Cardiac and regional are obviously top-notch at Duke, pain and ICU are good, also.
One thing both programs have in common is that they both employ far fewer residents than they can accommodate, meaning there's no shortage of good cases. On the flip side, that means there have to be CRNAs around, which has it's plusses and minuses.
Another thing both places have in common is that neither city has an Albert Pujols...
St. Louis has an awesome park, a zoo, cool museums, professional sports (Cardinals and Blues), semi-professional sports (Rams), lots of flat land, and at least one college team with a weird nickname (Billikens). Duke's parks are meh, the closest zoo is an hour away, we have some nice museums close by in Raleigh, professional sports (Hurricanes), famous semi-professional sports (Bulls), the beach 2hrs away and the mountains 3hrs away, and at least one college team everybody's heard of (Blue Devils).
Take your pick.
Last edited:
