Entry into training program EXTREMELY DIFFICULT???

[UTH2003]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have been scanning the book GETTING INTO A RESIDENCY (Fourth Edition) and it lists all the specialty descriptions and ranks their difficulty with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult. I was not surprised to see Dermatology, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Neurological Surgery as 5's, but it surprised me that Emergency Medicine was ranked equal to them. Has Emergency Medicine really become this competitive to get into?

 

[mikecwru]

Originally posted by UTH2003
I have been scanning the book GETTING INTO A RESIDENCY (Fourth Edition) and it lists all the specialty descriptions and ranks their difficulty with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult. I was not surprised to see Dermatology, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Neurological Surgery as 5's, but it surprised me that Emergency Medicine was ranked equal to them. Has Emergency Medicine really become this competitive to get into?

The author, Iserson, is an emergency physician at a fairly competitive program (the weather there is nice). Plus, I've heard more than once that he is an egotistical jerk. Almost all students that applied for EM this past year got *a* spot; the highest I've seen the "unmatch" rate was 6%. FMGs usually have a tougher time. Of course, to match at the program you want, it helps to do as well as possible in med school and interview well.

mike

 

[Wrangler]

EM is competitive, but not like the specialties that have very few total positions (optho, derm, etc..). Also while grades and boards are still very important, there is also a strong emphasis on commumication skills and how you "fit." Therefore strong LOR's and your natural personality count very heavily also (but don't usually replace numbers per say). Overall a "good" medical student with very strong interpersonal skills, confidence, and a willingness to get dirty with hands on tasks will usually match somewhere in EM and do well. Just remember to make a good rank list.

I always thought that Iserson's book seemed to go a little extreme both ways on its rankings, but maybe it's just me.

 

[scrub monkey]

i just had a chance to look at the new iserson book. a lot of the rankings seem a bit off.

em, ob/gyn, and anesthesia all seemed overrated with 4 stars.
ophtho seemed underrated at 3 stars.
rad onc probably should've been 5 stars with plastics and urology.
ent and ortho probably could've gone up to 5 stars.

the book has new star rankings that are off, and not much new stuff.

 

[mikecwru]

Originally posted by scrub monkey
i just had a chance to look at the new iserson book. a lot of the rankings seem a bit off.

em, ob/gyn, and anesthesia all seemed overrated with 4 stars.
ophtho seemed underrated at 3 stars.
rad onc probably should've been 5 stars with plastics and urology.
ent and ortho probably could've gone up to 5 stars.

the book has new star rankings that are off, and not much new stuff.

Yes, all his rating are whacked. Anesthesiology did jump a lot for last year's match, along with general surgery. From what I've heard, optho has been dropped, along with ENT a little bit. I agree with rad onc and ortho.

The book, in my opinion, is worthless.

mike

 

[ispic]

Hi,

With Iserson being in the field and all, he should have at least a decent idea on how to secure a spot in EM. Although I am taking the book in with a grain of salt, he does have some good suggestions on how to contact programs, timeline of apps and other useful stuff, but I do agree with the other posters, he rates the specialties in a weird way (maybe to pump up his field???). Anyway, mikecwru is right, I have some friends attending there right now and they all mention that he's a little arrogant.

Quick question for all you soon-to be PGY-1's, what was your impression of cook county? There were at least 3 unmatched spots there this year in EM and I thought that this was a "big-name program"

Looking at the FREIDA last night, it listed several nice benefits for the residents, but what is the scuttlebut on this particular program - good/bad? Thanks in advance

 

[DrQuinn]

Didn't interview at CC... but know a PGY-2 there now. Don't judge them on the fact that they didnt' fill. Its a good ED, very very busy. Lots of path.

Q

 

[Sheerstress]

I once rotated at CC a few years ago, and haven't had an opportunity to see their new facility, although it sounds very state-of-the art.

At the time, it was a very high volume, inner city public hospital, and almost certainly remains so. You'll certainly see as much pathology as anywhere else. The faculty is excellent, and there are some big names there, such as Simon and Schaider, both who trained under Rosen. Tasks in the ED include the fast track, OB/GYN, Pulmonary (asthma and TB), and everyone else.

One drawback is that their trauma bay is completely separate from the ED, so you'll have to do a whole other trauma rotation to get your fill.

Shifts were only 8 hours long, so working didn't completely kill your day. Overall a good place to train. There are some reviews at Scutwork.com - check them out.

 

[ispic]

Hey,

Thanks guys for the quick replies. Sorry Q I didn?t mean to imply the worth of a program by the amount of vacancies, just some of the old ?premed? left in me that I?m trying to exorcise out 🙂

As far as the trauma goes, would I just have to arrange it with another random hospital during residency or would the residency arrange it for me? Does it work out the same way during a 4th year rotation?

Thanks in advance. I saw the reviews in scutwork and they helped a lot too. Thanks for the suggestion sheerstress.

 

[DrQuinn]

When you get into residency, you dont' have to set up any "training months" except your elective months. Don't worry, having the trauma/resus rooms at a different part of the hospital does NOT mean you won't learn your trauma. It just means when you do your trauma rotations, you are more dedicated to the trauma.

At the University of Maryland, their Shock/Trauma center is in a separate buliding than the main adult ED. But their residents are top notch (IMHO).

And if you did a month in the ED at CC, I would assume that you would be in the main ED, not in the trauma area. That would likely be a different rotation, but it may depend on the hospital (I know UMD handles it that way).

Good luck.
Q

 

[pinbor1]

Quinn's right

At CC the rotations are split. If you do a student rotation in the ED you will not due trauma. There is a separate trauma rotation you can sign up for. Same goes for ED/Trauma experiences at Christ Hospital.

Good luck

 

[ispic]

Hi,

Thanks for the info guys, although I am an MSI its always good to start thinking about this stuff early on in my schooling when I have some down time and some decent time to think 🙂 Thanks again.

 

[Iron Horse]

Originally posted by ispic

Quick question for all you soon-to be PGY-1's, what was your impression of cook county? There were at least 3 unmatched spots there this year in EM and I thought that this was a "big-name program"

Looking at the FREIDA last night, it listed several nice benefits for the residents, but what is the scuttlebut on this particular program - good/bad? Thanks in advance

Some second hand info I overheard from an EM attending familiar with Chicago area programs: he said that CC workes their residents to death and that there is a lot of scut involved.