Florida Programs

[skygirl2007]

Did anyone apply to any florida programs? If so, which programs and what did you think?

Skygirl2007

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[spania33]

my 2 cents...

Halifax - very established program in daytona and arguably strongest program in FL, consistently good fill rate, residents get a lot of autonomy from the get-go. they put you up in a nice hilton beachside, residents seemed happy there. PD was really awesome. lots of procedures, light ob, strong moonlighting opportunities, good benefits with large amount of CME $, daytona is small slow town with periods of crazyness (daytona 500, bike week, spring break), building new wing to hospital and has nice outpatient clinic

UF - opposed by all residencies, but family med does most wards at AGH a community hospital near shands, AGH shared with peds but good relationship between two residencies, possibility of rocky ob rotation depending on how proactive you are, strong inpatient training, great faculty and residents, some img's, older facilities, some rotations at Lake City about 45 min away

Morton Plant - posh program with good money, treat residents well, more outpatient emphasis and practice management, nice hospital on beach, focus on resident well-being, cool residents

St. Vincent's - @ jacksonville, catholic hospital with some restrictions, nice facilities, cool group of residents

Bayfront - don't know much about this program except they emphasize inpatient medicine

 

[iamcatwoman]

my 2 cents...

Halifax - very established program in daytona and arguably strongest program in FL, consistently good fill rate, residents get a lot of autonomy from the get-go. they put you up in a nice hilton beachside, residents seemed happy there. PD was really awesome. lots of procedures, light ob, strong moonlighting opportunities, good benefits with large amount of CME $, daytona is small slow town with periods of crazyness (daytona 500, bike week, spring break), building new wing to hospital and has nice outpatient clinic

UF - opposed by all residencies, but family med does most wards at AGH a community hospital near shands, AGH shared with peds but good relationship between two residencies, possibility of rocky ob rotation depending on how proactive you are, strong inpatient training, great faculty and residents, some img's, older facilities, some rotations at Lake City about 45 min away

Morton Plant - posh program with good money, treat residents well, more outpatient emphasis and practice management, nice hospital on beach, focus on resident well-being, cool residents

St. Vincent's - @ jacksonville, catholic hospital with some restrictions, nice facilities, cool group of residents

Bayfront - don't know much about this program except they emphasize inpatient medicine

Hi, I'm in the process of interviewing at Central Florida programs. Totally agree with above Halifax review. So far has been the only program that quizzed me on my ps (which I liked as it made me feel like they were interested in me). Good looking (probably has something to do with their great sports med fellowship!) and VERY happy residents. very interesting group (in a good way). Most residents told me that it was a toss up between the Morton Plant Mease and Halifax. Only down side is that it is Daytona, so culturally not so great. BUT, you do get to moonlight at Daytona races, which is pretty cool. They don't sponsor any visa, so not that many IMG applicants.

St Vincents - Did a good job with "wooing" the applicants. put us up at a really nice B+B the night before, cute little gift, great dinner and lunch the next day. Although i hear that they do not do such a good job with US students that do an externship with them. Jacksonville is a nice city. Mostly unopposed except for Peds where you join the Peds residency program as work with peds residencies and FM residents from Mayo. Seemed like a really laid back program, very friendly staff. Did not get to meet many residents outside of the ones interviewing me. FM Health Center is a REALLY nice facility with possibly one of the prettiest dr's lounges that i've ever seen. The PD was excellent with great philosophies about FM.

UF Gainesville - really liked this program. Mostly based at the FM health center and AGH. Both facilities are older and less pretty than other programs, but that didn't matter to me. Only met a few faculty, but all were very nice. PD was great, and the only female PD that i've met so far. Very cool group of Residents - 5 came out for dinner with us which was great as it meant that all the applicants had a good chance to ask questions, and we got to see that the residents clearly get on really well socially. They have alot of IMGs - the PD likes to have a good mix of people. The current group of 3rd years only has 1 AMG. I dont know if people are bothered by these things, but I like working with a diverse group. Program is not completely unnopposed on paper, but according to the residents (got to talk to a few through the day) it is pretty much unopposed as you rarely come across other residents.
Residents stressed that this program was very heavy on Internal Med, and pretty weak on OB. Good opportunities for moonlighting from 2nd year onwards. Gainesville is a student town, so everything is seasonal. but seemed pretty fun with a good arts scene.

 

[niuyiar]

any thoughts on the Tallahassee program?

 

[HarveyCushing]

Anyone have experience with the Florida hospital program in Orlando?

 

[skygirl2007]

Did anyone interview at St. Vincent's in Jacksonville, Fl.?

 

[iamcatwoman]

my 2 cents...


St. Vincent's - @ jacksonville, catholic hospital with some restrictions, nice facilities, cool group of residents

Also look at my previous post - I interviewed there too. Great program director.

 

[iamcatwoman]

Or did you want to know specifics about the interview day? Really laid back, they are looking for good personalities. Started with morning meeting where they ask applicants to introduce themselves. Long day - from 8:20am to 2:30pm. 6 half hour interviews with a mixture of residents and faculty. a tour of the facilities including the Wolfson Children Hosp. Lunch (which may be at the noon conference if going on during your interview day). Day rounded off with tour of Jacksonville.

 

[skygirl2007]

what restrictions are you referring to as far as it being a catholic institution?

 

[bks524]

Interesting to me to hear you talk about Halifax. I was born and raised around Halifax and was offered to come back there after residency. I have always thought that the residents were well trained and taken care of. One of my family members was on the board of directors for about 20 years there so I am quite familiar with the program.
Of note, they are getting a medical school branch from FSU also in 2008 (I think). The Dean of that branch is a good friend and he is FP also. He is really terrific.
From a pediatrician, I would give it two big thumbs up. IM me with questions

 

[iamcatwoman]

what restrictions are you referring to as far as it being a catholic institution?

As an FM resident, you won't recieve training re. contraceptives eg IUD insertion through the program. However, you can get experience by yourself with private physicians. You can prescribe the Oral Contraceptive Pill, but only for "acceptable" reasons like dysmenorrhea, so even if you're prescribing it as a contraceptive, you have to code it for dysmenorrhea.

 

[skygirl2007]

That is not true. Just because St. Vincent's was founded by the daughters of charity does not mean that the hospital has restrictions regarding contraception and other reproductive treatments. It is still a full service hospital and has to function as such and provide residents training in all areas or it would not be an accredited program. There are several hospitals in Louisiana that were founded by the daughters of charity and they provide all services with no restrictions.

 

[iamcatwoman]

That is not true. Just because St. Vincent's was founded by the daughters of charity does not mean that the hospital has restrictions regarding contraception and other reproductive treatments. It is still a full service hospital and has to function as such and provide residents training in all areas or it would not be an accredited program. There are several hospitals in Louisiana that were founded by the daughters of charity and they provide all services with no restrictions.

I'm just repeating things that the residents told me on my interview day.

 

[iamcatwoman]

Actually, looking at my last post I guess that i was not specific enough. I shouldn't have implied that one would get NO exposure to birth control. The residents just felt that they got less than they would have from a non-catholic institution. The examples given to me by the residents were of IUDs and the OCP. Other candidates that I have met on the interview trail were told the same thing. It's very easy/absolutely no restrictions to residents gaining exposure to IUD insertions with local private physicians. One resident also mentioned that the nurses will not administer the Depo Provera injection.

 

[marionetteman]

my 2 cents...

Halifax - very established program in daytona and arguably strongest program in FL, consistently good fill rate, residents get a lot of autonomy from the get-go. they put you up in a nice hilton beachside, residents seemed happy there. PD was really awesome. lots of procedures, light ob, strong moonlighting opportunities, good benefits with large amount of CME $, daytona is small slow town with periods of crazyness (daytona 500, bike week, spring break), building new wing to hospital and has nice outpatient clinic

UF - opposed by all residencies, but family med does most wards at AGH a community hospital near shands, AGH shared with peds but good relationship between two residencies, possibility of rocky ob rotation depending on how proactive you are, strong inpatient training, great faculty and residents, some img's, older facilities, some rotations at Lake City about 45 min away

Morton Plant - posh program with good money, treat residents well, more outpatient emphasis and practice management, nice hospital on beach, focus on resident well-being, cool residents

St. Vincent's - @ jacksonville, catholic hospital with some restrictions, nice facilities, cool group of residents

Bayfront - don't know much about this program except they emphasize inpatient medicine

Halfax is now malignant I heard. you can tell the residents are miserable. I’m staying away