General Surgery Residencies in the SE US

[tscottturner]

I'm currently an M2, but I'm looking for some general opinions on surgery programs in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Specifically, when comparing all of the programs in these states, which would be considered the top 3 and why?

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[footcramp]

duke
vandy
unc
don't know why, my advisors keep bringing them up.

 

[tscottturner]

duke
vandy
unc
don't know why, my advisors keep bringing them up.

Have you heard anything about their malignancy? Or is it just taken for granted that a good program is pretty malignant?

 

[TxMed]

I'm currently an M2, but I'm looking for some general opinions on surgery programs in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Specifically, when comparing all of the programs in these states, which would be considered the top 3 and why?

i don't know that anyone could give an unbiased top 3...especially not knowing what your particular interests are. if you love trauma, then i think emory would be your #1 in the region (grady...need i say more?) duke,vandy, and unc are great programs...but you cannot leave out emory, uab, and wake forest. not to mention that there are a number of other great programs in the region that may not be well known on a national level.

tm

 

[butterfly0660]

I am also looking at programs in this general area, only maybe a little further north as well (Kentucky, southern Ohio). Does anyone know anything about programs in Kentucky or Cincinnati? How about eastern Tennessee (Chatanooga, Knoxville)? I am very curious about malignancy of programs, as well as their quality.

 

[footcramp]

louisville has a reputation for solid training, had been thought to be somewhat malignant but who knows about that

 

[toxic-megacolon]

duke
vandy
unc
don't know why, my advisors keep bringing them up.

I would add Emory to that list, as well as UAB. I don't think that UNC is on the same level as the other programs mentioned.

Excellent programs very close to the southeast include Baylor, UTSW, WashU, Hopkins.

I think most top surgery programs in the Southeast are pretty malignant, Vandy being a major exception.

 

[Pilot Doc]

I'm currently an M2, but I'm looking for some general opinions on surgery programs in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Specifically, when comparing all of the programs in these states, which would be considered the top 3 and why?

Depends what you're looking for. The area is flush with state-supported programs that are "traditional" in the respect that they largely exist to 1) produce community surgeons and 2) take care of the state's indigent population. If you want to be a bread and butter community surgeon they'll all train you well.

If by Top 3, you mean nationally prominent programs that attract/produce leaders in academic surgery, Duke is the only one that is on a national A-list. There are several other prominent "name" programs: Vandy, Emory, UAB, Wake Forest, UNC.

But you really need to define your needs more clearly - your question is sort of like saying you want to buy an American car - what's the best one? Do you want a pickup? Do you want a sedan ... etc. Tell us what sort of practice you want to have in 15 years? Do you have narrow geographic interests?

Here's the list of all programs

ALABAMA
Baptist Health System (Birmingham)
Carraway Methodist Medical Center (Birmingham)
University of Alabama (Birmingham)
University of South Alabama (Mobile)

Georgia
Atlanta Medical Center (Atlanta)
Emory University (Atlanta)
Morehouse School of Medicine (Atlanta)
Medical College of Georgia (Augusta)
Mercer University (Macon)
Mercer University (Savannah)

Mississippi
University of Mississippi (Jackson)

North Carolina
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte)
Duke University (Durham)
East Carolina University (Greenville)
New Hanover Regional Medical Center (Wilmington)
Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem)

South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston)
University of South Carolina (Columbia)
Greenville Hospital System (Greenville,)
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (Spartanburg)

Tennessee
University of Tennessee (Chattanooga)
East Tennessee State University (Johnson City)
University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
University of Tennessee (Memphis)
Vanderbilt University (Nashville)

 

[tscottturner]

But you really need to define your needs more clearly - your question is sort of like saying you want to buy an American car - what's the best one? Do you want a pickup? Do you want a sedan ... etc. Tell us what sort of practice you want to have in 15 years? Do you have narrow geographic interests?

Right now, it is more geographic than anything. My goal is to find out which programs have the best reputation for putting out quality surgeons, but are also as tough as they need to be without being tougher than they have to be (i.e. not too many cutthroat peers, arrogant or disinterested faculty). I'm really not too concerned about academic medicine. Just a good, well-rounded program.

 

[TxMed]

Right now, it is more geographic than anything. My goal is to find out which programs have the best reputation for putting out quality surgeons, but are also as tough as they need to be without being tougher than they have to be (i.e. not too many cutthroat peers, arrogant or disinterested faculty). I'm not really too concerned about academic medicine. Just a good, well-rounded program.

sounds like carolinas medical center would be a good fit

 

[Blade28]

I would add Emory to that list, as well as UAB.

I wouldn't say Emory is malignant - I can only think of a couple "tough" surgeons, and both are fine to work with.

And if you want trauma - nothing beats Grady in this area of the country.

 

[Complications]

I would add Emory to that list, as well as UAB. I don't think that UNC is on the same level as the other programs mentioned.

Excellent programs very close to the southeast include Baylor, UTSW, WashU, Hopkins.

I think most top surgery programs in the Southeast are pretty malignant, Vandy being a major exception.

That's really nice to hear. I'm applying this year mostly in the SE as well.

Thoughts on the Mayo - Jax/Scottsdale programs?

 

[Pilot Doc]

Right now, it is more geographic than anything. My goal is to find out which programs have the best reputation for putting out quality surgeons, but are also as tough as they need to be without being tougher than they have to be (i.e. not too many cutthroat peers, arrogant or disinterested faculty). I'm really not too concerned about academic medicine. Just a good, well-rounded program.

OK ... so you want to be in the south. Urban? Rural?

"Good, well-rounded program" really won't narrow the list much. Surgery residencies aren't like used car dealers - they really all train competent surgeons given the right raw material.

I would urge you to avoid placing too much emphasis on the reputation of a program. There's no way to know if the information you're getting is true. If it was ever true, it might no longer be that way - programs change. And if it's true now, it might change in the 5 years you're there. And what one person calls malignant another will call challenging or exciting.

Putting aside the fact that you're an M2, try to better refine the qualities you seek in a program that you can evaluate well - location, housing, ease of visiting family, etc.

 

[Winged Scapula]

louisville has a reputation for solid training, had been thought to be somewhat malignant but who knows about that

That reputation was largely due to the former Chair, Hiram "and fire 'em" Polk, a very traditional surgeon and southern gentleman. We've discussed his reputation before and I and roboliver have first hand experience (me as a visiting student and roboliver as a resident there). The reputation may be in flux now with the change of the (old) guard.

 

[Dunce]

Right now, it is more geographic than anything. My goal is to find out which programs have the best reputation for putting out quality surgeons, but are also as tough as they need to be without being tougher than they have to be (i.e. not too many cutthroat peers, arrogant or disinterested faculty). I'm really not too concerned about academic medicine. Just a good, well-rounded program.

MUSC is often considered a hidden gem amoung SouthEast surgery programs

 

[footcramp]

That reputation was largely due to the former Chair, Hiram "and fire 'em" Polk, a very traditional surgeon and southern gentleman. We've discussed his reputation before and I and roboliver have first hand experience (me as a visiting student and roboliver as a resident there). The reputation may be in flux now with the change of the (old) guard.

http://www.louisville.edu/hsc/medmag/fw03/polk.html

sounds like a cool person

 

[Winged Scapula]

http://www.louisville.edu/hsc/medmag/fw03/polk.html

sounds like a cool person

Pure fluff from Louisville. Makes him seem almost approachable!

All kidding aside, he is, as they said, "inspirational and intimidating". He has trained tons of surgeons, many well-known in their own respect and the program really grew to be one of the most well-respected under his leadership. Its really one of those hidden gems but you had to expect to have a hard time of it as a surgical resident when Polk was there.