GPR California VA hosptials

[hope_faith]

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Hi. I am applying to most of the GPR programs in California, specifically VA hospitals and was wondering there are any past/current residents or anyone in general who knew more about these programs Long Beach, West LA, San Deigo, Sepulveda and Loma Linda. Like experiences, thoughts about the place, focuses, etc. I was not able to visit these places so I'm just wondering. Thanks in advance!

 

[OMSKooK]

I did my PGY1 at Long Beach VA, PGY2 GPR at the West Los Angeles VA and some "satellite" work at Sepulveda while at WLA VA

Long Beach is a great program with a great attending staff. The director, while not prosth, know more about the subject than most prosth do and is a great source of dental knowledge. There is an endo program at the facility, but they will not take away from your endo experience, actually I found having the program there an advantage in that you will learn every contemporary technique. Trust me when I say there is no shortage of endo to be done at the VA - or ext of teeth for that matter. Lots of implant experience here - I placed 10-15 myself and restored 15-20.

WLA VA is a good program as well, attending staff is large and knowledgable. Perio program there is a drag as they will suck up every implant and make the GPRs do all the grunt work of stents. The prosth program there is great, I picked their brains daily for help with cases I was doing. The cases they are doing are not ones you would want anyway so there is no real loss of experience with them. Good place but can be somewhat overwhelming due to shear size and can be disorganized at times, has a stong didactic workload. Clinic is in the basement which is a drag.

Sepulveda is a brand new facility, good attending staff, more perio surgery opportunity. Similar in didactic workload as WLA VA. Worth checking this program out.

San Diego VA - interviewed there only, Director rubbed me the wrong way along with the front desk (rude). I found this to be a common feeling towards him and heard working with him can be worse if you get on his bad side. One of my co-residents did his PGY1 there, had good things to say about the program in general so take my opinion just as that, an opinion.

Hope this gives an idea about some of the GPR VA programs in So Cal.

 

[TimR]

how competitive are these programs? What are the qualifications of the typical residents> (ie boards, gpa, research, etc????) THANKS!!!!!!!

 

[OMSKooK]

Long Beach is fairly competitive since it is in a nice area and has good rep, 4 positions here but count on a few going to UCLA grads, so realistically 1-2 spots.

WLA is less competitive due to number of positions available (6-8).

Sepulveda is probably somewhere between those mentioned

GPR tend not to look for research, at least not those in the VA. However, if you have the experience, it can only help. GPA (3.0 up?? rough guess, nothing obsurd like OMFS) and boards (83 up, again a guess pending on program) help get an interview, but when it comes down to it, everything is based on interview. Just be sure to represent yourself well and be yourself - residency should be a good fit for both program and yourself. If not, you will not enjoy the experience even if its the known as the "best" program.

 

[akg]

Long Beach is fairly competitive since it is in a nice area and has good rep, 4 positions here but count on a few going to UCLA grads, so realistically 1-2 spots.

WLA is less competitive due to number of positions available (6-8).

Sepulveda is probably somewhere between those mentioned

GPR tend not to look for research, at least not those in the VA. However, if you have the experience, it can only help. GPA (3.0 up?? rough guess, nothing obsurd like OMFS) and boards (83 up, again a guess pending on program) help get an interview, but when it comes down to it, everything is based on interview. Just be sure to represent yourself well and be yourself - residency should be a good fit for both program and yourself. If not, you will not enjoy the experience even if its the known as the "best" program.

do VA GPR's accept only US citizens or Permanent residents as well?

thanks

 

[leeway]

It seems most program require us citizenship.

 

[briansle]

do these residencies give you a stipend? If so how much?