3-4 years of training vs 30-40 years of work
consider where happiness is more important and choose your career path appropriately
I have to respectfully disagree with Gauss and respectfully agree with prof moriarity
When I interviewed, I found a lot of programs that were excellent that just wouldn't fit my personal learning style or professional goals. I think asking where people thought residents were happy is great, but you also have to take that with a grain of salt.
When I interviewed, I had many people tell me at the sit down lunches or dinners how happy they were or how they had the best training, but often if I got one resident or two alone I would hear about how the cost of living stunk and how they had to cram their SO or kids into a tiny apartment (many of the east coast program residents said this). For many of them, they were still happy because they really liked their program or they were close to family or friends for support, which offset the negative. Some if them were not happy because they were poor far from friends and family and working their butts off in a less than supportive learning environment.
My point is happiness is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I chose my program because I knew it had a very collegial supportive atmosphere from the other pmr residents and pmr fellows (pain peds and sports), and very supportive staff. I rotated at my top three places so I knew what I was going to get, and I knew people were happy.
Many people in my program are from other countries (Canada Venezuela China Haitiand Arkansas (j/k) to name a few) . In all seriousness, we have had residents and fellows from New York Utah Colorado Arkansas Tennessee Michigan Illinois Missouri Nebraska Connecticut Wyoming Indiana plus some homers from MN, all who have found happiness at our program because of the quality of the atmosphere and training.
I found very few programs that were so diverse, with such a collegial atmosphere, and amazing training. IMHO there probably were like 5 in the 20 places I interviewed. The only slight to my program for my wife and I was being 8-11 hours from
Family. However, this hasn't detracted from our happiness, because the training and supportive atmosphere is worth that sacrifice.
Happiness can be training in the place that offers the best training, nicest staff and residents, or is close to home family and friends. Some people are lucky to find all of these. However, happiness is a choice and you have to choose the circumstances that you see making you the happiest.
No should choose a program just because the residents seemed happy, but if the residents are mostly happy getting good training and being supported by each other and the staff, I think you have a winning combination.
