I interviewed at both of these programs and was very impressed with both. Great PDs, faculty, and residents. There is the obvious three vs. four year difference but its not really a factor for me. I think Sacramento may have less to offer than Oakland as far as things to do, but they did say during the interview that Sac was only an hour from Tahoe--pretty awesome for snowboarding!! UCD seems to be strong academically overall as is Highland with the affiliation with UCSF (although I wonder how UCSF's new program will affect Highland). I'm at a loss on where in the top to rank these two great programs anyone have any thoughts?
Highland vs. UC-Davis
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I rotated at UCD and interviewed at Highland. I think that they are both great programs, but ultimately, I'm going to rank UCD higher. For me, it came down to the fact that there are just more overall resources at UCD. For example, at Highland, EM is the strongest department. The residents said they run the other services in the hospital when they are off service. My preference is to learn when I'm off service, not manage other services. At UCD, all the services are strong with plenty of opportunities to learn. But that's me.
PM me if you have any specific questions.
PM me if you have any specific questions.
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You're several years too late for the greatest asset at UC Davis... the undergrad campus used to have this cow with windows into its stomachs so you could put your hand inside and play with semi-digested food... I think some animal-rights group poo-poo-ed it all and they took away the cow.
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I did my undergrad at UCD and I had the honor of putting my hand inside. Is it really gone? That cow was one of the highlights of picnic day.
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it was an honest-to-god real live cow? or like a model? i'm having a hard time deciding what's more outlandish, a live cow with windows into its stomachs, or animal rights groups poo-pooing a model of a cow. they're both pretty far fetched...
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Real, live, breathing, moving cow with a cork in it's side that led directly into it's stomach.
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I don't know much about Highland but you couldn't pay me to live in the Bay Area let alone get me to pay the exhorbitant cost of living there. If that's your thing then great but you pay for it. I mention that not to run it down but to give some context to the following. I really liked Sacramento. It always gets billed as being close to everything, which it is, but it was a great place ot live in it's own right. Nice weather with seasons. Cool rivers for float tubing, rafting etc. The airport has reasonable reach and is easy to get through. I lived in Folsom which has a Farmer's market/festival/carnival thing every week during the summer. Nice places to eat downtown and you won't get killed walking the sidewalks. Traffic is worse than it used to be but it beats the Bay Area hands down.
One more thing about the cost of living. It's lower in Sac than at any other UC residency site but all UC residents are paid the same across the system so UC Davis residents live well (well being a relative state, it is residency).
As for the UC Davis EM program it's a high volume place for the number of residents they have. The ED is very trauma heavy with the majority being blunt/MVA. The rotations through the Kaisers get you the community feel. Excellent faculty, huge referral base, big terteriary center (the only transfer out I saw in three years was a pediatric liver transplant). After UC Davis you'll be ready.
One more thing about the cost of living. It's lower in Sac than at any other UC residency site but all UC residents are paid the same across the system so UC Davis residents live well (well being a relative state, it is residency).
As for the UC Davis EM program it's a high volume place for the number of residents they have. The ED is very trauma heavy with the majority being blunt/MVA. The rotations through the Kaisers get you the community feel. Excellent faculty, huge referral base, big terteriary center (the only transfer out I saw in three years was a pediatric liver transplant). After UC Davis you'll be ready.
Thanks DocB and DWill--I think that you're right, to a degree, about learning on offservice rotations at UCD vs. Highland; but I don't know if I would agree completely with the assessment that you wouldn't learn as much off-service at Highland. Looking back at Highland's interview packet--they do about 8-10 rotations at UCSF so at least some of your off-service rotations and electives if you like are still university-affiliated. I am concerned, however, how that would change after the UCSF EM program is created. I would imagine in our first two years it wouldn't affect Highland much.
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I agree. That's one thing I actually like about Highland, their affiliation with UCSF. But it's a huge unknown as to what will happen once UCSF opens up their residency. It's an unknown I personally do not want to take. I was merely commenting on the other departments at Highland, which is where you would spend the majority of your time working with.
The cow is still there....altho I don't think the SAME cow. I was an undergrad in the early 70's there & saw it many times (even put my hand in it during a couple of Pinic Days!). I saw it again when my nephew was there in the late 90's & I was just there last Sat for a racketball meet for my son & I'm told its still there.
I can't believe its the same cow for over 30 yrs!!!
I'm not a physician, so I won't even go into the programs since I know nothing about them. But, I do live in the bay area & my son lives in Sac (which is where the medical center is - not Davis).
The Sac traffic has gotten horrendous - far worse than here. I think because there is no place to build more freeways which they desperately need. But..you just make do. Folsom is nice, but the commute to UC would be a bear. Likewise, the commute from the southern end - Davis or Dixon.
The cost of living is indeed lower & you are closer to the mountains in Sac. Getting out of the bay area on a Fri in the winter to get to Tahoe or coming back on a Sunday is a practice in patience! Even worse for a holiday weekend - July 4 or Labor Day.
If you enjoy the "life" of SF...you won't be happy in Sac - its just not worth the drive. But, after having lived in all 3 places.....you tend to adjust to where you live, so 3-4 years of anything is doable.
If you have children, the area around Highland is a real issue, IMO. I'm not sure you could make enough money as a resident to live in a nice enough area to send your kids to a safe & productive school. If you don't have kids...there are some nice places in Oakland to live, but you'll pay for it.
I'm a pharmacist & you couldn't pay me enough to work at Highland. But, my reasons for that could make it a great place for you to learn.
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I saw your post on sdn. I am an MS3 from OHSU in Portland going into EM. Just trying to decide where to do my away rotation..I want to stay on the west coast and am interested in Davis.
I've heard it's an excellent program from a number of people who trained at Davis in other fields. I read your posts and am encouraged by what you say about the program..plus you went there for undergrad, right? The only negative thing I have heard is that it is run by the surgery dept. and that EM residents sometimes don't get as much responsibility in trauma and other things.
What is your take on this? Beyond that, can you tell me about the "feel" of the program? Do the residents spend time together outside work? Do faculty and residents socialize? It would be my first time living out of Oregon so my residency will in essence be my family.
Any input would be great! Also if you know of one of the residents who might be willing to answer an email about the program could you let me know?
Thanks!
I've heard it's an excellent program from a number of people who trained at Davis in other fields. I read your posts and am encouraged by what you say about the program..plus you went there for undergrad, right? The only negative thing I have heard is that it is run by the surgery dept. and that EM residents sometimes don't get as much responsibility in trauma and other things.
What is your take on this? Beyond that, can you tell me about the "feel" of the program? Do the residents spend time together outside work? Do faculty and residents socialize? It would be my first time living out of Oregon so my residency will in essence be my family.
Any input would be great! Also if you know of one of the residents who might be willing to answer an email about the program could you let me know?
Thanks!
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EM at UC Davis is its own dept. Not run by surg. Great place. The resident culture changes year to year and I've been gone a little long to comment on that.
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Not really about Davis, just wondering what UCSF's program will do to both Stanford AND Highland . . . On our interview, Stanford said that it would have NO effect on their program as we would be R2s when UCSF began and they would need senior in the ED. Highland on the other hand has rotations that aren't just at UCSF's ED but also at their urgent care, pediatrics, neurology service, etc . . so I wonder how that will affect their program. I didn't think to ask about it on my interview. Any residents or applicants have any thoughts?
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that's also what i was told
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they'll take their next class next year (i was told)
