Home Fellowship

[G0S2]

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I realize this is ultimately my decision but just wanted some input. I am currently applying for a CCM spot and have some interviews beginning in December including one at my home residency institution. I also attended medical school here. I am married, have a house and 2 kids (3y and 8m). This is my home programs first year as an ACGME approved fellowship and it is directed by two of the best, most talented and respected faculty members at my residency. One of the current fellows is a friend of mine and he thinks he is getting some great training. Its fairly good as a clinical program with rotations in SICU, MICU, PICU, Burns and TEE and TTE experience. The big dilemma is should I stay here with the benefit of descent training and no $$ moving with the downside being completely inbred as far as training? My other interviews are in other states at big, established CCM programs.

 

[PMPMD]

I realize this is ultimately my decision but just wanted some input. I am currently applying for a CCM spot and have some interviews beginning in December including one at my home residency institution. I also attended medical school here. I am married, have a house and 2 kids (3y and 8m). This is my home programs first year as an ACGME approved fellowship and it is directed by two of the best, most talented and respected faculty members at my residency. One of the current fellows is a friend of mine and he thinks he is getting some great training. Its fairly good as a clinical program with rotations in SICU, MICU, PICU, Burns and TEE and TTE experience. The big dilemma is should I stay here with the benefit of descent training and no $$ moving with the downside being completely inbred as far as training? My other interviews are in other states at big, established CCM programs.

Right now there is a high demand for intensivists, so having a big name fellowship on your CV may be less important. The demand is expected to stay high for the near future (according to COMPACCS and other studies). Do you want to go to a big name academic program when you're done? If not, then even less important.

 

[G0S2]

I just PMd you.

 

[G0S2]

I know this is ridiculous but could not resist.


POST 1000!!!!!!

 

[cchoukal]

I think the answer probably depends more on what YOU want and what your goals/fears/limitations are. Does your spouse have a job in the area? Kids like their school? A mortgage on an under-water home loan? If all those were "No," my own opinion is that you should go to the fellowship that will have the highest likelihood of getting you to the next thing that you want.

Where do graduates from your home program go when they're done? Recruited by large programs elsewhere? Humping cases at the local surgicenter? Inbred into your home institution? The answers should inform your choice. What is it that you actually want to do when you're done?

It will always cost money to move, and it's always hard to give up the security that you have in your current place, but if you're not tied down, now is the time to go after the best training you're eligible for so as not to limit opportunities in the future.

I suppose I'm biased in that I moved for medical school, residency, AND fellowship, and I'm not married with kids/mortgage, so it was relatively easy to do. As I age, and as certain personal opportunities have presented (and subsequently de-presented) themselves, I have to admit, though, that it's all a compromise with your family, and when you die, THEY are the ones that will show up at your funeral; the hospital MIGHT give you a paragraph in the newsletter. I don't think it's unreasonable to prioritize your family over a "better" fellowship as long as graduates from your home program graduate to do the kinds of things you'll be happy doing.

 

[PMPMD]

I just PMd you.

Right back atcha

 

[G0S2]

I think the answer probably depends more on what YOU want and what your goals/fears/limitations are. Does your spouse have a job in the area? Kids like their school? A mortgage on an under-water home loan? If all those were "No," my own opinion is that you should go to the fellowship that will have the highest likelihood of getting you to the next thing that you want.

Where do graduates from your home program go when they're done? Recruited by large programs elsewhere? Humping cases at the local surgicenter? Inbred into your home institution? The answers should inform your choice. What is it that you actually want to do when you're done?

It will always cost money to move, and it's always hard to give up the security that you have in your current place, but if you're not tied down, now is the time to go after the best training you're eligible for so as not to limit opportunities in the future.

I suppose I'm biased in that I moved for medical school, residency, AND fellowship, and I'm not married with kids/mortgage, so it was relatively easy to do. As I age, and as certain personal opportunities have presented (and subsequently de-presented) themselves, I have to admit, though, that it's all a compromise with your family, and when you die, THEY are the ones that will show up at your funeral; the hospital MIGHT give you a paragraph in the newsletter. I don't think it's unreasonable to prioritize your family over a "better" fellowship as long as graduates from your home program graduate to do the kinds of things you'll be happy doing.

Thanks for the reply.


My wife is a pharmacist with a great gig in town. The value of our home is currently the principle on our mortgage. The kids are 3 and 8 months. We live in a city that is very cost/family friendly.

The type of job I want is exactly what the CCM faculty do here. I want a week or two to attend in the unit per month with the rest of my time spent helping residents with big cases (hearts, transplant). The current fellow is going to stay and do just that.

We are currently building a large trauma tower on campus with many more CC beds and ORs. They are going to be hiring more intensivists.

The rest of my class are going for PP jobs across the country.

 

[nycitygas]

I'm applying for CCM as well (hope to have applications out this week).
Your home program seems to have a great fellowship. If you want to stay in state for a job, I dont think a bigger name will matter. I am currently grappling with a simliar issue, my significant other is a specialized healthcare professional with marginal job prospects in a large city (e.g. NYC, Boston, SF ect) but would have exponentially greater options in Texas ect. How many fellows does your program take?

Thanks for the reply.


My wife is a pharmacist with a great gig in town. The value of our home is currently the principle on our mortgage. The kids are 3 and 8 months. We live in a city that is very cost/family friendly.

The type of job I want is exactly what the CCM faculty do here. I want a week or two to attend in the unit per month with the rest of my time spent helping residents with big cases (hearts, transplant). The current fellow is going to stay and do just that.

We are currently building a large trauma tower on campus with many more CC beds and ORs. They are going to be hiring more intensivists.

The rest of my class are going for PP jobs across the country.

 

[G0S2]

I'm applying for CCM as well (hope to have applications out this week).
Your home program seems to have a great fellowship. If you want to stay in state for a job, I dont think a bigger name will matter. I am currently grappling with a simliar issue, my significant other is a specialized healthcare professional with marginal job prospects in a large city (e.g. NYC, Boston, SF ect) but would have exponentially greater options in Texas ect. How many fellows does your program take?

My residency program director also told me that it doesn't make a difference if I want to stay in TX and that I should ultimately consider where I want to be geographically.

2 fellows/yr for anesthesia at the current time. The fellowship also have people from surgery.

 

[michigangirl]

being inbred gets a bad rap, but you have to look at all the other factors. It sounds like you have a great thing going from a family/house/lifestyle standpoint. If you know the training is strong and you will come out with all the tools you need, and the jobs the faculty have there are what you are ideally looking for, I think you have your answer. I stayed at the institution where I did two residencies and two fellowships because my husband's job was a great gig and I love it there, the schools are awesome, the kids are happy, we have a house and the faculty position was exactly what I was looking for. I could've rocked the boat for the sake of rocking it, but no other place stood out as worth giving up what had been built over the last eight years. If someplace had knocked my socks off, I woud've considered it. So be sure to look around and satisfy your curiosity so you KNOW you made the right decision if you decide to stay. In the end, go with your gut. Good luck.

 

[G0S2]

being inbred gets a bad rap, but you have to look at all the other factors. It sounds like you have a great thing going from a family/house/lifestyle standpoint. If you know the training is strong and you will come out with all the tools you need, and the jobs the faculty have there are what you are ideally looking for, I think you have your answer. I stayed at the institution where I did two residencies and two fellowships because my husband's job was a great gig and I love it there, the schools are awesome, the kids are happy, we have a house and the faculty position was exactly what I was looking for. I could've rocked the boat for the sake of rocking it, but no other place stood out as worth giving up what had been built over the last eight years. If someplace had knocked my socks off, I woud've considered it. So be sure to look around and satisfy your curiosity so you KNOW you made the right decision if you decide to stay. In the end, go with your gut. Good luck.

Thank you for your input. I do want the time to visit/interview at all the programs I applied to but some offer interviews way before others and some people have told me to expect offers soon after the interview so I have a feeling I may need to make a decision before even seeing some programs. I want to be able to tell a program that it's early in the interview season and that I need a month or two to make a decision. I am interviewing at some great programs in December and I have another one in February for example. Others told me they just begin looking at apps in Jan.

 

[PMPMD]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it was about a fellowship you could do from home. Like correspondence school.

 

[G0S2]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it was about a fellowship you could do from home. Like correspondence school.

Not my intention but that would be cool. Get up, coffe in hand, video teleconference rounding in bathrobe. All for it.

 

[PMPMD]

Not my intention but that would be cool. Get up, coffe in hand, video teleconference rounding in bathrobe. All for it.

Well it might help for eICU staffing...

 

[TrustMe]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it was about a fellowship you could do from home. Like correspondence school.

Sounds like some type of CRNA fellowship program. "Learn from home without the patients getting in your way." Could also be like a semester at sea program.

 

[PMPMD]

Sounds like some type of CRNA fellowship program. "Learn from home without the patients getting in your way." Could also be like a semester at sea program.

No worse than a "research" elective.😉