Houston Away Rotation

[praying4MD]

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I have already done a search about this, but I still wanted some more information about it. What do you all have to say about doing an away rotation at UT-Houston (Hermann Hospital)? Pros, cons, etc.? I heard that since you are really not in contact with one or two main attendings that it is difficult to get a good, personalized, meaningful LOR-- is there any truth to this?

Thanks.

 

[Girlygirl]

I heard that Houston isn't a good place to get ER experience because they run the hospital mostly from attendings upstairs and not even ER physicians. I heard this from MS-3's & 4's when I interviewed down there and toured the hospitals.

I actually graduated from UT Houston, and the rumors aren't true. The attendings are always present in the department. From third year on, there was not one shift that I was worried there was no attending presence.

As far as getting exposure to key attendings, it is like any other program. There are tons of medical students in the department each month, so you are going to have to make an effort to spot light yourself. I would make an appointment with the program director there the first week and let him know you are interested in the program. You could take an extra shift or two when you know he is going to be on. Also, the residents are your friends. They are the ones in the meetings saying how great or not great you were during your rotation. I know at my residency each resident gets to vote on each candidate.

Hope this helps. You can email me if you go there and I can tell you specifics about the staff. I wouldn't listen to rumors...if you are interested in a program enough to want to do an away rotation, do it.

😉

 

[AP MD 05]

Hey GirlyGirl,
I'm actually going to be at UT Houston doing an EM rotation during the month of October.
Just wanted to get your thoughts on their program.
How is the staff/residents/attendings? Any particular attendings that are great to work with and that I should look out for?
I'd appreciate it if you can email me or post your suggestions/advice about this program.
Thanks

 

[roja]

The new EM u/s director is awesome. He graduated from my residency and did his fellowship here. He is incredibly bright and amazingly bright.


He also loves the spurs... 😉

 

[Girlygirl]

I think the program is great...Your trauma experience will be second to none. Houston is a large city with only two Level 1 trauma centers, and Ben Taub is on divert 2/3 of the year. The trauma section of the ED has 12 fully functional trauma room and a huge center that can hold another 8 patients. It is actually rediculous when you are working it, but a great experience. I think the curriculum is great, no medicine floor month.

When I was there, it was 12 hour shifts, but I heard that changed.

Good people to get to know would be the PD, Dr. King (the department head), Dr. Takenaka (the person in charge of medical students), and any of the chiefs.

You can email me with specifics if you like. Hope this helps.

 

[AP MD 05]

Thanks for the info. I'll look out for those docs.

 

[roja]

Meet up with dr. press if you can. He is amazing.