how important is chief resident spot

[masree314]

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I was hoping for people’s opinion on this matter and I hope to keep it simple.

I am trying to get my Rank order list together and I am wondering if I should pick a program I feel maybe better overall (ie. Jefferson, Einstein/montefiore, Schwab).

OR a smaller program which I believe, I could more readily acquire the Chief residency spot. (ie. Stony Brook, LIJ)?

Basically what Im trying to ask is when I finish my residency and begin looking for a job will I be a more attractive candidate coming from a more prestigious program without the chief spot or from a less established program as the chief resident?


I am an IMG and so I am being somewhat realistic to my circumstances.
Further, the fore mentioned programs are my top five choices and any advice on how I should rank these programs will be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[lobelsteve]

Chief is a glorified title at most programs and makes you a target of other residents, especially if the program gives you any say over scheduling or assigning responsibility.

So much more to the story and it always depends on the program and the year. The cream always rises to the top- so anyone can be chief. But it will not matter one lick the day you graduate. I'd take a candidate based on nicer hair, before chief or not chief. Really.

 

[Finally M3]

Lol. So my Asian mullet would be a pro or con?

 

[Brooklyndo2.1]

Chief is a glorified title at most programs and makes you a target of other residents, especially if the program gives you any say over scheduling or assigning responsibility.

So much more to the story and it always depends on the program and the year. The cream always rises to the top- so anyone can be chief. But it will not matter one lick the day you graduate. I'd take a candidate based on nicer hair, before chief or not chief. Really.

You know, Im gonna sue you for being an unfair employer for us follicularly challenged.

😛

 

[rehab_sports_dr]

Unlike most questions on the board, this one is a no-brainer-

Without question, definitely rank the programs you like better higher than programs that you like less.

There certainly is some value to being chief residents, but you don't want to compromise your training for a title, especially a title that carries with it a high workload and is largely a thankless job

 

[drusso]

I've yet to see or hear of a program where the PM&R chief functions in any way, shape, or form like a chief on a surgery service. During my residency we strongly advocated for senior PM&R residents to function like service chiefs and met much resistance.

Most surgical chiefs actually have responsibilities beyond making call schedules handling vacation requests.

 

[zwasfeli]

I've yet to see or hear of a program where the PM&R chief functions in any way, shape, or form like a chief on a surgery service. During my residency we strongly advocated for senior PM&R residents to function like service chiefs and met much resistance.

Most surgical chiefs actually have responsibilities beyond making call schedules handling vacation requests.

At many places every PGY5 for surgery and every PGY4 for ob/gyn is a chief.