How important is location

[JimmyB123]

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So I wanted to gauge an understanding on how important a location is if you have an idea where you want to do residency/ eventually practice.

Does location play a big role in getting residencies in that area? Or does any school give you similar opportunity? For example if you look at DOs in programs in the Geisinger Health System (which is in PA), they are basically all from PCOM. If you look at DOs at Dartmouth, they are all from UNECOM. Now does this mean that applicants from these schools have better chances at these residencies or just that more of them are applying?

 

[AlteredScale]

I think better access to teaching hospitals can do great things for students. But I think a bigger role is your board scores. For example, I bet someone at CUSOM can do a rotation at Duke, try and make connections but get shut down because their boards scores are mediocre.

 

[DrMaximus]

I think better access to teaching hospitals can do great things for students. But I think a bigger role is your board scores. For example, I bet someone at CUSOM can do a rotation at Duke, try and make connections but get shut down because their boards scores are mediocre.

I think this is pretty true. For the most part, I think since they live near these hospitals, they make connections. These connections give them a shot that they may not have had without it. But, as stated above, if your board scores aren't high enough, it may not be enough. I do think that making connections is never a bad thing, though, and proximity to these hospitals probably does have an impact on how easy it is to do so.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

location is the most important thing imo. If you truly want to practice in a particular region then attending a medical school there would help you tremendously IF AND ONLY IF you begin networking and building relationships with hospitals and physicians. That being said you need to meet the requirements for the residency programs

 

[baxt1412]

it can only help, but won't entirely make up for lackluster board scores.

ie a student with a board score in the 75th percentile that has developed connections in the area may beat out someone who has a score in the 80th percentile who is from the other side of the country with no connections in the area.

in the end, it's kind of like getting into med school, and is sort of a crap shoot but there are things you can do to stack some odds in your favor.

 

[hallowmann]

...Does location play a big role in getting residencies in that area? Or does any school give you similar opportunity? For example if you look at DOs in programs in the Geisinger Health System (which is in PA), they are basically all from PCOM. If you look at DOs at Dartmouth, they are all from UNECOM. Now does this mean that applicants from these schools have better chances at these residencies or just that more of them are applying?

In and of itself location is important. It doesn't eliminate places, but it's much easier to make connections if you're actually in the area and interact with docs actually in those programs. It doesn't usually make up for things like a poor board score, but it might open doors.

As far as the bolded, it's probably a combination of both. Connections/rotating near them means that you're more likely to be picked than an outsider with the same stats, but it also probably means you are from the area and want to stay there, which is one of the top reasons med students say they chose a specific med school (location).

To give an example: Socal. If you want to get into a residency program there, it's best to get an MD from UCI or even Loma Linda as opposed to Penn State. Now, if the options are between COMP and Penn State, maybe then Penn State would make it easier to get a solid residency in socal. That said, if the options were between PCOM or CCOM and COMP, and you wanted to match somewhere in socal obviously COMP is the better option.

 

[cliquesh]

I think going to nycom or touro helps with matching in NYC, and I think going to western or touro helps with matching in CA. I don't think it matters too much for other locations. There will be specific hospitals and specific programs that like DOs from a certain school, but it general it doesn't matter too much. I, for example, went to school on the east coast and I got interviews all over the country. I did have good grades/board scores, which opened a lot doors. I did not use any "connections" I made in medical school to help with the match process.

 

[deleted407021]

Say if I want to live on Burlington, VT, going to UNECOM would probably be a better option than PCOM-GA?

 

[AlteredScale]

Say if I want to live on Burlington, VT, going to UNECOM would probably be a better option than PCOM-GA?

I'd say so. More than likely you'll meet clinical faculty who may practice in that area and thus you can establish repertoire with them.

 

[deleted407021]

I'd say so. More than likely you'll meet clinical faculty who may practice in that area and thus you can establish repertoire with them.

Maybe you mean rapport? Lol. Thanks for the input. Between those two institutions, which would you rank more favorably, if you gave information to make that judgement?

 

[AlteredScale]

Maybe you mean rapport? Lol. Thanks for the input. Between those two institutions, which would you rank more favorably, if you gave information to make that judgement?

Erhm...may I excuse that one to auto-correct??? LOL!

Oh gosh. That's a hard choice honestly, UNECOM seems to have a stronger affiliation with hospitals...but IDK 🙁

Perhaps @Mad Jack can give better input? UNECOM vs. PCOM-GA?

 

[Mad Jack]

I never interviewed at PCOM-GA, nor do I know much about their Opti. I will say our match list is much stronger. Last year we had matches in optho, facial plastic surgery, and derm (both AOA, not ACGME, not that it'll matter soon anyway). We had one less ortho match, way more anesthesia matches, more EM matches, and way more categorical general surgery matches. So, I'd say we've got a stronger chance of getting you certain places than PCOM-GA, if your outcome is to be a specialist or you want to have your options open.

 

[deleted407021]

I never interviewed at PCOM-GA, nor do I know much about their Opti. I will say our match list is much stronger. Last year we had matches in optho, facial plastic surgery, and derm (both AOA, not ACGME, not that it'll matter soon anyway). We had one less ortho match, way more anesthesia matches, more EM matches, and way more categorical general surgery matches. So, I'd say we've got a stronger chance of getting you certain places than PCOM-GA, if your outcome is to be a specialist or you want to have your options open.

Thanks! Speaking of which, what specialties are you interested, right now?

 

[Mad Jack]

Thanks! Speaking of which, what specialties are you interested, right now?

Psych, pulm, and PM&R. Mostly leaning toward psych, but part of me is aching to get back in the ICU.

You know what you might want to do?

 

[deleted407021]

Psych, pulm, and PM&R. Mostly leaning toward psych, but part of me is aching to get back in the ICU.

You know what you might want to do?

The idea of neonatology is very appealing. I don't know if I'd like the surgery lifestyle or being in the OR all the time, although I think ophtho offers an appealing balance. Anesthesiology and radiology are neat as well as pm&r and IR. Psych holds some appeal as I've had nominal exposure as a psych major. I've volunteered heavily in primary care to the point that I don't think I see myself doing it as a career.

 

[Mad Jack]

The idea of neonatology is very appealing. I don't know if I'd like the surgery lifestyle or being in the OR all the time, although I think ophtho offers an appealing balance. Anesthesiology and radiology are neat as well as pm&r and IR.

So basically you have no real idea yet, kind of have ideas all over the place Nothing wrong with that. I can't wait for 3rd year so I can sort out what I really want to do myself.

 

[deleted407021]

So basically you have no real idea yet, kind of have ideas all over the place Nothing wrong with that. I can't wait for 3rd year so I can sort out what I really want to do myself.

Yep! Pretty much all I know is that dealing with "I needs my depakote and I gots blutt kansuh in my ear" is not what I want to do for my entire professional life.

Does UNE have good locations for 3rd and 4th year training, in your opinion?

EDIT: I am, however, really interested in volunteering some time in a free clinic like the one I work in now.

 

[Mad Jack]

Yep! Pretty much all I know is that dealing with "I needs my depakote and I gots blutt kansuh in mah ear" is not what I want to do for my entire professional life.

Does UNE have good locations for 3rd and 4th year training, in your opinion?

The locations are kind of varied. Some sites are better than others in year 3. 4th year you can go wherever, so it doesn't really matter one way or another. There's one great site, about four pretty good sites, and the rest are just kind of okay. None are really terrible, it's just some are smaller and don't have residents so you won't know what is expected of you as a sub-I in 4th year.

 

[deleted407021]

The locations are kind of varied. Some sites are better than others in year 3. 4th year you can go wherever, so it doesn't really matter one way or another. There's one great site, about four pretty good sites, and the rest are just kind of okay. None are really terrible, it's just some are smaller and don't have residents so you won't know what is expected of you as a sub-I in 4th year.

People on SDN seem to be very confident about the quality of the education there. Do they have much of a regional bias? I see that their site claims 60% of their grads practice in Maine and that they produce the majority of the state's physicians....maybe they won't hold being from this far south against me?

 

[Mad Jack]

People on SDN seem to be very confident about the quality of the education there. Do they have much of a regional bias? I see that their site claims 60% of their grads practice in Maine and that they produce the majority of the state's physicians....maybe they won't hold being from this far south against me?

You could easily pitch that you like the rural vibe of Maine because you're a rural guy yourself. There is a strong bias for Mainers, but they don't make up much of the class overall. We've got people from all over the country (and a few from Canada too)- regional bias is more a result of self-selection than anything else. That you're from a rural area and (from what I gather) will want to practice rurally is far more important than what state you are from.

And a big reason so many people from UNECOM end up practicing in Maine is because Maine is awesome, so people end up coming back after residency.

 

[deleted407021]

You could easily pitch that you like the rural vibe of Maine because you're a rural guy yourself. There is a strong bias for Mainers, but they don't make up much of the class overall. We've got people from all over the country (and a few from Canada too)- regional bias is more a result of self-selection than anything else. That you're from a rural area and (from what I gather) will want to practice rurally is far more important than what state you are from.

And a big reason so many people from UNECOM end up practicing in Maine is because Maine is awesome, so people end up coming back after residency.

Yep, I can walk for 5 minutes and feed cows from my hand and not see a soul...the idea of living in a big city is not appealing in the slightest. I am interested in relocating to New England, as I think I've mentioned and I like the idea of having developed connections in the region in which I'll likely be living.

Prove it. 5 pros and cons of Maine. Go!

 

[Mad Jack]

Yep, I can walk for 5 minutes and feed cows from my hand and not see a soul...the idea of living in a big city is not appealing in the slightest. I am interested in relocating to New England, as I think I've mentioned and I like the idea of having developed connections in the region in which I'll likely be living.

Prove it. 5 pros and cons of Maine. Go!

Pros
-Lobsta
-Nice People
-Portland is awesome (good night life, plenty of good beer and places to eat, a very youth-oriented hipstery but not in a bad way city)
-Beautiful scenery, beaches are amazing, New England falls with all the associated colors and whatnot, woods for days
-Low CoL

Cons
-It can get cold
-Jobs tend to pay less as an attending
-It snows hard and heavy during the winter
-Traffic is a bitch in the late spring through late summer due to all the tourists from Canada
-Lack of diversity, though this is less of a problem for med students since our classes tend to be pretty diverse

 

[deleted407021]

Pros
-Lobsta
-Nice People
-Portland is awesome (good night life, plenty of good beer and places to eat, a very youth-oriented hipstery but not in a bad way city)
-Beautiful scenery, beaches are amazing, New England falls with all the associated colors and whatnot, woods for days
-Low CoL

Cons
-It can get cold
-Jobs tend to pay less as an attending
-It snows hard and heavy during the winter
-Traffic is a bitch in the late spring through late summer due to all the tourists from Canada
-Lack of diversity, though this is less of a problem for med students since our classes tend to be pretty diverse

I'll do one for GA:

Pros:
- Relatively diverse state
- Good universities fairly evenly distributed throughout the state
- Nice fall and spring weather
- Important heritage, even if it's a largely racist heritage
- Decent opportunities for professionals

Cons:
- Economically dysfunctional, atm (highest UR in the country, screwed up statewide educational funding and HOPE Scholarship being de-funded, etc. etc.)
- Damn conservatives and their anti-everything-that's-not-them-and-doesn't-go-to-their-particular-church mentality running state politics and legislation
- Really unhealthy populace
- Soaking wet, 100+˚ summers
- Elementary, middle and high schools are poorly funded and they suck
- And another thing!.....oh, yeah. I'm only supposed to list 5 cons.

 

[Mad Jack]

I'll do one for GA:

Pros:
- Relatively diverse state
- Good universities fairly evenly distributed throughout the state
- Nice fall and spring weather
- Important heritage, even if it's a largely racist heritage
- Decent opportunities for professionals

Cons:
- Economically dysfunctional, atm (highest UR in the country, screwed up statewide educational funding and HOPE Scholarship being de-funded)
- Damn conservatives and their anti-everything-that's-not-them-and-doesn't-go-to-their-particular-church mentality running state politics and legislation
- Really unhealthy populace
- Soaking wet, 100+˚ summers
- Elementary, middle and high schools are poorly funded and they suck
- And another thing!.....oh, yeah. I'm only supposed to list 5 cons.

Mainers are pretty unhealthy as well, you'll see a lot of people in their 40s that are already rapidly approaching death's doorstep. People aren't really racist though, they're like legit nice and friendly rural types. And summer never gets bad! No idea about the school thing- I don't really plan on having kids, so I never really thought about it.

 

[deleted407021]

Mainers are pretty unhealthy as well, you'll see a lot of people in their 40s that are already rapidly approaching death's doorstep. People aren't really racist though, they're like legit nice and friendly rural types. And summer never gets bad! No idea about the school thing- I don't really plan on having kids, so I never really thought about it.

Several things draw me to Vermont: One of the healthiest populaces in the US. Apparently only 5 Wal Marts in the state because they protect small businesses against monopoly holders. Huge numbers of small organic farms with farmer's markets in many towns. Gorgeous landscape with protected and valued natural resources. 21% secular!! They don't allow billboards on their roadways. The people are supposed to be nice and almost exclusively progressive, especially relative to what I'm used to here in GA, but just country enough to feel homey. The populace is well educated, the schools are good and Burlington has been rated as #1 place to raise a family, which will probably happen at some point. Sure it's cold but the spring and summer months are a dream come true. Maple syrup. Canada is close, so that's cool. Proximity to places like NYC and Montreal if I ever have need or desire to visit.

And let me reiterate:

 

[Mad Jack]

Several things draw me to Vermont: One of the healthiest populaces in the US. Apparently only 5 Wal Marts in the state because they protect small businesses against monopoly holders. Huge numbers of small organic farms with farmer's markets in many towns. Gorgeous landscape with protected and valued natural resources. 21% secular!! They don't allow billboards on their roadways. The people are supposed to be nice and almost exclusively progressive, especially relative to what I'm used to here in GA, but just country enough to feel homey. The populace is well educated, the schools are good and Burlington has been rated as #1 place to raise a family, which will probably happen at some point. Sure it's cold but the spring and summer months are a dream come true. Maple syrup. Canada is close, so that's cool. Proximity to places like NYC and Montreal if I ever have need or desire to visit.

And let me reiterate:

Beware, VT has universal healthcare. It's unknown how it's going to affect physician salaries. Other than that, amazing.

 

[deleted407021]

Beware, VT has universal healthcare. It's unknown how it's going to affect physician salaries. Other than that, amazing.

I'm "one them people" who thinks healthcare should largely be free for everyone or close to it, so that's actually very attractive. Are there any directional hypotheses about where salaries will go? Because I'd like to one day fund a small farm/animal reserve.

 

[Mad Jack]

I'm "one them people" who thinks healthcare should largely be free for everyone or close to it, so that's actually very attractive. Are there any directional hypotheses about where salaries will go? Because I'd like to one day fund a small farm/animal reserve.

It's impossible to say. Ideally things would stay flat, but they could tank. No one yet knows.

 

[deleted407021]

Do you know of any music opportunities on or around UNE's campus, @Mad Jack?

 

[Mad Jack]

Do you know of any music opportunities on or around UNE's campus, @Mad Jack?

Define music opportunities, because that can mean a lot of things.

 

[deleted407021]

Define music opportunities, because that can mean a lot of things.

lol yeah. Symphony or wind ensemble type stuff. I know it's on a university campus.

 

[Mad Jack]

lol yeah. Symphony or wind ensemble type stuff. I know it's on a university campus.

There's Storm Surge, a student/faculty ensemble orchestra. You might also be able to get involved with the Portland Symphony Orchestra's volunteer work.

 

[deleted407021]

There's Storm Surge, a student/faculty ensemble orchestra. You might also be able to get involved with the Portland Symphony Orchestra's volunteer work.

Hmm, I didn't get the quote notification. Thanks!