IMG Internal Medicine Applicants - Match 2019

[Endorphins]

me too! but do you really trust these statements?

not at all hahaha played no role whatsoever while deciding my ranking list

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[rokshana]

Wow such an impressive list. I hope you get your choice! If you don't mind, would you like to share your credentials?

He did a long time ago...just search his posts.

 

[rokshana]

Please help me rank these IM programs. IMG here. Interested in Cardiology/Heme Onc.
1. Jacobi, NY
2. Aurora, Wisconsin
3. Bridgeport/Yale new haven, Connecticut
4. Rochester General Hospital, NY
5. Marshall University, WV
6. St Luke's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri
7. Howard Univ, DC
8. Richmond Univ Med Center, NY
9. SUNY Downstate, NY
10. St Barnabas Medical Center, NJ
11. Nassau Univ Med Center, NY
12. Chicago Med school/McHenry Centegra Hospital, Illinois
13. Texas Tech Amarillo, TX
14. Univ of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
15. Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, GA
16. Beaumont health, Dearborn, Michigan
17. Montefiore Wakefield, NY
18. St Peter's Univ, NJ
19. Raritan Bay-Jersey shore Perth Amboy, NJ
20. Capital Health, NJ
21. Icahn SOM Queens hosp, NY
22. Montefiore, New Rochelle, NY
23. Kingsbrook, NY
24. Flushing Hospital, NY
25. Greater Baltimore Med Center, MD
26. Guthrie/Robert Packer, PA

Thank you so much in advance!

Damn Sam ! You went on all those interviews?! Strong work!

 

[rokshana]

me too! but do you really trust these statements?

Yes you should... but you will definitely get cred for training at downstate.

 

[MichaelJonny]

Damn Sam ! You went on all those interviews?! Strong work!

Thanks. But I need input on how to rank those programs atleast top 10

 

[Endorphins]

Yes you should... but you will definitely get cred for training at downstate.

I think @match 2019 was talking about the "we will rank you highly" or "we will be very happy to see you match here" when he/she said "these" statements

 

[hawklo1211]

Hello guys, Please help me rank. Long term goal: hospitalist/cards.
-Cook County
-Jacobi
-SUNY upstate
-Rochester general
-U at buffalo main campus (not the sisters of charity one)

- Jacobi
- Cook
- Rochester

I think upstate should be 2nd or 3rd? I am not sure.

 

[winteriscominginapril]

I think the work environment at Downstate is terrible. Anybody who knows about SUNY Downstate? I didn't read good things on the thread.

NYC programs are known to be busy with certain amount of scutwork. In terms of working environment, I would not expect Jacobi to be better, if not worse, than SUNY Downstate.

 

[winteriscominginapril]

- Jacobi
- Cook
- Rochester

I think upstate should be 2nd or 3rd? I am not sure.

Again, I don't think it's wise to put Jacobi, a program without inhouse card, at the top of this list. OP should put Cook County, SUNY Upstate and Univ of Buffalo in the top three for that

 

[MoLarryKerlyBLine]

Please help me rank these IM programs. IMG here. Interested in Cardiology/Heme Onc.
1. Jacobi, NY
2. Aurora, Wisconsin
3. Bridgeport/Yale new haven, Connecticut
4. Rochester General Hospital, NY
5. Marshall University, WV
6. St Luke's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri
7. Howard Univ, DC
8. Richmond Univ Med Center, NY
9. SUNY Downstate, NY
10. St Barnabas Medical Center, NJ
11. Nassau Univ Med Center, NY
12. Chicago Med school/McHenry Centegra Hospital, Illinois
13. Texas Tech Amarillo, TX
14. Univ of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
15. Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, GA
16. Beaumont health, Dearborn, Michigan
17. Montefiore Wakefield, NY
18. St Peter's Univ, NJ
19. Raritan Bay-Jersey shore Perth Amboy, NJ
20. Capital Health, NJ
21. Icahn SOM Queens hosp, NY
22. Montefiore, New Rochelle, NY
23. Kingsbrook, NY
24. Flushing Hospital, NY
25. Greater Baltimore Med Center, MD
26. Guthrie/Robert Packer, PA

Thank you so much in advance!

Do you have a geographical preference? Your list is kind of all over the place. Not sure why Aurora is so high, despite having in-house cards. You have to also examine the possibility of having to match outside your program. Personally, my top would look like:

1. Jacobi
2. Downstate
3. Bridgeport
4. Rochester
5. Marshall
6. Howard
7. Richmond

 

[drwaluigi]

Again, I don't think it's wise to put Jacobi, a program without inhouse card, at the top of this list. OP should put Cook County, SUNY Upstate and Univ of Buffalo in the top three for that

Jacobi has an amazing fellowship placement for cards, it's easier to get into Montefiore if u did IM in Jacobi. Chairman is a cardiologist and very enthusiastic with residents, willing to help, unlike many chairs
Also PD mentioned this year they are planing to have a cards fellowship... maybe in 3 years you can get one

 

[hawklo1211]

Again, I don't think it's wise to put Jacobi, a program without inhouse card, at the top of this list. OP should put Cook County, SUNY Upstate and Univ of Buffalo in the top three for that

In-house fellowship is not everything. Even without in-house cards fellowship, their cards fellowship placement is very impressive. The fact that you trained at Jacobi tells fellowship program directors that you are a qualified and strong applicant even without impressing them in person. Essentially your CV is advocating for you. This is why where you do residency matters a lot.

 

[Aj_doc]

Thanks guys for your valuable feedback. I really appreciate it!
I agree in-house fellowship is not everything especially if they don't prefer in-house residents. I think important thing is overall fellowship placement. Here is my final rank order:
1- Jacobi
2- Cook County
3- Rochester
4- Upstate
5- Univ Buffalo

Thanks everyone!

 

[MichaelJonny]

Do you have a geographical preference? Your list is kind of all over the place. Not sure why Aurora is so high, despite having in-house cards. You have to also examine the possibility of having to match outside your program. Personally, my top would look like:

1. Jacobi
2. Downstate
3. Bridgeport
4. Rochester
5. Marshall
6. Howard
7. Richmond

Thank you so much. I put Aurora so high due to the lifestyle. It looks a very relaxed program. I know the fellowship match rate is not so impressive but their Card unit is great. I don't have geo preference. Is it wise to put Downstate high? I heard terrible scut work there and staff is not friendly

 

[rokshana]

I think @match 2019 was talking about the "we will rank you highly" or "we will be very happy to see you match here" when he/she said "these" statements

Oh no...those should play no role in ranking

 

[rokshana]

In-house fellowship is not everything. Even without in-house cards fellowship, their cards fellowship placement is very impressive. The fact that you trained at Jacobi tells fellowship program directors that you are a qualified and strong applicant even without impressing them in person. Essentially your CV is advocating for you. This is why where you do residency matters a lot.

Well that’s stretching it a bit...Jacobi and downstate are probably in the same tier when it comes to nyc programs...it’s a bit red headed step child to monte, but can’t hurt having the PD be a cardiologist.

 

[Jarvis1612]

Hello, there! Tried this on the "Help me rank" Megathread but I got no answer. I am a Non-US Need Visa IMG interested in ID. In descending order:

Texas Tech, Lubbock
AEMC, PA
UTRGV DHR, TX
UTRGV VBMC, TX
Jacobi, NY
MacNeal, IL

I´ve got the rest of my list figured out, but I am struggling with this section. I know Jacobi is a good program for IMGs but I like Texas a lot, and although FREIDA lists University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) programs as "community programs" they are pretty much University programs. I think UTRGV does not have its own University Hospital, so that is why.

Thanks.

 

[hawklo1211]

Well that’s stretching it a bit...Jacobi and downstate are probably in the same tier when it comes to nyc programs...it’s a bit red headed step child to monte, but can’t hurt having the PD be a cardiologist.

Well, I am not saying Jacobi is the best program in NYC. But I am sure there is a reason why many of their graduates match into cards fellowship. Many fellowship program directors have preference towards residents from certain residency programs.

 

[rokshana]

Well, I am not saying Jacobi is the best program in NYC. But I am sure there is a reason why many of their graduates match into cards fellowship. Many fellowship program directors have preference towards residents from certain residency programs.

That is true enough

 

[desperate one]

Well that’s stretching it a bit...Jacobi and downstate are probably in the same tier when it comes to nyc programs...it’s a bit red headed step child to monte, but can’t hurt having the PD be a cardiologist.

Well, I am not saying Jacobi is the best program in NYC. But I am sure there is a reason why many of their graduates match into cards fellowship. Many fellowship program directors have preference towards residents from certain residency programs.

It seems that this year Downstate tried to ease work hours at least though, by implementing 4+2. I was especially offered primary care track, without particular limit of pursuit of fellowship, and got the vibe that I will receive good mentorship and guidance. NYC=scutwork though, unless on big 4. What do you expect? haha

 

[TomSilverman1980]

Need help in ranking.. I am aiming for hospitalist career.

Staten Island U H
Jewish Hospital Cincinnati Ohio
McHenry Chicago Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin (3 yr old program)

Location is not important.

Thank you

 

[MoLarryKerlyBLine]

Thank you so much. I put Aurora so high due to the lifestyle. It looks a very relaxed program. I know the fellowship match rate is not so impressive but their Card unit is great. I don't have geo preference. Is it wise to put Downstate high? I heard terrible scut work there and staff is not friendly

I understand the desire to put a lifestyle program ahead of a workhorse, but if your goal is cards/any other big 4 specialty, then you better be working hard anyway. I did not interview at either of those places, but on my own list, I am prioritizing fellowship placement over perceived prestige or lifestyle.

We get one shot at this, do it right. Whatever that may mean for you.

 

[whoknows2012]

Lifestyle should not really factor much into your decision making process if you have any aspirations of a competitive subspecialty. It’s ok to Consider the whole of a program (including “lifestyle”) but I think it’ll ultimately be detrimental to your career if you rank one program highest due to lifestyle alone

 

[IMreshopeful]

Thank you so much. I put Aurora so high due to the lifestyle. It looks a very relaxed program. I know the fellowship match rate is not so impressive but their Card unit is great. I don't have geo preference. Is it wise to put Downstate high? I heard terrible scut work there and staff is not friendly

Cardiology training is hard work
Going to a lifestyle residency and fear of working hard will just make getting into a cards fellowship harder especially if you know the program doesn’t have a good history of matching fellows

 

[MichaelJonny]

I understand the desire to put a lifestyle program ahead of a workhorse, but if your goal is cards/any other big 4 specialty, then you better be working hard anyway. I did not interview at either of those places, but on my own list, I am prioritizing fellowship placement over perceived prestige or lifestyle.

We get one shot at this, do it right. Whatever that may mean for you.

Thank you buddy for your advice. Aurora Sinai has in-house Cardio fellowship with 6 fellows each year and the Cardio unit is very big with lots of Cardio researches. So, I was thinking I may not compromise my chance for Card. But I'll think about it now.

 

[MichaelJonny]

Cardiology training is hard work
Going to a lifestyle residency and fear of working hard will just make getting into a cards fellowship harder especially if you know the program doesn’t have a good history of matching fellows

Thank you buddy. Actually I don't have fear of working hard but I was trying to consider lifestyle. Since Aurora Sinai have in-house card fellowship including Interventional Card, I was thinking that may increase my chance.

 

[MichaelJonny]

Lifestyle should not really factor much into your decision making process if you have any aspirations of a competitive subspecialty. It’s ok to Consider the whole of a program (including “lifestyle”) but I think it’ll ultimately be detrimental to your career if you rank one program highest due to lifestyle alone

Thank you for your suggestion!!

 

[Titi27]

Hi everyone!
I'd really appreciate some help to rank these programs:

RFUMS/ Chicago Medical School - McHenry
Advocate illinois Masonic Medical Center (Chicago)
UPMC McKeesport
St Agnes Hospital (Baltimore)
Lincoln Medical Center (nyc)

Thank you!!!

 

[Ehch18142]

Thank you for the information. Even though I don’t know the full details, it’s understandable that they would take a KU grad over the competitive IMG applicant but it’s unsettling that she would go unmatched altogether.

In any case, I haven’t quite made the final decision and am still going back and forth but I’m leaning towards KU over UConn by a hair. Program strength, research opportunity, overall vibe, etc. seem more or less equivalent but program size and perceived program strength of and number of spots available in in-house hem/onc were some factors that favour KU. I figured a medium sized program as opposed to a very large one would allow more focused attention and support from the faculty and admin. Also, KU hem/onc seems to have a good reputation and has plenty of spots especially considering the size of class.

I work at KU and interviewed here.
My 2 cents- KU has real warm and happy people on all services. The work environment is stress free and not super busy program. The schedule is one thing I love 3+1 structure and very flexible with your priorities. I personally love everyone here and the PD is amazing..heard great things about her...residents are superfriendly. KC is not the best city I agree but it has everything that you want and kind of like it here!
Downsides- I work as a research fellow in GI itself- they do not like in house people for GI. Only max 1 in house GI (this year they matched 2 but one was an AMG and second was an IMG hospitalist working here since 2012) My mentor is the GI PD here at KU and he has told me on face that if anything it is going to get tough for in house IMGs to get into fellowship here as they prefer in house AMGs over in house IMGs and outsiders IMGs over outsider AMGs. He told me this is going to be the trend for all other fellowship programs very soon here. GI has already turned into one such program. Though most of my GI clinical fellow team is Indian/ middle eastern grads but whenever an AMG is available they would go for an AMG just like what happened last year and the year before.
Also the 10 to 15 months at VA might not be the best part of the training though you get diverse experience but CPRS is not the best EMR (they however have been seeing Cerner is coming but its been 3 years now since they started saying that) and VA there is more autonomy and minimal super vision (my primary work site is the VA) and not the best ancillary staff. Nights are a little scary experience in the initial half of the intern year.
Inbox me if you want to know more.
Hope this helps!

 

[starry_night]

Q: What is the reason that the majority of IMGs want to do a fellowship over hospitalist/PCP? I'm unsure about my future plans so want to weigh in all the options.

 

[il pani]

Q: What is the reason that the majority of IMGs want to do a fellowship over hospitalist/PCP? I'm unsure about my future plans so what to weigh in all the options.

In many countries being a hospitalist or PCP either doesn't exist or is very different to what it means in the US. I didn't understand it myself until I saw it with my own eyes and understood all the benefits and type of clinical practice I could have. I am one of those who will not go into fellowship. I have heard from many IMGs that, after starting residency, they reconsider going into one of these two tracks instead of fellowship. There are many other factors that come into play, but this was definitely something that influenced me heavily.

 

[starry_night]

In many countries being a hospitalist or PCP either doesn't exist or is very different to what it means in the US. I didn't understand it myself until I saw it with my own eyes and understood all the benefits and type of clinical practice I could have. I am one of those who will not go into fellowship. I have heard from many IMGs that, after starting residency, they reconsider going into one of these two tracks instead of fellowship. There are many other factors that come into play, but this was definitely something that influenced me heavily.

Is the compensation the same for PCP/hospitalist/ sub-specialist?? If it is state specific, then what do you think it is like in places like dallas/chicago.

 

[starry_night]

I work at KU and interviewed here.
My 2 cents- KU has real warm and happy people on all services. The work environment is stress free and not super busy program. The schedule is one thing I love 3+1 structure and very flexible with your priorities. I personally love everyone here and the PD is amazing..heard great things about her...residents are superfriendly. KC is not the best city I agree but it has everything that you want and kind of like it here!
Downsides- I work as a research fellow in GI itself- they do not like in house people for GI. Only max 1 in house GI (this year they matched 2 but one was an AMG and second was an IMG hospitalist working here since 2012) My mentor is the GI PD here at KU and he has told me on face that if anything it is going to get tough for in house IMGs to get into fellowship here as they prefer in house AMGs over in house IMGs and outsiders IMGs over outsider AMGs. He told me this is going to be the trend for all other fellowship programs very soon here. GI has already turned into one such program. Though most of my GI clinical fellow team is Indian/ middle eastern grads but whenever an AMG is available they would go for an AMG just like what happened last year and the year before.
Also the 10 to 15 months at VA might not be the best part of the training though you get diverse experience but CPRS is not the best EMR (they however have been seeing Cerner is coming but its been 3 years now since they started saying that) and VA there is more autonomy and minimal super vision (my primary work site is the VA) and not the best ancillary staff. Nights are a little scary experience in the initial half of the intern year.
Inbox me if you want to know more.
Hope this helps!

Very very helpful post. Thank you so much.
1. Do you think Heme Onc is going to turn that way too? The main reasons for me to rank KUMC higher is the in-house Heme Onc Fellowship. Current census for Heme Onc shows 1 in-house IMG every year and rest are all outside IMG
2. If not considering fellowship as a priority, do you think KUMC is a better option than mid-tier university programs like UConn/UMass in the northeast???

 

[Titi27]

Anyone having problems with login to nrmp R3 ??

 

[starry_night]

Anyone having problems with login to nrmp R3 ??

YES

 

[il pani]

Is the compensation the same for PCP/hospitalist/ sub-specialist?? If it is state specific, then what do you think it is like in places like dallas/chicago.

It is not the same. It varies by state and by setting. For example, you will get paid much more if you work at a rural or suburban hospital than if you work at an inner city hospital. This is to give people incentives to work at less desirable locations to care for populations with less access to healthcare and physicians. Furthermore, your pay will also go down if you go into an academic hospital or academic position. This also ranges from hospital to hospital but it could cut down your pay anywhere between 15-35% (do not quote me, just a ballpark from my personal research). I guess it depends on your vies of "compensation". You can search online and also look in other SDN forums. I've seen hospitalists gaining 350K per year working their ass off, but it seems that average is around 250K per year (which to me is pretty damn good). PCPs could be anywhere between 150-220K. Cardiologists could be making 500-1,000K, but to me it's not worth the sacrifice of training 3+ years and then having a terrible schedule. You'll have to balance what your priorities are...

(all numbers are from my own searches and what I have found online)

 

[enteante]

YES

same!

 

[Titi27]

YES

I don't understand.. still not working for me and I haven't certified my list

 

[Apollo9293]

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences vs. Mount Sinai SLR? Interested in Cards.

 

[magical_world]

Guys, after certifying the list, is there a submit option?

 

[Endorphins]

Guys, after certifying the list, is there a submit option?

No, you just need to certify it. If you are unsure or feel you might be missing a step: once you certify your list, you should get an email saying you have certified your list and your status in the nrmp website changes from RANKING (red) to CERTIFIED (green I think?). That means your list is officially certified and you're good to go.

There's a video on youtube if you want to go over it that gives you a broad overview:
Guidelines for Applicants for Creating a Rank Order List (ROL)

 

[MoLarryKerlyBLine]

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences vs. Mount Sinai SLR? Interested in Cards.

SLR for sure.

 

[magical_world]

No, you just need to certify it. If you are unsure or feel you might be missing a step: once you certify your list, you should get an email saying you have certified your list and your status in the nrmp website changes from RANKING (red) to CERTIFIED (green I think?). That means your list is officially certified and you're good to go

Thank you very much for clarifying that.

 

[Endorphins]

It's working again! Make sure to certify now (even if it's not your final version)... you can always edit and re-certify as many times as you wish until Feb 20th at 9:00pm ET but if worse case scenario and website crashes again, at least you're certified.

Anyone having problems with login to nrmp R3 ??

YES

same!

I don't understand.. still not working for me and I haven't certified my list

 

[Apollo9293]

SLR for sure.

Any reason why?

 

[Jesse white]

How's Montefiore Wakefield's placements after grad?

 

[Jarvis1612]

Hello, there! I am a Non-US Need Visa IMG interested in ID. In descending order:

Texas Tech, Lubbock
AEMC, PA
UTRGV DHR, TX
UTRGV VBMC, TX
Jacobi, NY
MacNeal, IL

I know Jacobi is a good program for IMGs but I like Texas a lot, and although FREIDA lists University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) programs as "community programs" they are pretty much University programs. Any thoughts on these Texas programs?

Thanks.

#5542

 

[bmo92]

Hello everyone!!
I am a Canadian IMG (non US Visa Requiring - J1)
My current Internal Medicine R list order is:
1) Norwalk Hospital/Yale (affiliate)
(free housing, community with good affliation, great staff)
2) SUNY Upstate
(Uni program/hospital, tertiary center, not greatest city, good cost of living tho, large program residents looked like they were numbers)
3) Cleveland Clinic Florida
(great brand name, small program, mixed on quality of staff/training)
4) Medstar Washington Hospital Center
(nice location, good staff, strong fellowship match's)
5) Danbury Hospital, CT
(in house cardio, alot of changes/improv to program but historically weak)
6) St. Joseph's Ann Arbor, MI
(no in house fellowships)
7) Rochester General, NY
(future cardio fellowship in process)

Location is not a major factor for me, happy anywhere. Just want the best quality and training program, great culture and staff to maintain a healthy happy attitude and enjoy my day and work. Current ranking based off feel of program, staff and residents and personal experience with the hospitals.
Any advice or recommendations? Open to all suggestions. Interested in Cardiology as fellowship.

 

[sss2g2]

Hi everyone!
I'd really appreciate some help to rank these programs:

RFUMS/ Chicago Medical School - McHenry
Advocate illinois Masonic Medical Center (Chicago)
UPMC McKeesport
St Agnes Hospital (Baltimore)
Lincoln Medical Center (nyc)

Thank you!!!

Would love to know everyone's thoughts about Advocate Masonic. It seems a lot of people have them on their lists. Me included.

 

[drwaluigi]

Hello everyone!!
I am a Canadian IMG (non US Visa Requiring - J1)
My current Internal Medicine R list order is:
1) Norwalk Hospital/Yale (affiliate)
(free housing, community with good affliation, great staff)
2) SUNY Upstate
(Uni program/hospital, tertiary center, not greatest city, good cost of living tho, large program residents looked like they were numbers)
3) Cleveland Clinic Florida
(great brand name, small program, mixed on quality of staff/training)
4) Medstar Washington Hospital Center
(nice location, good staff, strong fellowship match's)
5) Danbury Hospital, CT
(in house cardio, alot of changes/improv to program but historically weak)
6) St. Joseph's Ann Arbor, MI
(no in house fellowships)
7) Rochester General, NY
(future cardio fellowship in process)

Location is not a major factor for me, happy anywhere. Just want the best quality and training program, great culture and staff to maintain a healthy happy attitude and enjoy my day and work. Current ranking based off feel of program, staff and residents and personal experience with the hospitals.
Any advice or recommendations? Open to all suggestions. Interested in Cardiology as fellowship.

I would put RGH and Medstar wash 2 and 3