Importance of having a home program

[Iapyx]

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I saw this asked a few months ago but was unable to find it when I searched... so sorry if is redundant...

Will going to a school without an ophthalmology residency make it significantly harder for me to match? One of the schools I've been accepted to and that I really like doesn't have a department. Many of the schools that I like less (but still like) do have associated residencies. Should this impact my decision?

As a side note, I know that many people change their minds on specialty in med school. I've spent a good deal of time in the field though and am relatively confident. Thanks.

 

[OPPforlife]

go to one with a department. General consensus on SDN is that this is where you get your letters from and home program is usually a good back up place to match but not always.

 

[airplanes]

I interviewed at a few top places with an applicant from a school without a an ophtho department. He said it was pretty rough, and he had to take a ton of initiative to do the things necessary to be a complete and competitive applicant. Would definitely make it a lot harder on you.

A few important reasons to have a home ophtho program:

Can get involved with research early on in med school. If you already know you want ophtho and can get started early, you will have a pile of pubs by the time you apply. This is a huge boost.

Working on research projects will presumably help you develop great relationships with faculty, who can later write you letters, help you get accepted, and advocate on your behalf.

Ophtho is a small field, and when you apply, it will help you if you have letters from well known or connected faculty. Easiest way to get these are through your home program.

Finally, I know you say you KNOW. But you don't. Not to be condescending, but it's very rare to stay in the field you are interested in. I have had classmates who worked years in the ED, who wanted ED and ended up switching to something else by the end of first year. You just never know. If you think that medical school is for you, just go for it. You'll fall in love with something else, something else you may have eventually fallen for anyways, and you'll be just as happy.

 

[guttata]

If there is any chance you want to do ophtho, go to the school with a department because of the reasons mentioned. Just being around the department and knowing the faculty makes a tremendous difference in the quality of letters of recommendations, available research, clinical skill exams/education, publishing opportunities, etc. You will be an insider and be remembered, especially around the match. If you go to a school without a department, you will always be the "away" student and be easily forgotten. Part of the reason why DOs do not match well into ophtho is the lack of departmental resources.

 

[Iapyx]

Thanks for the replies thus far. They've been helpful...

 

[Oftho]

Keep in mind that there is a big difference between a lack of an ophtho department and lack of an ophtho residency. I go to a school without an ophtho residency, but with several ophtho faculty that are very dedicated to involving students in research, clinic time, grand rounds presentations, etc. I just matched at a top program without a home residency program. I agree that having an ophtho department is important, but having a home residency program isn't required to succeed in the match.

 

[Iapyx]

Keep in mind that there is a big difference between a lack of an ophtho department and lack of an ophtho residency. I go to a school without an ophtho residency, but with several ophtho faculty that are very dedicated to involving students in research, clinic time, grand rounds presentations, etc. I just matched at a top program without a home residency program. I agree that having an ophtho department is important, but having a home residency program isn't required to succeed in the match.

I assumed that having a department meant having a residency. What constitutes a department? The school in question has an ophthalmology elective rotation for 4th years. Its a preceptorship, in which you basically shadow a community ophthalmologist. The contact person for the rotation is a local ophthalmologist who received his education from a top 10 residency program (I assume this makes an LOR more influential) . I believe the rotation is done through the department of surgery though. I can't seem to find any ophtho-related research at the school, but maybe its just not made public.I had been assuming research was only done at places with residencies. I'm guessing all this doesn't constitute a department...


Also, the earlier comments seem to imply that having a residency, and not just a department, is important. That is, if I understand them correctly.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[hurdlepup]

I assumed that having a department meant having a residency. What constitutes a department? The school in question has an ophthalmology elective rotation for 4th years at a local hospital. The school doesn't have its own hospital and there is no dedicated eye hospital in the city. The contact person for the rotation is a local ophthalmologist who received his education from a top 10 residency program (I assume this makes an LOR more influential) . I believe the rotation is done through the department of surgery though. I can't seem to find any ophtho-related research at the school, but maybe its just not made public.I had been assuming research was only done at places with residencies.


Also, the earlier comments seem to imply that having a residency, and not just a department, is important. That is, if I understand them correctly.

Thanks again for the input.

There are plusses and minuses to having a department but no residency. Plus side is that you are first assist as the med student on things like plastics, etc. Minuses are the other learning opportunities such as didactics that are part of a residency program. In that case you do aways for those experiences. That was my experience. I matched where I did an away. I was not a forgotten visiting student and it became like my home institution. In the end I'd say just go with which school you like better! That said, the med school name does open doors in the match somewhat if its Ivy League, but not much else.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

I have a department but no residency program at my institution. Our ophthalmology PD is at a large private hospital, and many of the faculty including our PD trained at top 5 programs and are well connected. Not having a home residency did not hinder our match last week.

I assumed that having a department meant having a residency. What constitutes a department? The school in question has an ophthalmology elective rotation for 4th years. Its a preceptorship, in which you basically shadow a community ophthalmologist. The contact person for the rotation is a local ophthalmologist who received his education from a top 10 residency program (I assume this makes an LOR more influential) . I believe the rotation is done through the department of surgery though. I can't seem to find any ophtho-related research at the school, but maybe its just not made public.I had been assuming research was only done at places with residencies. I'm guessing all this doesn't constitute a department...


Also, the earlier comments seem to imply that having a residency, and not just a department, is important. That is, if I understand them correctly.

Thanks again for the input.