Inova Fairfax Hospital I.M. Residency

[todo]

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This is a newly accredited program just outside of Washington DC.

Good connections to the local universities and as a hospital it seems to rank very well - and has multiple in-house services/specialties.

I wanted to hear thoughts on applying to such a 'new' program in terms of fellowship prospects, etc

 

[todo]

will someone just give me so cons I should watch out for in applying to newly established programs - PGY3's and up would better know this having been through the process

 

[TheCellarDoor]

I'm an M4 applying so I have no idea about a new program either, but I'm originally from the area and I'm applying there because I know the hospital system pretty well. There information on the website seems well planned, and I like the required research and that research mentors will be assigned to us based on our interests. But I obviously have no idea how the program could pan out either.

Specialty placement is a big issue I'm going to ask about in the interview, because I don't know how a fellowship would view such a new program. Maybe they are planning some IM fellowships as well?

On a side note, I mentioned to the 2 R3s I'm rotating with this month that I was interviewing there (we're in a program familiar with INOVA) and they both said "Well they have the patient population and the money, they should have an IM residency!". So who knows. I just know I'm going to have a long list of questions, and they are going to be a little hard to rank because they are so new.

Good luck! Hope I helped in a tiny way, at least.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

I would not apply to any 'new' program if you're a US MD. I have heard so many horror stories from people who ended up having really lousy experiences at new programs.

Given that it's a new program etc, it's also bound to be >90% FMGs for at least the first few classes, and the fellowship matching is going to be sketchy at first. Unless you're severely geographically limited, have red flags or are Carib/FMG, skip it.

 

[dggopal]

anyone know how many spots the IM residency has at Inova Fairfax hospital.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Try Freida- google it.

 

[dggopal]

yeah I tried Freida, their website, a google search, perhaps I missed it somewhere on the new frieda interface but I think I looked under every stone... would it be inappropriate to shoot the coordinator an email asking about the number of spots they have?

 

[todo]

I would not apply to any 'new' program if you're a US MD. I have heard so many horror stories from people who ended up having really lousy experiences at new programs.

Given that it's a new program etc, it's also bound to be >90% FMGs for at least the first few classes, and the fellowship matching is going to be sketchy at first. Unless you're severely geographically limited, have red flags or are Carib/FMG, skip it.

Horror stories such as what, besides the fellowships issue I don't know anything about other hurdles a new program may face. Couldn't really care less about FMGs, most of the ones I've rotated with have been fantastic teachers

 

[Sachin Tendulkar]

I'm an M4 applying so I have no idea about a new program either, but I'm originally from the area and I'm applying there because I know the hospital system pretty well. There information on the website seems well planned, and I like the required research and that research mentors will be assigned to us based on our interests. But I obviously have no idea how the program could pan out either.

Specialty placement is a big issue I'm going to ask about in the interview, because I don't know how a fellowship would view such a new program. Maybe they are planning some IM fellowships as well?

On a side note, I mentioned to the 2 R3s I'm rotating with this month that I was interviewing there (we're in a program familiar with INOVA) and they both said "Well they have the patient population and the money, they should have an IM residency!". So who knows. I just know I'm going to have a long list of questions, and they are going to be a little hard to rank because they are so new.

Good luck! Hope I helped in a tiny way, at least.

Thanks for this info. I know this is a old post, but I am new to this forum. Can you share more info about this program? I am an IMG and I have an interview there in January. I know it's a new program and I am also concerned about how would it affect my chances of doing fellowship in future? (BTW, I would like to do fellowship in cardiology, but I don't have much info about how can I increase my chances of doing fellowship).

 

[Sachin Tendulkar]

yeah I tried Freida, their website, a google search, perhaps I missed it somewhere on the new frieda interface but I think I looked under every stone... would it be inappropriate to shoot the coordinator an email asking about the number of spots they have?

Have you got any info about number of positions there? On NRMP website it is mentioned that they have 9 openings. And have you already interviewed there? If so, can you please share your experience?

 

[Doctor D]

As someone who has rotated at INOVA I will add my 2 cents. It is a top notch hospital with complex cases that runs insanely efficiently. The hospital is enormous and expanding. Although it is considered new, the hospital has had residents from local programs for decades. In addition, they also have had a TY year for a long time. I don't think it would be a risky program to match at. I lived rotating there and will be happy to rotate again in the future. Northern virginia is a great place to live also.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Horror stories such as what, besides the fellowships issue I don't know anything about other hurdles a new program may face. Couldn't really care less about FMGs, most of the ones I've rotated with have been fantastic teachers

- Disorganization. If you've never dealt with a newly established program/curriculum/rotations, you have no idea how utterly chaotic and disorganized they tend to be at first despite everyone's best intentions.

- What might be described as 'academic culture'. You're taking an institution whose employees have never dealt with trainees before and throwing that into the mix. Nursing/pharmacy/consultants etc all have to acknowledge that the trainees are 'legit' doctors and actually treat them as if they belong in the system. Just as an example...I rotated at a 'new' program where the nurses just did not seem to get it. Whenever there were issues with patients the residents were covering, they would just page staff directly and cut out the residents despite being told repeatedly 'these are residents' patients - please page the residents' etc etc. The point is, it takes time for an institution to accept and adapt to the idea of having trainee doctors in the system...and you don't want to be one of the trainees during the transition period. It will almost certainly be a subpar experience.

Edit: I see the above where Inova has apparently had residents for decades...this may not directly apply.