integrated vascular surgery program

[cinapism]

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I am thinking about doing vascular surgery and I wanted to know about the integrated vascular programs.

Are they competitive? The only ones I have found are Stanford, Dartmouth, SUNY, USF, Michigan, and Mt Sanai.

Is the training as good as gen surg + fellowship? Does the integrated program have better residency lifestyle?

Thanks

 

[academicwannabe]

U Pittsburgh also has one.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I am thinking about doing vascular surgery and I wanted to know about the integrated vascular programs.

Are they competitive? The only ones I have found are Stanford, Dartmouth, SUNY, USF, Michigan, and Mt Sanai.

Yes, they are reportedly competitive.

Is the training as good as gen surg + fellowship?

Depends on whom you ask. Some would say no...that the skills and clinical decision making learned during general surgery would help you regardless of what you decide to do. Others say that 3 years is enough and that its better to hone the skills you will use everyday.

Does the integrated program have better residency lifestyle?

Unknown since they just started but I cannot imagine any reason why they would. It would be program dependent.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

 

[Blade28]

Depends on whom you ask. Some would say no...that the skills and clinical decision making learned during general surgery would help you regardless of what you decide to do. Others say that 3 years is enough and that its better to hone the skills you will use everyday.

I'm not sure how I feel about these integrated programs (Vascular, Plastics, CT). Personally, as a PGY-4, I wouldn't be comfortable acting as a first-year "fellow" in any of these fields (especially CT! 😱 ).

 

[not me]

UNC Chapel Hill has one as well.

http://www.vascularweb.org/Resident.../New_Vascular_Surgery_Training_Paradigms.html

This is updated as soon as new programs gain approval.

At this point they are super competitive simply because there are so few spots. The other applicants I met interviewing were really impressive. Who knows what will happen down the road when there are more spots but I would imagine it will continue to be pretty competitive at least for the next several years.

As for how good the training will be remains to be seen as there are no graduates of the program yet. I don't think it will be easier (with the exception maybe of a few months of IR) you will be expected to function as a first year fellow in your 4th year of residency. I really struggled with my decision but what made the decision for me was the people/programs who are doing this. They are pretty amazing and I like to think that they know what they're doing. All I can say is that I was ecstatic to match into one of these programs and haven't regretted my decision.

If you are really interested you need to start writing papers, going to conferences, and definitely do an away rotation at one of these programs, even if your home program is one of them. With so few spots it really does come down to who you know as well as how good of a candidate you are.

 

[eastcoastyall]

I thought about trying to get into one of these combined programs but ultimately decided against it. As much as we would all like to be done sooner/more efficiently, but after 5 years (where your surgery time is cut short due to more time in the IR suite) would you feel ready to take on a AAA repair?

 

[vascular2007]

I matched into one of the integrated spots in 2007, and I love it.
The lifestyle is program dependent, but at my institution, I think the lifestyle is more focused and better. I do more cardiology, radiology, vascular medicine, vein month, research, anesthesia than the gen surg resident...

In regards to the AAA repair question, the volume is so focused and high here that the fellows complete their numbers in the first 6 months, that's not an issue.

Let me know if you have any questions...