Iowa residency

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slb1 said:
I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the residency in Waterloo, IA (Covenant Medical Center). Thanks.
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I have never visited the program but have classmates and friends that did. They all spoke quite fondly of the program. It's obviously not a "big name" program but word is that you get pretty well-rounded training with a lot of forefoot surgery and atleast enough rearfoot to get your numbers.

I think one of Krabmas' co-residents did a month there. May Kraby can talk her into posting a few comments. Also, I think Gustydoc did a month there. I'll try and get his opinion as well.
 
Jonwill is correct, I spent a month this summer at the program as an extern. The program did exceed my expectations, but as with any program there are some pros and cons. The residents are all nice as are the attendings. One problem I had with the program was the fact that almost every attending that you spent time with had trained there as well. That means that they generally all take the same approach to things surgically so you don't see much diversity in technique. They are starting to scrub a lot more case with some docs in cedar rapids who are really good and I know there is also talk of sending the third year resident to Des Moines to do cases with Mike Lee ( he is one of the better surgeons in Iowa in a large ortho group). The relationship with ortho in Waterloo is really good and produces a lot of ankles and rearfoot for the third year resident. Overall the numbers are good and I think you would come out of the program feeling comfortable with most everything you would see in practice. It is completely different from the experience you would have at a program like DMC, but if you are not looking for a ton of trauma it is a good well rounded program. If you have any other questions just pm me and I'll do my best to answer them.
 
gustydoc said:
Jonwill is correct, I spent a month this summer at the program as an extern. The program did exceed my expectations, but as with any program there are some pros and cons. The residents are all nice as are the attendings. One problem I had with the program was the fact that almost every attending that you spent time with had trained there as well. That means that they generally all take the same approach to things surgically so you don't see much diversity in technique. They are starting to scrub a lot more case with some docs in cedar rapids who are really good and I know there is also talk of sending the third year resident to Des Moines to do cases with Mike Lee ( he is one of the better surgeons in Iowa in a large ortho group). The relationship with ortho in Waterloo is really good and produces a lot of ankles and rearfoot for the third year resident. Overall the numbers are good and I think you would come out of the program feeling comfortable with most everything you would see in practice. It is completely different from the experience you would have at a program like DMC, but if you are not looking for a ton of trauma it is a good well rounded program. If you have any other questions just pm me and I'll do my best to answer them.
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Thanks for the information. I am trying to figure out which residencies to apply for clerkships before the 15th. I have good grades (top 15%) and am trying to decide if I want to go for the bigger named residencies or one that is closer to family. I hear a lot that where you do your residency you usually practice. Any thoughts
 
slb1 said:
Thanks for the information. I am trying to figure out which residencies to apply for clerkships before the 15th. I have good grades (top 15%) and am trying to decide if I want to go for the bigger named residencies or one that is closer to family. I hear a lot that where you do your residency you usually practice. Any thoughts
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go for the best training and you'll get a job where "you" want to practice.
 
Last years graduate from Waterloo wanted to go back to South Dakota to practice and now he is doing well in a ortho group in Sioux Falls. If you get good training and you are willing to market yourself a little after residency you can go anywhere you want. One of the big problems with residency graduates is that they feel like they should have tons of offers pouring in as soon as they finish training. The best way to get a great job is to pro-actively market yourself in the area you want to practice by making contacts and talking to groups in the area about your training and how much more revenue you can bring into the practice. While you are still a resident you can travel to the yearly state podiatry meeting where you want to practice or send a letter with your CV to multi-specialty groups in the area explaining your training and what you have to offer. I guess what I am getting at is you should not feel like you are doomed to practice in the area where you train. There may be more offers that seek you out in that area, but you really can get a great job anywhere.
 
One other point that I am sure jonwill will appreciate. If you go to a big name program that has a lot of excellent residency programs besides podiatry( like Detroit Medical Center ) it could really help your job search down the road. When it comes time to search for a job and you are one of a couple applicants for a position in a multispecialty group, there is a good chance that there will either be another doc in that group who trained where you did or at the very least knows about how good the program is.
 
gustydoc said:
One other point that I am sure jonwill will appreciate. If you go to a big name program that has a lot of excellent residency programs besides podiatry( like Detroit Medical Center ) it could really help your job search down the road. When it comes time to search for a job and you are one of a couple applicants for a position in a multispecialty group, there is a good chance that there will either be another doc in that group who trained where you did or at the very least knows about how good the program is.
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Shouldn't you be rounding??? :laugh:
 
slb1 said:
..I am trying to figure out which residencies to apply for clerkships before the 15th. I have good grades (top 15%) and am trying to decide if I want to go for the bigger named residencies or one that is closer to family...
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If you want any of the same big name residencies I might want, you had better go with a mediocre one closer to your family. 😀

j/k... I agree with jon and others... get the best training you can. That doesn't necessarily mean a big name program, but it often does.
 
IlizaRob said:
Oooooh Snap!! :laugh:

Gusty, are you guys showing up to the lecture series tomorrow? If so, we'll see you and the rest of you losers there.
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What lecture series? Unfortunately I haven't heard anything about it. Get me the details and I bet I can get Ben to let us go.
 
gustydoc said:
What lecture series? Unfortunately I haven't heard anything about it. Get me the details and I bet I can get Ben to let us go.
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Are you serious? Some of our residents are presenting and I think some of yours are suppose to also. If you guys dont show up, we will be presenting to ourselves. Your loss though. :laugh:

Hopefully there will be dinner like there was last month.
 
Feli said:
I caught the end of Field of Dreams this morning...

"Is this heaven?"

"It's Iowa."
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sweet. if iowa is considered heaven, i think ill stop going to church!:laugh:
 
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