- Joined
- Jun 17, 2009
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I recently interviewed at a program that I really liked. The residents seemed to get along and we're thrilled with the teaching quality and case volume. I clicked with a couple of them in particular and eventually felt comfortable asking about attrition. Turns out they've lost 4 categorical residents in the past 4 years (class size 4-5.) sounds like 2 were mutual dislike, and were helped by the program to get into other specialties within the same hospital system. One was fired for very serious behavioral issues which left the program with no choice, from the sounds of it. The most concerning part: one was "fired for not cutting it" and "made some bad decisions." Although he was helped to match into something else, it does NOT sound like this was mutual.
Now I understand the difference between accidentally forgetting to cover for anaerobes and say, erroneously deciding to throw a surgical airway into someone the first week, but is this a bit of a red flag? Without meaning to judge unfairly, isn't learning (and sometimes making mistakes) supposed to be what residency is about? Clearly I don't have all the details, but it seems that a couple of bad decisions as a sole grounds for firing could create a pretty scary learning environment. Thoughts?
Now I understand the difference between accidentally forgetting to cover for anaerobes and say, erroneously deciding to throw a surgical airway into someone the first week, but is this a bit of a red flag? Without meaning to judge unfairly, isn't learning (and sometimes making mistakes) supposed to be what residency is about? Clearly I don't have all the details, but it seems that a couple of bad decisions as a sole grounds for firing could create a pretty scary learning environment. Thoughts?