malignant programs in upper midwest

[Boyder]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Are there any abusive or malignant psych programs in the upper midwest?

 

[whopper]

I don't know of any because I'm not from the area (know a few in the NJ-NY area).

One sign that a program was malignant I've noticed is the program didn't let me talk to the residents about the program during my interview.

 

[Boyder]

What? None?

 

[billypilgrim37]

What? None?

I honestly don't think there are. Are there any programs you're wondering about specifically?

 

[OldPsychDoc]

That's the thing about the Upper Midwest, we just don't do malignant.
Passive-aggressive, maybe, but not malignant. 😀

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

That's the thing about the Upper Midwest, we just don't do malignant.
Passive-aggressive, maybe, but not malignant. 😀

If you REALLY want to see passive-aggressive, you've got to come to England. The English win hands down over Midwesterners here.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

If you REALLY want to see passive-aggressive, you've got to come to England. The English win hands down over Midwesterners here.

I second that.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

If you REALLY want to see passive-aggressive, you've got to come to England. The English win hands down over Midwesterners here.

Well, fine. Whatever.
No. I'm not mad.

 

[billypilgrim37]

That's the thing about the Upper Midwest, we just don't do malignant.

Because we were too dang cold!

In the South, it's typically too hot to be malignant.

You have to go to the Northeast, where overcrowding of resources and hot air from attendings results in weather which fosters malignancy.🙄

 

[whopper]

Hate saying this because I'm from the northeast, but I've seen plenty of malignant programs there.

In fact that was one of the main reasons why I chose my residency as one of the higher picks--(I think I put it as #1)--the program director sincerely wanted to teach the next generation & was against that type of atmosphere. Heck if anything, in hindsight, I think some things in the program were a little too lenient!

 

[Boyder]

The programs I'm interview at are:

Mayo
Iowa
Nebraska-Creighton
Wisconsin
MCW
Michigan
Indiana

Any input about these places?

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

I heard lots of good stuff about UMich from several sources.

Someone from the UK matched to Mayo a few years back and they were pretty happy there. However, the feedback from Americans was that they have a pretty formal institutional culture which may not suit everybody. If you are happy with the notion that "there is the right way, there is the wrong way, and there is Mayo way" you will be fine.

 

[PsychedUp]

I can comment on the two Wisconsin programs:

MCW: This is where I did my general psychiatry residency training. Overall, residents are extremely happy and enjoy a reasonable call schedule. The PGY-2 year is entirely outpatient, with minimal call, and allows for a great psychotherapy experience (traditionally with a heavy psychodynamic influence, though this is decreasing a bit). Residents typically really enjoy the c/l experience in the PGY-3 year, as well as training call at the Milwaukee County Psychiatric Crisis Service (PCS). It is a little known fact that PCS is one of the busiest psychiatric ERs in the nation. I did not realize the benefit this experience would have on my training, and I really enjoyed it.

The program has become more competitive in recent years, and has been consistently filling in the match after a few leaner years prior to this. It remains a good balance between biologic and psychotherapy-based training, and one can seek out more specific supervision in either realm based on personal interest.

The program is family friendly, and many residents choose to start families during residency. If you are highly interested in research, this would be possible, though it would take some effort to seek out this experience at MCW. Moonlighting shifts available at PCS, where training call is done, which is a natural fit since it is a system residents are intimately familiar with.

Milwaukee is a very family friendly city, though some view it as too small with not enough night life/cultural diversity. Chicago is a great weekend destination if you feel the big city itch. Cost of living and traffic are both very reasonable.

UW: Anecdotal information based on colleagues' experience as reported to me. Another good program, likely more biologically-based than MCW. Research more readily available, and a research track exists. Residents are generally quite happy here, and many would not trade Madison for any other city (many have been there since undergrad; lots of national annual rankings list Madison as a top city to live in for numerous reasons). If you've been to Madison, I need not explain.

Moonlighting opportunities are less available than at MCW, from what I've been told.

**I have never heard either program described as anything approximating malignant.

 

[Doc Samson]

FWIW, I've met the chair, PD, and director of CL from MCW and liked them all - can't tell you much else about the program though.

 

[PsychedUp]

As Doc Samson notes, the program director, chair and chief of the consult service at MCW are good people, well respected, and liked by residents.

The PD and chair are quite open to listening to feedback from residents regarding potential change. Also, much to my shock, other dept. chairs don't know residents' names...or so I've been told. At MCW the chair definitely knows residents' names, and drops in at resident meetings regularly regarding the program and any potential concerns/feedback residents may have.

 

[whopper]

Interviewed & was accepted at U of Wisconsin, but for Forensic Fellowship, not the residency program.

So I don't know if its of much help but the guys there were nice. Several of the people I interviewed & met were attendings who were graduates & U of W & had nothing but nice things to say about the fellowship & the residency program.

As for the surrounding area... people in the area are nice, and its a nice place in general. The atmosphere of the town it was in was surburab-rurual.

Sorry, but can't be of much more help.

 

[billypilgrim37]

In the Midwest, I interviewed at Cincinnati, Michigan, Northwestern, and Pittsburgh. Each of these programs was incredibly benign, and should not worry you in the slightest.

I spoke with the PD of Wisconsin on the phone for quite a while, and he seemed like an AMAZING dude. Had very pleasant dealings with Louisville as well. A buddy of mine matched at Iowa for a combined program, and he has nothing but wonderful things to say about the place.

Of your list, Michigan is BY FAR the strongest program. It's a fabulous place to train, the residents are quite happy, and the faculty are very supportive of their residents.

That's not to put the rest down by any means.

 

[whopper]

I interviewed at Cincinnati,

Well I'm going to start fellowship at U of C in 2009 and several of my colleagues are U of C graduates.

Never went through the program as a resident (I went through UMDNJ-in Camden & Atlantic Regional Medical Center), but they never mentioned any malignancy, the graduates I met are well rounded people & they know their psychiatry. The University Hospital in Cincinnati is one of the top ten hospitals in the country-the program is considered a top tier & it has some heavyweights such as Paul Keck, Henry Nasrallah & Doug Mossman.

Thing I like about Cincinnati is its got all the culture (restaurants, arts, etc) of a big city, but it doesn't have the big city smog, big city attitude (people are actually nice here) & the rural country is only minutes away.

 

[billypilgrim37]

The University Hospital in Cincinnati is one of the top ten hospitals in the country

University Hospital is down the street from a top ten hospital...😉

 

[Doc Samson]

Well I'm going to start fellowship at U of C in 2009 and several of my colleagues are U of C graduates.

Never went through the program as a resident (I went through UMDNJ-in Camden & Atlantic Regional Medical Center), but they never mentioned any malignancy, the graduates I met are well rounded people & they know their psychiatry. The University Hospital in Cincinnati is one of the top ten hospitals in the country-the program is considered a top tier & it has some heavyweights such as Paul Keck, Henry Nasrallah & Doug Mossman.

Thing I like about Cincinnati is its got all the culture (restaurants, arts, etc) of a big city, but it doesn't have the big city smog, big city attitude (people are actually nice here) & the rural country is only minutes away.

Forensics, right? At Cincinnati, no less. I'll have to start deferring all the "prestige" questions to you.

 

[whopper]

University Hospital is down the street from a top ten hospital...

Oops you may be right--there's that 2 hospital next to each other thing going on. Hey..this is what happens when you're not actually working in it but in the forensic facility several blocks away because the lady in the hospital for the triple bypass wouldn't sleep well at night knowing there's a murderer/sex offender in the same building.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Oops you may be right--there's that 2 hospital next to each other thing going on.

The folks at children's are pretty adamant about how they have nothing to do with the university hospital, it's almost kinda funny. I have quite a few friends who are peds residents there. But that's not saying much, since they have like 60 residents a class or something ridiculous like that 😉

But that said, the psych department is awesome and has great leadership.

 

[Hurricane]

I went to med school at Cincinnati. Definitely not malignant. The chili is weird though.

And unless it's changed, psych residents DO go over to children's for their child rotations. And to eat at their swanky cafeteria.

 

[ronin12]

The programs I'm interview at are:

Mayo
Iowa
Nebraska-Creighton
Wisconsin
MCW
Michigan
Indiana

Any input about these places?

Can give you insight into Creighton-Nebraska Program as being trained there for adult psychiatry. Good people, good working enviorment, Helpfull attendings, very friendly and approachable Chairmen from both universities. As it is a combined program from both creighton univ and univ of nebraska the diversity of experience and teaching is unparralel. ranging from va , univ hosp, community mental health to priv hospitals.

Call is from home and you are called if there is a patient in er or medical floor, it can vary greatly sometimes busy sometimes happy sleeping through the night 🙂.
great emphasis on teaching , almost one full day dedicated for classes, grand rounds, psychotherpay and other teachings. Also emphasis on Board preparation by mock oral exams during residency.

PD very helpful and open to changes in program , very sympathetic to resident's concerns if they have any.
I can not think of any malignant tendencies in this program, Omaha is town of 1.2 million people who are friendly, helpful and laid back, which is evident in program atmosphere as well.
Above all The program coordinators were the most wonderfull and helpfull ladies and they made our lives very easy with their helping nature.

I Will Strongly recomend this Program.

Good Luck 👍

 

[whopper]

I got no idea what its like at Iowa, but that state is extremely underserved & willing to pay top dollar to keep psychiatrists in underserved counties.

I'd doubt its malignant, though I can't say it isn't.

 

[ronin12]

I got no idea what its like at Iowa, but that state is extremely underserved & willing to pay top dollar to keep psychiatrists in underserved counties.

I'd doubt its malignant, though I can't say it isn't.

I dont's think U iowa in Iowa city is malignant program.Impression I got by some dealings with them is that they have some superiority complex having some well known researchers. they are Big in psychopharm reserach. Overall it is one of the country's known programs due this fact. Iowa city is small college town, so not much to offer other then small town charm. But you will have many moonlighting opportunities in Iowa and after graduation excellent job offers due to grave shortage of psychiatrists in Iowa.