Midatlantic programs' reputation

[JaSam]

---

Members don't see this ad.

can you guys rank where you feel these programs fall in terms of reputation?

pittsburgh, maryland, unc, georgetown, jefferson, wake forest

thanks a bunch, just curious to see ya'lls views.

 

[bonran]

UPMC>U Miami (Jefferson)>>UNC>U Maryland

Programs I would not go to for neurology residency:

Georgetown U & Wake Forest. Not heard much of their graduates or faculty.

UPMC & Miami Jefferson are high volume & intense. Good training, but there are better programs out there.

UNC isnt in the same class as the other 2 but may turn out to be a more pleasant place to train in.

I do not know much about the other 3 programs though I do know that GTU & GWU in DC are just too small for well rounded training in todays date.

As I have written elsewhere, I would not go to programs which did not have strong Stroke/Epilepsy/NM & Critical Care Neurology training. Preferably, the program you pick should have fellowships in all 4 of the above.

 

[lanzarlaluna]

It's Jackson, by the way, not Jefferson.

 

[bonran]

Right.

If it is Thomas Jefferson U you were asking about then it has a mediocre reputation. More of an old school neurology program with emphasis on EEG EMG though it has a neuroICU I hear & a mediocre stroke program. Again not in the same league as Miami or UPMC. Even UNC & Maryland have a better reputation than it in the Neuro circles.

 

[JaSam]

Right.

If it is Thomas Jefferson U you were asking about then it has a mediocre reputation. More of an old school neurology program with emphasis on EEG EMG though it has a neuroICU I hear & a mediocre stroke program. Again not in the same league as Miami or UPMC. Even UNC & Maryland have a better reputation than it in the Neuro circles.

Yes it is the Jefferson in Philly. I got the impression however that their graduates are pretty successful in the matching for fellowships however. Thanks for your input btw appreciate it.

 

[pazu]

Not to hijack the thread, but where do programs like UVA, Vandy and Duke fall in this? I guess they are more SE programs but you did mention Wake Forest and UNC in your list.

 

[bonran]

pazu: To answer your question got to : OHSU vs. Michigan vs. Colorado

JaSam: Its not a big deal to land fellowships in good places in Neurology. Depends on what one is looking for & there are ample good programs out there for alternatives if one doesnt land his/her 1st choice.

As an example, for stroke neurology the good programs are: Cincinnati/Houston/Miami/UPMC/Partners/UCLA/Wash U/UCSD/CCF/Case/MCW/Columbia sharing between them 23 fellowship positions of almost the same quality of training. Then there is a second rung of fellowships at JHMI, BNI, UTSW, SUNY Buffalo, U Minn, U Iowa, MUSC, Emory, MCG, Mt Sinai, NYU, Boston U having 15 positions. And there is a third rung of positions.

The fellowships are not as competitive as in IM except for Neurointervention. Quite a few (though it is getting less common) graduates want to go into Gen. Neurology after residency.

Even graduates of programs like Penn-Hershey, GWU & GTU can end up in fellowships they desire.

 

[medsRus]

pazu: To answer your question got to : OHSU vs. Michigan vs. Colorado

JaSam: Its not a big deal to land fellowships in good places in Neurology. Depends on what one is looking for & there are ample good programs out there for alternatives if one doesnt land his/her 1st choice.

As an example, for stroke neurology the good programs are: Cincinnati/Houston/Miami/UPMC/Partners/UCLA/Wash U/UCSD/CCF/Case/MCW/Columbia sharing between them 23 fellowship positions of almost the same quality of training. Then there is a second rung of fellowships at JHMI, BNI, UTSW, SUNY Buffalo, U Minn, U Iowa, MUSC, Emory, MCG, Mt Sinai, NYU, Boston U having 15 positions. And there is a third rung of positions.

The fellowships are not as competitive as in IM except for Neurointervention. Quite a few (though it is getting less common) graduates want to go into Gen. Neurology after residency.

Even graduates of programs like Penn-Hershey, GWU & GTU can end up in fellowships they desire.

I seem to be getting this impression from a lot of docs in the field. No matter which neuro program you go to, fellowships in neurology (except interventional fields) are pretty much within reach. That's why I think I'm going with a community (categorical) neuro program that I fell in love with. I actually liked the program over some top tier places you mentioned. I hope that I am not being foolish -- but, if fellowship is relatively easy to attain in neuro, then that's when I will choose the best "name" in my respective field. Any thoughts on this approach? Thank you.

 

[bonran]

Depends on what you want to be. I would always go for the program that I think I would be comfortable working in, would train me in all aspects of neurology, would prepare me for my fellowship & be a good launching pad for it.
I would prefer doing my fellowship in an institute different from my home residency program (for variety in clinical experience) as a 3 yr residency exposes one to almost all aspects of clinical practice in the specialty one wants to do fellowship in at the 1st program. Things are done quite differently in different programs & its good to rotate a bit & get a different perspective.

By logic, a good launching pad means a top of the line program with top of the line faculty with connections in other programs whose letters may get me into my 1st program of choice for fellowship. That may be difficult to do from a community program.

This is how I did it. Luckily, things worked out as planned.

 

[JaSam]

Depends on what you want to be. I would always go for the program that I think I would be comfortable working in, would train me in all aspects of neurology, would prepare me for my fellowship & be a good launching pad for it.
I would prefer doing my fellowship in an institute different from my home residency program (for variety in clinical experience) as a 3 yr residency exposes one to almost all aspects of clinical practice in the specialty one wants to do fellowship in at the 1st program. Things are done quite differently in different programs & its good to rotate a bit & get a different perspective.

By logic, a good launching pad means a top of the line program with top of the line faculty with connections in other programs whose letters may get me into my 1st program of choice for fellowship. That may be difficult to do from a community program.

This is how I did it. Luckily, things worked out as planned.

I think you hit it right on the nail there. I think the two most important things are comfort (fitting in at a place) while also going to a place with decent reputation (launching pad for future endeavors). Some places might be high on one but low on the other so the challenge is to find the right Balance.

 

[Reemas Lapog]

As an example, for stroke neurology the good programs are: Cincinnati/Houston/Miami/UPMC/Partners/UCLA/Wash U/UCSD/CCF/Case/MCW/Columbia sharing between them 23 fellowship positions of almost the same quality of training. Then there is a second rung of fellowships at JHMI, BNI, UTSW, SUNY Buffalo, U Minn, U Iowa, MUSC, Emory, MCG, Mt Sinai, NYU, Boston U having 15 positions. And there is a third rung of positions.

The fellowships are not as competitive as in IM except for Neurointervention. Quite a few (though it is getting less common) graduates want to go into Gen. Neurology after residency.

So in that vein, for an individual intersted in stroke and possibly intervention, do you recommend going to one of the top rung places for general neurology?? Many of those programs seem to take their own residents so maybe i'm answering my own question. Where does Rush in Chicago fit in your list as they are recently emerging with a revamped neuroICU controlled by neurology and great placement in interventional fellowships...

 

[bonran]

As you said, you answered your own question.

You have to be in a good neurology residency with strong stroke & NICU (run by neurologists). Your stroke fellowship should be in a comprehensive (ie having Interventional Stroke treatment) stroke center, preferably with a reputation for taking neurologists for interventional training.

I dont have first hand information on Rush. But yes, your comment about the NICU & stroke/intervention programs is true.