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Does anyone have any knowledge about the oncologic surgical pathology fellowship at MSKCC? Thanks!
MSKCC oncologic surgical pathology fellowship
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Lots of foreign graduates do this fellowship as a way to improve their training credentials. I would be interested in knowing where most of these trainees end up after the year at MSKCC.
I also have heard that fellows do a lot of grossing during the year, because MSKCC does not have residents.
I also have heard that fellows do a lot of grossing during the year, because MSKCC does not have residents.
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I know 2 of the current SP fellows now, & 1 who's going next year. I can ask them if you'd like, but I'm sure there are people here who can give you firsthand information.
They have a lot of subspecialty fellowships, & SP is just a stepping stone to one of those (DP, GI, etc). However, I've heard some of the subspecialties are 2 year positions (meaning you might have to spend 3 years there).
Also, it's a name people will recognize when you're looking for a job, provided your residency program isn't well known.
If you're worried about housing expenses, they have subsidized housing which is really affordable (in NYC).
----- Antony
They have a lot of subspecialty fellowships, & SP is just a stepping stone to one of those (DP, GI, etc). However, I've heard some of the subspecialties are 2 year positions (meaning you might have to spend 3 years there).
Also, it's a name people will recognize when you're looking for a job, provided your residency program isn't well known.
If you're worried about housing expenses, they have subsidized housing which is really affordable (in NYC).
----- Antony
I know two people who went there. They said that you don't really get the level of learning you expect. This is because you are overwhelmed with grossing at a high volume. Moreover, the attendings there, although being highly experienced, are not pleasant to work with. One of those two fellows just survived there and ended up with a very good placement.
I believe that all the surg path fellowships busy, wherever you go. I think it all depends on your "skills of survival". If you know how to manipulate things, you can benefit to the maximum from this kind of fellwoships, regardless how busy you are and how difficult the persons you are working with.
The subspecialty fellowships there is usually taken by the fellows .
As long as you want to strengthen your credentials, don't kill yourself for this fellowship, especially if you've already done a surg path fellowship else where. In this case, I recommend going for a subspecialty fellowship in another program.
I believe that all the surg path fellowships busy, wherever you go. I think it all depends on your "skills of survival". If you know how to manipulate things, you can benefit to the maximum from this kind of fellwoships, regardless how busy you are and how difficult the persons you are working with.
The subspecialty fellowships there is usually taken by the fellows .
As long as you want to strengthen your credentials, don't kill yourself for this fellowship, especially if you've already done a surg path fellowship else where. In this case, I recommend going for a subspecialty fellowship in another program.
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if they are too busy grossing to learn, why doesnt Sloan hire PAs??
Non sequitor folks...unless this is further evidence why Path training programs are being sardine-packed by academia: $$$.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.
Thank you.
Peace out.
Non sequitor folks...unless this is further evidence why Path training programs are being sardine-packed by academia: $$$.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.
Thank you.
Peace out.
MSKCC abuses the fellows with excessive grossing...14-16 hours per day and on weekends. They lie to you during the interview and say that you are only grossing for 6 weeks out of the year. In reality you will be grossing at least 12 weeks ("coverage" rotation for 3 weeks is supposed to be like an on-call for autopsy and to cover the absence of PAs but it is full-time grossing and you have to do autopsies if needed. Pluse you have to gross all soft tissue/bone cases when you are on that 3 week rotation. Plus they can pull you from GI and other rotations to "help out" in the grossing room. Save yourselves from this unpleasant experience and go elsewhere. Also, you have no real additional responsibility when it comes to cases. You cannot sign out anything and are basically the grunt work middle man between the clinicians and the pathology attendings. Perhaps the fellowship looks good on paper but it's totally not worth it. There are not enough PAs and the ones that they have seldom show up for work. Expect to work 14-18 hours a day and at least 6 days/week every week.
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That sounds terrible for a world class institution. That's really too bad to hear, if true. At least you will be a master grossing machine.
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Do they ever hire you on as attendings? How are jr faculty treated?
Someone's a little bitter!
I have not heard such extreme things about that program. I know the fellows gross there, but I tend to doubt 16-18 hours a day unless you're really slow. But I didn't go there so I can't claim expertise. It's just that that post has just a wee hint of hyperbole attached to it (which makes it perfect for many on this forum), so it should probably be taken with a grain of salt. That is a bit unusual though that fellows would be expected to be on call for autopsies. Such a thing probably means there is more true in that post than not true. I just doubt the hours.
The one thing I do know about that program is that a lot of IMGs do at least one year there as a fellowship, so much so that at times it seems like a rite of passage. I have always been curious how many applications they get.
I have not heard such extreme things about that program. I know the fellows gross there, but I tend to doubt 16-18 hours a day unless you're really slow. But I didn't go there so I can't claim expertise. It's just that that post has just a wee hint of hyperbole attached to it (which makes it perfect for many on this forum), so it should probably be taken with a grain of salt. That is a bit unusual though that fellows would be expected to be on call for autopsies. Such a thing probably means there is more true in that post than not true. I just doubt the hours.
The one thing I do know about that program is that a lot of IMGs do at least one year there as a fellowship, so much so that at times it seems like a rite of passage. I have always been curious how many applications they get.
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I've been told from other sources that the fellows have primary grossing responsibilities, which are at times excessive. I have also been told that they do autopsy call. Basically the first year of fellowship there is like being a resident at most big, high volume academic centers. To get any of their subspecialty fellowships (GI. GU, etc) most of the time you have to do a general year there. In other words, you pay your dues as a general fellow and then get the sub-spec fellowship.
But don't they often lock up the subspecialty fellowships more than a year in advance (like, before they actually would do that one year general/oncologic path fellowship)? Or does MSKCC hold some subspecialty slots for them? The people I know who have done subspecialty fellowships there got them well in advance, because they can be even more sought after.
