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hi guys, does anybody have any info on MUSC gas prog? cant find much info on scutwork.
any thoughts?
any thoughts?
Arch Guillotti said:I would agree with most of what you have said about MUSC. Unfortunately their anesthesia program isn't all that strong. However, they do fill every year, presumably based on location. I think that you would come out of there clinically competent but as you state, their didactics are weak. Don't know about their board pass rates.
I wouldn't make too much of the CRNA business. It seems to me that the programs that have them all have certain issues with the nurses that just don't seem to go away and the residents LOVE to bitch about them. So far in my CA-1 year I have found my intraop teaching to be hit or miss. Usually it is miss, even when I specifically bring up topics to discuss. Some days the attendings leave the room before the tube is taped (usually in the morning when we are starting multiple cases). And no attending has ever broken me except on call in the middle of the night during long cases.
Although housing is relatively expensive, decent houses can be had under 200K if you look in the right places. Oh and the reserach or scholarly project isn't uncommon - I am required to do one as well.
Liver_7 said:To address some of the points discussed.
The resident / CRNA debate will always continue, and residents will always complain (so will the CRNAs).
All decisions about placement MUST go through an attending. Either the doc of the day, or the call attending (only doc there). The information may be relayed by a CRNA, but all decisions are made by the attending anesthesiologist.
Weak didactics may or may not be true. Even with the mediocre diadactics, most residents still sleep during the presentation or think about other things. That being said, would you want that 3-5 times a week? Waste of everyone's time, IMHO.
Weak didactics may be the impression, but with a 100% board pass rate . . . You would be hard pressed to criticize.
House prices are ridiculous, but many residents that bought houses, and are leaving are making from $50,000 to $110,000 in real estate profit. The market is not slowing in Charleston.
Residency director left the job because of personal reasons. It was fallout from a bad divorce, leave it at that.
Chairman stepped down because he found a position in informatics he could not turn down. MUSC has a weak computer infrastructure, but is rapidly improving. Dr. Waller is spearheading that endeavor. He wanted to be on the beginning of such a large undertaking. In fact, rumors are that MUSC will get automated charting in 2006.
It was poor timing that both vacancies occurred within a month of another.
The interim chairman is Dr. Dierdorf, a core author of one of the major texts in anesthesia (Coexisting Disease if you did not know). MUSC has several boards certified oral examiners, and their skills are available for the asking.
OR teaching is over rated. A couple of quick points is key, the OR teaching is most important with techniques and salient points. Salient questions should be asked by residents. Many attendings do teach, just that some don't and that is an unfortunate truth at any program.
Some residents are unhappy with the restructuring. Any change will lead to unhappy people. Understand that about human nature.
About accreditation, I have little to comment. Expectations are high for a universal pass, probation is very unlikely.
Another point of human nature. When a group of people get together misinformation travels a whole lot faster than the truth. Unhappy (not in the clinical term) people are more vocal with their opinions and concerns, the satisfied one do their job.
If it helps,
Liver
Liver_7 said:To address some of the points discussed.
OR teaching is over rated. A couple of quick points is key, the OR teaching is most important with techniques and salient points. Salient questions should be asked by residents.
belle007 said:I am a CA-0 at a different program, but I went to MUSC for medical school and know the department well. I think Liver's post was the most accurate that I've read.
MUSC residents were of course nervous with the shake-up of the department. However, the interim chair Dierdorf is extremely well known, and the new PD is extremely resident-oriented. She is a great person and really into teaching and the residency. There is not a question of whether they will remain accredited or will be put on probation.
MUSC anesthesia residents are very happy. They work hard, have a good varied caseload and also have time to read. As with any department, there will be attendings who teach more or teach less. I think the attendings for the most part strike up a good balance between allowing resident autonomy in the OR with teaching in the OR. Plus with 100% pass rate, they can't being doing a lot wrong. After doing aways and OR visits I came back impressed with how good MUSC residents were in comparison. They knew their stuff and were not sloppy.
As for Charleston, it is an amazing and beautiful city...it can only be considered a pro of the program.
I interviewed at mostly top tier programs and still ranked MUSC highly--because I was I was impressed with the program, the attendings, and how happy the residents are. Anyways, that was just my impression after two years of getting to know the department--hope it was helpful.
Anyone have any updates on MUSC and their Anesthesia program? It's been a year or so since their big players were replaced right?