NAME BRAND vs. High Case Load and Good Diversity

[Monitor]

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HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES A NAME BRAND PROGRAM CARRY IN GETTING JOBS?

OPTION 1: A big program (With a Big Name) with Fellows that Cherry Pick the cases from the CA-3s, where residents happiness measures 6 on a 0-10 scale. High Board pass rate.

vs.

OPTION 2: A smaller (without the big name) program with high case load to resident ratio offering all residents the ability to pick from many cases and where resident happiness measures 10 out of 10. Lower Board pass rate, but high case numbers at graduation.

What is in the name? More job opportunities? Higher salary?

 

[davvid2700]

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES A NAME BRAND PROGRAM CARRY IN GETTING JOBS?

OPTION 1: A big program (With a Big Name) with Fellows that Cherry Pick the cases from the CA-3s, where residents happiness measures 6 on a 0-10 scale. High Board pass rate.

vs.

OPTION 2: A smaller (without the big name) program with high case load to resident ratio offering all residents the ability to pick from many cases and where resident happiness measures 10 out of 10. Lower Board pass rate, but high case numbers at graduation.

What is in the name? More job opportunities? Higher salary?

You want to go to the place that will give you the largest amount of exposure to cases.. ob volume, thoracic, vascular, etc etc.. when you get out you want to be able to do these cases in your sleep.. no trepidation... The more you do the better you are.. The more ****ed up airways you see the better you are.. The more swans you float the better you will be.. THis will give you confidence..

Some places t hat will offer you that wont give you the NAme recognition that will get you that interview for the private practice job.. BUt you know what. My opinion is; I dont wanna work anywhere where you trained will bias the hiring decision.
Go where it fits.. I went to a place where it was a private practice place where it was all disorganized. I mean my first day i was doing a carotid, cystoscopy, hernia and a c section.. there was no like specific rotations except for OB.. this went on for 3 years. I must have done almost 2000 cases when i was done.. I was really confident when i was done.. I had some trouble passing my boards.. but i eventually passed em..

 

[Idiopathic]

Even though the true polarity that you describe is likely rare, I would pick the second one. A 2nd tier program that gets you 1500+ cases and great experience will be recognized when it comes time to get employment. The name program will help you more in securing a faculty position somewher, I believe, but not necessarily in the private sector.


Of course, I could be completely wrong about this.

 

[Noyac]

I've said this before on this site and I will say it again. The place to go is the place without all the fellows. If there are fellows then you get to watch the cases instead of doing them. BIG difference. Then If you want more experience in the field you need to do a fellowship. I trained at a big Univ. program without fellows and lots of cases, all types, I mean everything you can imagine. But it was not a big name program (it was Univ. of New Mexico in Albuquerque). When I started my private practice job I was comfortable and it was obvious to the partners. 2 other guys from big name programs started with me and they were good, but they were not nearly as comfortable. They did fine but it was with alot more stress than I went through. BTW I had no problem with the boards after coming from a lesser known program. With all that being said, Critical Care fellows is not considered a bad deal. There is plenty of work to share in the ICU. Pain fellows are another issue. If there aren't any then the pain program probably sucks. If there are a bunch then you will get to do NOTHIN. We had 2 and I learned a s*h*i*t load and did every type of procedure imaginable ( I did 6 months of pain my chief year).

After reading this over, I sound pretty conceded. I hope it doesn't come off that way to everyone but I am sort of passionate about this topic. Trust me, I am not the most intelligent person (probably just average) but I learn well and I learn best by doing things not watching others do them. Fire Away. Hey Jet, can I borrow a flack jacket for a little while?

 

[VentdependenT]

Sure a high case load is great but I believe the highest levels of professional maturity are obtained by the more agressive resident. That is irrespecitve of the program. If you stick around, pitch in when you see help needed (versus hiding out), and read up on cases you'll gain trust + experience and be given a big ol' leash to run around on.

Thats going to make the difference between a good physician and a great one in my opinion. Even if a program is light in areas I would imagine if one hunted for cases then the deficiency can be greatly mitigated.

Now that being said I just saw DOOM (dragged the woman with me). Bought FEAR for the PC and am eagerly awaiting Call Of Duty 2 (tuesday release). I got problems people. I got problems.

Oh yeah. I WON A TRIP TO HAWAII. BOOOOOOHYYYAEEEAAHH!

GL with interviews you studs!

 

[davvid2700]

Sure a high case load is great but I believe the highest levels of professional maturity are obtained by the more agressive resident. That is irrespecitve of the program. If you stick around, pitch in when you see help needed (versus hiding out), and read up on cases you'll gain trust + experience and be given a big ol' leash to run around on.

Thats going to make the difference between a good physician and a great one in my opinion. Even if a program is light in areas I would imagine if one hunted for cases then the deficiency can be greatly mitigated.

Now that being said I just saw DOOM (dragged the woman with me). Bought FEAR for the PC and am eagerly awaiting Call Of Duty 2 (tuesday release). I got problems people. I got problems.

Oh yeah. I WON A TRIP TO HAWAII. BOOOOOOHYYYAEEEAAHH!

GL with interviews you studs!

who wants to chase cases around? you want them to chase you? thats ideal...

 

[jetproppilot]

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES A NAME BRAND PROGRAM CARRY IN GETTING JOBS?

OPTION 1: A big program (With a Big Name) with Fellows that Cherry Pick the cases from the CA-3s, where residents happiness measures 6 on a 0-10 scale. High Board pass rate.

vs.

OPTION 2: A smaller (without the big name) program with high case load to resident ratio offering all residents the ability to pick from many cases and where resident happiness measures 10 out of 10. Lower Board pass rate, but high case numbers at graduation.

What is in the name? More job opportunities? Higher salary?

Most of the highest salaries for anesthesiologists are in smaller cities, where, if you pick the right spot, you'll make more money than you need.

If it is a thriving practice, they will desire an american trained, confident person that has social prowess who is a team player, doesnt complain, can work well with fellow anestheiologists, CRNAs, circulators, scrun techs, and surgeons. Board eligibility/board certification is desired.

Training at a big name place is secondary to good clinical skills, judgement, and people skills.

I will hire a person who fits that criteria from Joe's Anesthesia Residency in Hoboko, Kansas over an arrogant, aloof dude from a big name program any day of the week.

 

[Lonestar]

damn straight, tell 'em how it is jet.

 

[jetproppilot]

I've said this before on this site and I will say it again. The place to go is the place without all the fellows. If there are fellows then you get to watch the cases instead of doing them. BIG difference. Then If you want more experience in the field you need to do a fellowship. I trained at a big Univ. program without fellows and lots of cases, all types, I mean everything you can imagine. But it was not a big name program (it was Univ. of New Mexico in Albuquerque). When I started my private practice job I was comfortable and it was obvious to the partners. 2 other guys from big name programs started with me and they were good, but they were not nearly as comfortable. They did fine but it was with alot more stress than I went through. BTW I had no problem with the boards after coming from a lesser known program. With all that being said, Critical Care fellows is not considered a bad deal. There is plenty of work to share in the ICU. Pain fellows are another issue. If there aren't any then the pain program probably sucks. If there are a bunch then you will get to do NOTHIN. We had 2 and I learned a s*h*i*t load and did every type of procedure imaginable ( I did 6 months of pain my chief year).

After reading this over, I sound pretty conceded. I hope it doesn't come off that way to everyone but I am sort of passionate about this topic. Trust me, I am not the most intelligent person (probably just average) but I learn well and I learn best by doing things not watching others do them. Fire Away. Hey Jet, can I borrow a flack jacket for a little while?

HAHAHAHAHAH

The jacket is yours, bro. Your post is not conceited. It speaks the truth.

In the end, folks, for a private practice job, its not the name of the program you attended. It is YOU that is important.

 

[Monitor]

😕 😕 I don't even know what a high total case number would be for a strong clinical program 😕 😕

I saw on MetroHealth's website (Cleveland), numbers advertised for national means (total case mean = 1250) and their program means (total case mean = 1650).

What are TOTAL CASE NUMBERS from some recent grads or Senior Residents familiar with program numbers???

What constitutes HIGH TOTAL CASE NUMBERS?? 1600? 1800? 2000?

 

[mick2003]

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[Monitor]

More importantly, you need to investigate case type and severity. One hundred knee scopes on 20yo athletes doesn't compare to one GA for lung volume reduction surgery on a 70yo with a history of multiple MI's.

Mick

Mick,

Are there many programs with a HIGH TOTAL CASE LOAD that are so Lopsided?