"Name" of Residency/Fellowship program

[PainDoc2025]

Does coming from a really well known residency program or fellowship program help for private practice jobs? (e.g: Ivy League residency/fellowship programs)

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[Ferrismonk]

Not in my experience.

 

[Czech777]

It does. I’m at a brand name and it helps. That being said, my co-fellows and I have lamented that we should be at programs that better fit each of our individual goals.

 

[TIVAndy]

you will be sought after, and it will land you interviews. however, after few years the benefit fades, but patients do mention your brand name institution time to time (because they look you up) .

 

[tmvguy03]

I think it is a net benefit if you come from a bigger name program. I did, but it does have drawbacks. A lot of times, the patients who come to you specifically because you came from "X" program are higher maintenance and expect you to be their savior and cure them.

 

[drusso]

Yep. It's the gift that keeps on giving...especially if the "name" is also the name of a popular white condiment.

 

[GlowInTheDark]

Name brand definitely helps with the superficial recruiters that don't really know what they're doing. When talks get real, it is more based off what your program has trained you to do.

 

[Ducttape]

i have personally never asked an ACGME board certified pain doc where they trained. not seeing why i should start.... i rather be treated by someone with a few years experience irrespective of where s/he trained than a new doc from whatever named program they trained at.

 

[Orin]

Does coming from a really well known residency program or fellowship program help for private practice jobs? (e.g: Ivy League residency/fellowship programs)

There is a connections aspect to jobs in general. It helps that people know and respect your program, or your letter writers, or the mentor that picks up a phone to vouch for you. The name of the program/fellowship then is part of it, but it's more the faculty you work with. The quality of a fellowship is also not something that people appreciate/understand well. The West coast practices might not realize the strongest East coast program isn't in Boston or Baltimore or whatever. They might know the faculty member there that talks at ASPN or NANS or ASRA or whatever though.

Now there is also a "sales aspect" to jobs which is more a question of is your training program going to look good to a patient. They might not know Bumpkin State, but they might recognize that SEC Football school X/Y/Z or the Ketchup place. In reality, that is often completely meaningless to clinical practice or people making a decision to hire you, but just something to think about.

Despite all that, you should go where you feel comfortable with the training mentality and the location. Don't go to a med management program if you're looking to be an implanter, or the opposite. Don't go just for the brand. A lot of great programs suck now because the people changed. A lot of small places have faculty invested in your development.

It's a hard decision but it's just 12 months, so just get it done and realize you'll have a lot of learning to do outside fellowship.

 

[Laryngospasm]

I’ve seen great docs from ****ty programs and terrible from Ivy League. May help with interviews but doesn’t magically make you better than others.

 

[PainDoc2025]

I’ve seen great docs from ****ty programs and terrible from Ivy League. May help with interviews but doesn’t magically make you better than others.

Not saying nor ever implied one person is better than another person. I'm saying as a partner in a private practice or owner of practice, are you trying to attract "Ivy League" applicants

 

[Ferrismonk]

Not saying nor ever implied one person is better than another person. I'm saying as a partner in a private practice or owner of practice, you are trying to attract "Ivy League" applicants

The only way it helps you is if one of the partners either went to school there or knows people there. Same as any other school. Ivy league programs WILL help with academic spots though.

 

[Laryngospasm]

Mostly what matters in PP is if you get along and like each other.. my comments weren’t meant to insinuate anything.: just making a statement