Sechen and anyone else:
I interviewed at UCLA this year and I put my thoughts in the thread "have you heard about." What I said in that thread was:
UCLA: Well, its in CA so I'm slightly biased, but it is West LA, which is super nice and the weather was 75 degrees in December so there really isin't anyone who could complain about that. The program is bigger, 25 or so and there is a lot to do. The residents said they worked hard, but it is residency after all. UCLA does more liver transplants than anyone else in the country and more pediatric cardiac surgery as well, so that was something interesting. They have Childrens Hospital LA, the Jules Stine Eye Institute and they are a major referral center for all of Southern CA, for every specialty. They are also building a brand new hospital with help from the 100 million that David Geffen donated and it is going to be a pretty fantastic place. The current hospital is very nice but the new one will be incredible. I think it might be weak in Critical care but they are adding additional rotations which everyone seems to be very happy with. 75% of residents stay in Southern CA to practice...so if you want to do Anesthesia in Southern CA (or anywhere is CA for that matter) there is no better place. Haven't seen Stanford yet but beat the pants off UCSF and UCSD in my mind.
Since then I have been to Stanford...which was a great place, no doubt, as are many of the programs throughout the country, particularly the programs that are considered "Top 20" or "Top 10" or "Top whatever" for that matter. The unifying theme from the programs that I interviewed at was "You will get great training at any program you choose....choose the right place for you." What I, personally, have found is that it is difficult to decide for yourself what is the best program and nearly impossible to have others decide for you. This forum is very helpful and the people on it have been fantastic....exchanging ideas, giving advice...but they will never be able to tell you what is right for you.
That being said: I can give you my "take on UCLA" vs others particularly the east coast programs. If you want to practice in California, particularly Souther California, I think UCLA is the obvious choice. The benefit of having a big east coast name is probably negligable compared to the connections AND the big name that UCLA brings. 75% of the residents stay in Southern Cal and that will be a huge help when you apply for a job. You also have to consider what type of medicine you want to practice. Is your goal to be the chair of a program at a major academic medical center? If it is, a "big name" may open more doors down the line and coming from that big name may give you more freedom to be dean at UAB or UTSW or in the Northeast than if you came from UCLA.
Jubal is 100% correct, the programs on the west are hard hit by financial trouble and being an effecient resident is highlighted more than at other institutions throughout the country. I think the teaching can suffer as a result of this. But without a doubt, every institution suffers from attendings not teaching enough and residents complaining about it. Some places worse than others. I think UCLA is probably middle of the road and that it is getting better, Dr. Wald is fantastic and truly committed to resident education and I think that will show through by the time we get there. Because the Anethesia residents cover so many places and the main hospital is so big, they get stretched thin, but maybe the increase in the number of residents will help out. Also, the 80 hour work week will have some impact but I am not sure what that will be. There are top anesthesiologists at UCLA and you are going to get great teaching, how proactive you have to be to get it remains to be seen.
I know this is long but hopefully some people will find it helpful. Overall I think you will find that UCLA is a top hospital nationally. It is a major referal center for every type of medical and surgical problem and by and large each of their departments is nationally recognized and has nationally recognized experts .....and this includes the anesthesia department. They are buliding the new hospital. The dean is stable. It is in LA. Anesthsia is getting more competative so the applicant pool is better and thus the group you are with will be that much better, (no matter where you go).
(My opinion)For me UCLA was a great fit and I ranked it #1. Out west I think the only competitor was Stanford. The UCSF residents were really unhappy and overworked and the cost of living in SF is astronomical. For me So Cal was better than Nor Cal and so UCLA came out on top over Stanford. Versus the programs out east, I think UCLA is most like MGH with the huge case load and with autonomy and effeciency being stressed perhaps at the cost of teaching. The Brigham is more "friendly" and teaching focused and they are a huge program, even bigger than UCLA so you have a lot of help...and helping each other out is really stressed at the Brigham (which is a great thing, just a different flavor than MGH or UCLA). MGH is where anesthesia began and has a huge tradition and a huge alumni base and is awesome, its just not home and that was why, in the end I chose UCLA....to be back home, near family and friends, AND to get excellent training. I want to practice in California and so that was that.
Sorry to ramble. I hope this helps and I will certainly continue this discussion if need be.
Ca. Dreamin'
