Official 2014-2015 "Please help me rank these IM Programs" Megathread

[gutonc]

Sorry for the rapid smattering of posts, but:


How about Pitt/UTSW with BCM (Baylor in Houston)

I quit.

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[vman51]

Pretty set on my top 2, thinking about doing GI. Not too set on location, just looking for a fun city for my fiance. I'd appreciate any input! Especially having trouble deciding between BU and Wisconsin. Thanks!
1. OHSU
2. UC- Denver
3. Boston U
4. U Wisconsin
5. USC
6. UIC
7. Baylor (ranked so low because I am trying to get out of Texas)
8. U Minnesota
9. U Vermont

I like it. I don't think there's a big difference between BU and Wisconsin to go on reputation. I'd go with which city you like, or climate? Cold vs super cold?

 

[scope_p53med]

Thanks gutonc for the info, how much salary should I expected from moonlighting
Seem like I need to earn $9,000-10,000 to off-set higher cost of living between RWJ and Jacobi.

If it were me, I'd swap RWJ and Jacobi as well as Downstate and LLU.

 

[dcwm]

Why the hell do I keep seeing Jacobi ranked so highly now?? People ranking it above Cleveland Clinic and RWJ and Houston Methodist is freaking me out. I have it really low down my list!! Is it really that good?

Monte (Moses)
Methodist (Houston) ***
UMass
Rutgers NJMS
Buffalo
Jacobi***
Lahey

***These two are confusing me and giving me headaches. They're not university programs but I don't know where to put them because they're supposedly not typical community programs? Are they fine where they are or should I place Methodist lower to be safe (for future fellowship match)?

 

[gutonc]

Thanks gutonc for the info, how much salary should I expected from moonlighting
Seem like I need to earn $9,000-10,000 to off-set higher cost of living between RWJ and Jacobi.

Beats the s*** out of me. But if that's how you're making your rank list, you're doing it wrong.

 

[thehundredthone]

Having tough time setting up my ROL. I am interested in either hospitalist/GI/oncology. Leaning toward hospitalist now, but don't want to close any door to GI or oncology. Want an program that can supplement my salary from moonlighting.

Not closing doors to GI/oncology and wanting to moonlight are two pretty disparate goals. Anyway, in terms of program quality, you could switch Rutgers RWJ and Jacobi.

Pretty set on my top 2, thinking about doing GI. Not too set on location, just looking for a fun city for my fiance. I'd appreciate any input! Especially having trouble deciding between BU and Wisconsin. Thanks!
...

FWIW @gutonc loves Wisconsin and hates BU. Both cities are fun depending on what you like to do, and both programs I daresay are comparable especially now with BU (seemingly) not being what it was when the opinions about it were formed. So it pretty much comes down to location, even though you're not too set on it. Going purely by reputation, Minnesota could be quite a bit higher on your list but there's nothing wrong with your current order.

Why the hell do I keep seeing Jacobi ranked so highly now?? People ranking it above Cleveland Clinic and RWJ and Houston Methodist is freaking me out. I have it really low down my list!! Is it really that good?

Monte (Moses)
Methodist (Houston) ***
UMass
Rutgers NJMS
Buffalo
Jacobi***
Lahey

***These two are confusing me and giving me headaches. They're not university programs but I don't know where to put them because they're supposedly not typical community programs? Are they fine where they are or should I place Methodist lower to be safe (for future fellowship match)?

Everyone has their reasons for ranking (the one you're referring to quite clearly states theirs). You're not shooting yourself in the foot with your current list, leave it be.

 

[lulu09]

I wanted to see if anyone had opinions on the Kaiser programs from all the north at Santa Clara, Oakland all the way south at Fontana? Thanks!

The only Kaiser programs I didn't interview at are the SoCal ones - LA (didn't get an interview) and Fontana (didn't apply).

Personally, I think Oakland > SF > Santa Clara. From the people I've been talking to, LA is probably equivalent to Oakland, and Fontana is the weakest (very new and small program, didn't fill either last year or the year before and you could actually SOAP into it).

Oakland - great research (the Kaiser system research department is down the street and one of the APDs actually work nearly full-time at the department), fantastic program director, serves as the private hospital of Oakland so you see a lot of pathology still and wayyy less chaotic than Highland.
SF - they have a cards fellowship if you care, so-so program director, the big plus is that you get to be in the middle of SF. However, I feel like they are so overshadowed by UCSF and CPMC it's almost not worth it. Lots and lots of prelims doing incredible specialty training at UCSF next year lol.
Santa Clara - the plus here is a traditionally strong connection to Stanford (e.g. their emergency room is staffed by residents from Stanford). Several faculty are dual faculty of Stanford and does some teaching/research over at Stanford. It's a great place if you really want to work your connections to try to get a Stanford fellowship (a few people have been successful). However, that's pretty much all they have. They are similarly overshadowed by SVCMC and I feel all the interesting cases go there instead (or Stanford).

Why the hell do I keep seeing Jacobi ranked so highly now?? People ranking it above Cleveland Clinic and RWJ and Houston Methodist is freaking me out. I have it really low down my list!! Is it really that good?

Monte (Moses)
Methodist (Houston) ***
UMass
Rutgers NJMS
Buffalo
Jacobi***
Lahey

***These two are confusing me and giving me headaches. They're not university programs but I don't know where to put them because they're supposedly not typical community programs? Are they fine where they are or should I place Methodist lower to be safe (for future fellowship match)?

I have no idea about Jacobi but I can tell you that I personally feel there's nothing wrong with Methodist Houston. I interviewed there as an AMG and I was pleasantly impressed by the program. They do several innovative things with their teaching and the residents go on to decently strong fellowships. If you have any interest in Cards it almost seems like a no-brainer to rank it highly. Honestly, I feel like they will be near the top "community-university" programs in the US in 5 or so years. I think they're still figuring out how to run the resident teams most effectively, but they're getting there and with them expanding the residency class, the teaching atmosphere will also improve (the current class size of 10 is really small). If I had strong links to Houston, I wouldn't have qualms with ranking it highly.

 

[DocWithGoodHandwriting]

Mayo below Yale.
I posted this elsewhere but here it is again:

Mayo clinic.
Is it really as good as this forum makes it out to be? I did 2 away electives there and was very disappointed. Interns were overworked and unhappy, a couple even regretted going into Medicine in the first place. Many residents come in at 5:45 and stay back until 9pm. Most interns doing 78-79 hours a week. For a hospital that gets that much good press I found that it lacks social work (not all the time though, we've had good NPs a few times). Some couldn't stay awake during noon conferences. The ones that did stay awake got paged too many times for them to be able to stay. Similar to CCF it is VERY resident/fellow lead. I've only stayed there for ~2 months but I didn't see many involved in research. It's not too big on academics, relatively speaking

Being the biggest hospital in the middle of nowhere, expect getting lots of transfers from other hospitals that couldn't handle the case and you're stuck with a pile of written records transfered or, even worse, no records. The EMR interface isn't the best too.

Also, if you think going to the "#1 hospital" (according to US News report...if you listen to that) is a good thing. Try having patient after patient expect the absolute infallible patient care ever, and if you make a small mistake or even have a misunderstanding, they suddenly want to sue you because "they thought they were at Mayo Clinic". They criticize everything, from how the room is laid out to the nursing staff to you. You will hear "I thought this was Mayo Clinic" a few times a week. It is a hospital definitely more geared towards the patients than residents. Oh yea, didn't receive a single verbal feedback from attendings.

The "city" was very boring. I got depressed for a bit the 2.5 months I was there. Freezing Cold. If you're single...well good luck finding a SO there.

I'm not saying it's a bad program. But every time I see it being ranked #1 with other great programs on the list I cringe and feel that that person is deceived by the name. Why does CCF get the shaft on here when Mayo isn't any different?

This post has been addressed by many, but I interviewed at both Mayo and CCF and here are my 2 cents:

Mayo definitely came across as more laid-back despite their top-10 ranking, so I don't see how their residents work more hours than comparable programs in larger cities. Sometimes the census was just as large as more rigorous programs, but it seems that there is less of a push to discharge patients and clear out the census ASAP as some other residencies.

The 4+4 schedule at Mayo is extremely conducive to research which allows their residents to publish more and I agree with previous posters that it was a huge selling point for the program, especially for those interested in competitive fellowships in cards/GI/hem-onc. Moreover, residents are allowed 10 days off per year for presentation at national conferences, as well as an additional 5 days off just to "attend" a conference. Added onto the fact that Mayo will pay for the evening before, the day of, and the day after your designated conference day, Mayo is probably the most research-friendly programs I have interviewed at. The caveat of course is that research at Mayo is very clinically oriented. If you are looking for basic science research opportunities and eventually having a lab of your own, then traditional university-affiliated programs might be better for you.

Regarding "entitlement of patients"... that does not seem to be the case at all. Granted, I was only there for a short period of time and rounded on a few patients, so my sample size is small. As many of their core patients are resident Midwesterners, everyone is super nice and friendly. Everyone was happy to speak to interviewing medical students and allow us to observe their care (which is different than some of the NYC-based hospitals I trained at).

All of the residents I met were easy going and pretty happy with the residency, although some of them aren't too happy about Rochester, MN, which of course is the biggest turnoff for Mayo. Another downside is the perception of Mayo residents to be less equipped at taking care of high-volume, high-turnover patients (because their training does not offer this). This is something I cannot speak to and is probably overblown, but it is something PDs and people involved in the fellowship application process have alluded to.

All in all, I think Mayo is a great place to be, but location is the only factor that puts it out of my top-3.

 

[barcaboy]

hey guys, i d appreciate any feedback regarding my 3-7. I am looking for a cardiology fellowship. there is no geographical preference. I am trying to get into a solid academic program that can give me an ideal platform for a career in cards...

3-U of Oklahoma
4- Rutgers NJMS
5- Henry Ford
6- Ut memphis
7- Houston Methodist


thanks y all!!

 

[dcwm]

hey guys, i d appreciate any feedback regarding my 3-7. I am looking for a cardiology fellowship. there is no geographical preference. I am trying to get into a solid academic program that can give me an ideal platform for a career in cards...

3-U of Oklahoma
4- Rutgers NJMS
5- Henry Ford
6- Ut memphis
7- Houston Methodist


thanks y all!!

I think Henry ford should be above NJMS. They place better in Cards (matched at Baylor and Mt. Sinai, UMass, UKansas...). More research I think, but location is just as bad.
Care to tell me what you thought about Houston Methodist, why is it lower on your list?

 

[barcaboy]

I think Henry ford should be above NJMS. They place better in Cards (matched at Baylor and Mt. Sinai, UMass, UKansas...). More research I think, but location is just as bad.
Care to tell me what you thought about Houston Methodist, why is it lower on your list?

thanks friend, i replied to your question in your message in my inbox

 

[Hello373]

Hello,
I have been agonizing over the following decision:

I am vacillating between ranking University of Washington number one and UC Denver Hospitalist Track number one. Currently, I am in Seattle in surgery and switching to IM, therefore I am familiar with the hospital system up here; am living here; enjoy the PNW; and know that UW is more prestigious with a better reputation, but I am very much interested in a career in QI and medical leadership, though I have a firm desire to seek top tier fellowship. Denver is a fantastic place that I would enjoy living in, and the residents seem happy in both places. UW does not have 4+1, and I cannot shake this reputation of matching very well at UW but struggling for the rest of the country.

So, my overall question(s) is (are) this:

Is it more important to favor a better scheduled program that offers the Hospitalist Track? Or is it better to stick with a place I already live in, am familiar with, and has a better reputation? Basically, how strong is the Denver Hospitalist Track? Strong enough to be better than UW's categorical residency?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize it is zero hour, but I did not think it would be this agonizing! Thank you for whatever help can be provided.

 

[dcwm]

Hello,
I have been agonizing over the following decision:

I am vacillating between ranking University of Washington number one and UC Denver Hospitalist Track number one. Currently, I am in Seattle in surgery and switching to IM, therefore I am familiar with the hospital system up here; am living here; enjoy the PNW; and know that UW is more prestigious with a better reputation, but I am very much interested in a career in QI and medical leadership, though I have a firm desire to seek top tier fellowship. Denver is a fantastic place that I would enjoy living in, and the residents seem happy in both places. UW does not have 4+1, and I cannot shake this reputation of matching very well at UW but struggling for the rest of the country.

So, my overall question(s) is (are) this:

Is it more important to favor a better scheduled program that offers the Hospitalist Track? Or is it better to stick with a place I already live in, am familiar with, and has a better reputation? Basically, how strong is the Denver Hospitalist Track? Strong enough to be better than UW's categorical residency?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize it is zero hour, but I did not think it would be this agonizing! Thank you for whatever help can be provided.

My advice for you is this. Do not go with the name or reputation, that means nothing once you've matched, trust me. Go with the program that better suites your aspiration. I have made that decision myself with my ROL, ranking community program above mid-tier university programs because I feel it suites me better personally. UC Denver is fine.

 

[mineirão88]

Good luck to every body in the match... CERTIFY NOW!!!

 

[Meridian32]

Hello,
I have been agonizing over the following decision:

I am vacillating between ranking University of Washington number one and UC Denver Hospitalist Track number one. Currently, I am in Seattle in surgery and switching to IM, therefore I am familiar with the hospital system up here; am living here; enjoy the PNW; and know that UW is more prestigious with a better reputation, but I am very much interested in a career in QI and medical leadership, though I have a firm desire to seek top tier fellowship. Denver is a fantastic place that I would enjoy living in, and the residents seem happy in both places. UW does not have 4+1, and I cannot shake this reputation of matching very well at UW but struggling for the rest of the country.

So, my overall question(s) is (are) this:

Is it more important to favor a better scheduled program that offers the Hospitalist Track? Or is it better to stick with a place I already live in, am familiar with, and has a better reputation? Basically, how strong is the Denver Hospitalist Track? Strong enough to be better than UW's categorical residency?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I realize it is zero hour, but I did not think it would be this agonizing! Thank you for whatever help can be provided.

Hello Hello - I'm a UWSOM MS4 going into IM. You seem worried about how well the UW program would prepare you for a career in QI and hospitalist leadership. Am I reading your concern correctly? If so, while my perspective is obviously limited as an MS4, I've had nothing but fantastic experiences on my IM rotations in the UW system - the residents here have always seemed top notch and well prepared for both fellowship and hospitalist jobs. As you know, program graduates routinely become hospitalists including within the UW system - one of my seniors last year is a UWMC hospitalist this year. There are a number QI research opportunities - I'm currently working on one right now (within the UW GIM Department) and I know there are others which IM residents are working on. I don't have any perspective on Colorado, which I hear from classmates is a good program, but I think you would be pretty darn well prepared for either hospitalist/QI or fellowship coming out of the UW program, even though there is not a dedicated hospitalist track.

 

[jw123]

just curious what you guys though about which program has a better reputation, Indiana or Minnesota,
especially for someone who's thinking hospitalist vs. cards vs. pulm/CC

 

[thehundredthone]

just curious what you guys though about which program has a better reputation, Indiana or Minnesota,
especially for someone who's thinking hospitalist vs. cards vs. pulm/CC

Minnesota has a better reputation in general.

 

[DrKh]

Minnesota has a better reputation in general.

Minnesota does have a better reputation. Its an excellent program.

I think Henry ford should be above NJMS. They place better in Cards (matched at Baylor and Mt. Sinai, UMass, UKansas...). More research I think, but location is just as bad.
Care to tell me what you thought about Houston Methodist, why is it lower on your list?

I agree, Henry ford had a great fellowship match past few years.

 

[DrKh]

1. OHSU
2. Wisconsin
3. UAB
4. University of Minnesota
5. Case western
6 UIC
7. Loyola
8. University of nebraska
9 . Kansas
10. Indiana
11. SLU

I am pretty happy with my list 6-11 is set. No location preference. Plan so far is cardiology. I really liked OHSU, but not sure if I should place UAB above wisconsin.

 

[lulu09]

Good luck everyone! Can't believe this is the end of the road...

 

[thehundredthone]

1. OHSU
2. Wisconsin
3. UAB
4. University of Minnesota
5. Case western
6 UIC
7. Loyola
8. University of nebraska
9 . Kansas
10. Indiana
11. SLU

I am pretty happy with my list 6-11 is set. No location preference. Plan so far is cardiology. I really liked OHSU, but not sure if I should place UAB above wisconsin.

There's no compelling reason to do so.

 

[legendaryjon2413]

Good luck everyone! Can't believe this is the end of the road...

Much luck to you too...hope we all match well!

 

[usmleadvice]

last minute help guys, what do you think between this 3 programs: Albert Einstein Jacobi vs Mount Sinai St. Lukes/Roosevelt vs William Beaumont (Michigan) vs Albert Einstein Phili; not sure about fellowship now... how would you rank them??... thanks

 

[NYDO2014]

Einstein philly has really smart IMG residents from what I heard. 45-50% fellowship match rate into great program like UW, Emory, MD Anderson. Less NYC scutwork.

SLR, do really well with hem/onc, and pul/critical fellowship match. variable with GI/cardio. Better location. Good reputation in tri-state area.

last minute help guys, what do you think between this 3 programs: Albert Einstein Jacobi vs Mount Sinai St. Lukes/Roosevelt vs William Beaumont (Michigan) vs Albert Einstein Phili; not sure about fellowship now... how would you rank them??... thanks

 

[Handsome88]

Houston Methodist Vs St. Lukes/Roosevelet Vs. Rutgers NJMS Vs. UMass. For Cards fellowship.

HM has good board pass rate, easy schedule (though they're making it tougher this year with nightfloat...etc), smaller program with better 1-1 teaching. Cardiology faculty there are world-class. Houston Methodist are still using paper records (I think), they said they'll switch to "Epic" in Dec-Jan of next year...Should I put any emphasis on that when ranking? Believe it or not I have minimal experience writing handwritten notes and I'm afraid I will look like an idiot.

SLR is in a better city (I'd say) good match list, match list is good.

 

[bobow98]

Methodist cards match list was quite impressive for a community program.

 

[scope_p53med]

Does Jacobi's ambulatory and electives required work on the weekend?

 

[mahmed1983]

help me rank this
UTMB
UTSW
Howard University, DC

 

[civiste]

Would anyone have opinions on ranking these three programs? Interested in staying in academics, potentially Hospital medicine and teaching. Location less important.

Yale
UW Seattle
Cleveland clinic

Thanks!

 

[footballyus]

Would anyone have opinions on ranking these three programs? Interested in staying in academics, potentially Hospital medicine and teaching. Location less important.

Yale
UW Seattle
Cleveland clinic

Thanks!

Seattle! If you don't have a specific fellowship in mind, won't go wrong.

 

[NYDO2014]

UTSW (assuming you are talking about the one in Dallas)
not sure about Howard or UTMB (but I would choose Howard for the DC experience)

help me rank this
UTMB
UTSW
Howard University, DC

 

[hellothereeverybody2]

I vote for UW

 

[Bonesaw45]

In my mind, yes. But it's your rank list, not mine.


UMD

If you're asking about these 4 programs on the whole, I'd say:
Michigan
BU/UMD - flip a coin here.
A bunch of other programs I hope you have on your list
Tufts

As a current Tufts resident I'm just honestly curious about what specifics place the program so low in your mind. It obviously dosen't matter to me much now that I'm wrapping up my time here because I have no plans to make a dramatic defensive stand about the program its more just morbid curiosity.

 

[RaetheChef]

help me rank this
UTMB
UTSW
Howard University, DC

You can't be serious.

 

[legendaryjon2413]

As a current Tufts resident I'm just honestly curious about what specifics place the program so low in your mind. It obviously dosen't matter to me much now that I'm wrapping up my time here because I have no plans to make a dramatic defensive stand about the program its more just morbid curiosity.

I asked the same thing a couple of posts above...apparently he said general reputation and called my question rediculous so...

 

[Escherichia]

.

 

[kari123]

Last minute question: I'm trying to decide where to put University of Minnesota on my list. Anyone know what their fellowship match looked like for cards and GI this year? I interviewed before December and they haven't posted it online. Thank you!

 

[meliora27]

To think this thread will end at 9PM EST...

 

[MedcatHouse]

To think this thread will end at 9PM EST...

I can't believe people are still changing things. I don't think this is the time to act on impulse and change your list because of some random person's opinion on the interwebz about which program is mildly better in reputation. Trust the research you did on each program before/during/after interview season. Certify this thing and enjoy the rest of your precious 4th year slack time.

 

[Handsome88]

Do you guys think ranking Houston Methodist above Montefiore/AECOM is a bad idea for cards? I can't decide! I'm a bit put off by the way longer hours of Monte compared to HM...

 

[NYDO2014]

seem pretty solid, Cardio: Emory, Mayo, and Minn

Last minute question: I'm trying to decide where to put University of Minnesota on my list. Anyone know what their fellowship match looked like for cards and GI this year? I interviewed before December and they haven't posted it online. Thank you!

 

[legendaryjon2413]

I can't believe people are still changing things. I don't think this is the time to act on impulse and change your list because of some random person's opinion on the interwebz about which program is mildly better in reputation. Trust the research you did on each program before/during/after interview season. Certify this thing and enjoy the rest of your precious 4th year slack time.

A dollar to whoever can certify it at 8:59pm EST

 

[kari123]

seem pretty solid, Cardio: Emory, Mayo, and Minn

That was 2014's match. They didn't post their 2015 match.

 

[Handsome88]

Methodist cards match list was quite impressive for a community program.

what about ranking it above monte?

 

[bobow98]

what about ranking it above monte?

Monte is a legit uni program so no. If you can bear the terrible schedule and crap ancillary for three years then you have a great shot at good fellowships. People know you've been through the gauntlet if you emerge from monte. But you will hate life sometimes.

Should add that I have ny ties. So I'm biased. But I liove the med center in houston. And the nurses here. And people.

 

[bobow98]

good luck to all

 

[Handsome88]

.

 

[Aequanimitatis]

good luck to all

Its over. Best wishes for March 20 indeed to all.

 

[lobosom1]

Pretty random rank list, that's all I have to say about that.
1) Cedars-Sinai
2) Mayo Rochester
3) UC Irvine
4) Case Western
5) Scripps Green
6) Mayo Az
7) U Miami
8) Mount Auburn, loved this place, and almost bumped it up to 4
9) Harbor UCLA
10) Dartmouth
11) Ohio State
12) U Wisconsin
13) FAU- Schmidt - figured if I didn't match yet, might as well just have some extra beach time
14) RWJ - was still very impressed with this program and hated ranking it this low

Good Luck Everybody!

 

[vman51]

To anyone still thinking about their rank list now that its past 9pm:



Thank you and good luck to all.