Official 2015-2016 Pulm/CCM Fellowship Application Cycle

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Leo Spaceman v2 said:
In answer to some of the questions above

1. You do NOT need a PTAL to apply to Cali programs. You would need it if you matched to one.

2. PD letters were required for all but one program I applied to. Don't need a chair's letter unless specifically asked for. My advice as to the best combo - PD letter + 1 letter that attests to your awesomeness as an IM guy/gal + 2 strong PCCM letters. I applied with 2 IM and 1 PCCM letters; no one batted an eyelid or said anything. Make sure you get your letters from people who really KNOW you an can talk about you.
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I heard the same from some of the fellows in CA saying that they did not have PTAL prior to getting the interviews and they applied later.. What I am not sure about is that ERAS asks about this , if you are gonna need the PTAL : IMGs must apply.. so should we ignore this question or answer yes and then apply later.. confused in this regard ..
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I was just looking at the programs and saw that Dartmouth has only 1 position per year for pulmonary/critical care but has 3 participating hospitals? How does that even work? Does anyone have any overview for that program or has interviewed over at the Hitchcock hospital in the past?
 
I have some simple questions about ERAS. When (date) is it generally accepted to apply to the programs in ERAS? I am kind of delayed in the process and will be asking for LOR now. Does the LOR's all have to be uploaded in order to apply to a specific program. Does everything have to uploaded before applying to a program.

Thanks for the help everyone!
 
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CritiPulm said:
I was just looking at the programs and saw that Dartmouth has only 1 position per year for pulmonary/critical care but has 3 participating hospitals? How does that even work? Does anyone have any overview for that program or has interviewed over at the Hitchcock hospital in the past?
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I'm pretty sure they have critical care only fellows there.
 
Crit Guy said:
I have some simple questions about ERAS. When (date) is it generally accepted to apply to the programs in ERAS? I am kind of delayed in the process and will be asking for LOR now. Does the LOR's all have to be uploaded in order to apply to a specific program. Does everything have to uploaded before applying to a program.

Thanks for the help everyone!
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You can apply as soon as the first day that programs can download applications. Letters do not have to be uploaded to apply to any program, but most programs simply will not download your application unless you have the requested number of letters of recommendation there.
 
mochief2000 said:
UF jax and USF solid clinical programs. Miracle whip....I mean Mayo not impressed clinically but solid research. CCF was just pulm until last year, but added the critical cares so still building it name. I heard UF Gainesville so solid, but hopefully someone else with more experience with program can chime in. UF jax doesn't have transplant Inhouse but does it at mayo. Good thing is nobody has interventional pulm yet (with the exception of UF Gainesville) so nobody is sharing procedures. They do EBUS by 2nd year at theses places. If you get an interview from fl count your blessings as most are primarily taking from Inhouse with the increased interest in pulm/Crit. Esp USF, CCF and UF jax.
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Awesome bit of detailed info right there. Thanks
 
I am looking for programs in Kansas and Missouri because of family situation, any ideas about the programs there:
Kansas U, U of Missouri Kansas City , U of Missouri Columbia, Wash U and St Louis?

Thanks
 
Hey guys! Was wondering if anyone was familiar with programs along the east coast (North to South). Is anyone able to provide a ranking of like top 10 research and top 10 clinical from Maine to Florida? Also, has anyone heard about programs in Chicago, Seattle, or Portland, OR?
 
Dany123 said:
I am looking for programs in Kansas and Missouri because of family situation, any ideas about the programs there:
Kansas U, U of Missouri Kansas City , U of Missouri Columbia, Wash U and St Louis?

Thanks
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WashU is arguably top 10. Probably more like top 15. Very academic and transplant. They want to produce physician scientist types. SLU is much more clinical great critical care but since WashU is in town they don't see as much of the weirder pulm which goes to WashU. Pulm is bread and butter there. Obviously no transplant. The KC programs aren't any kind of particular stand outs.
 
JasonLChertoff said:
Hey guys! Was wondering if anyone was familiar with programs along the east coast (North to South). Is anyone able to provide a ranking of like top 10 research and top 10 clinical from Maine to Florida? Also, has anyone heard about programs in Chicago, Seattle, or Portland, OR?
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Bro. Come on. Give us your list. We'll talk about it then.
 
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Any ideas about the following programs:

University of California Davis

University of California Irvine

Boston University

Tuft

Baylor, Houston

How good they are? Is any of them a top tier program?

Thanks a lot
 
While we are at it, any one who has information mind shedding light on New York programs such as

North Shore Long Island Jewish

Winthrop

Mount Sinai

New York Beth Israel.
 
Coffee MD said:
Any ideas about the following programs:

University of California Davis

University of California Irvine

Boston University

Tuft

Baylor, Houston

How good they are? Is any of them a top tier program?

Thanks a lot
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None are top tier.

Irvine is the weaker sister of that list. The rest are about similar in reputation and probay training. I'd rank any program with transplant higher than the rest but don't remember which of those do transplant off the top of my head.
 
How about the chicago programs....UC, UIC, Loyola, Rush, Cook County, Northwestern. And i already know about the top tier UW is but how about MCW? Thanks in advance for any input.
 
KS78 said:
How about the chicago programs....UC, UIC, Loyola, Rush, Cook County, Northwestern. And i already know about the top tier UW is but how about MCW? Thanks in advance for any input.
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UC and NWern the academic programs - research. UC is still struggling some with it's transplant program, though last I heard it was "on" again.

Loyola and UIC are solid clinical spots. Loyola is interesting in that it does do transplant and Tobin lives there - getting to learn from a god of mechanical ventilation is kind of cool.

AVOID Cook County - just my humble opinion. It's a sweat shop where folks get treated like crap by reports. I have no first hand knowledge of this, so take with as much salt as you like.

MCW is kind of a "diamond in the rough". It's basically a clinical program, with decent access to transplant, and some research opportunities if you want to pursue them, but no one gets too worked up about it all. By reports the place is friendly and supportive of the growth of the fellow.
 
jdh71 said:
UC and NWern the academic programs - research. UC is still struggling some with it's transplant program, though last I heard it was "on" again.

Loyola and UIC are solid clinical spots. Loyola is interesting in that it does do transplant and Tobin lives there - getting to learn from a god of mechanical ventilation is kind of cool.

AVOID Cook County - just my humble opinion. It's a sweat shop where folks get treated like crap by reports. I have no first hand knowledge of this, so take with as much salt as you like.

MCW is kind of a "diamond in the rough". It's basically a clinical program, with decent access to transplant, and some research opportunities if you want to pursue them, but no one gets too worked up about it all. By reports the place is friendly and supportive of the growth of the fellow.
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Thanks JDH
 
A couple of comments regarding posts I've read thus far:

@jdh71 I hear from my ICU attending that Davis is actually amongst one of the top programs in California.

@CritiPulm I've gotten mix reviews for Mount Sinai. Some say they don't even have a real ICU. It's more like a surgical bay where all the beds are separated by curtains. Others have said that it's solid training.

Also, would anyone like to give their opinion on why Yale went unmatched last year? Out of 8 unfilled spots in the nation for PCCM, 4 were at Yale. Thought that was weird since our PCCM PD tells me its a great program.

http://www.nrmp.org/match-data/fellowship-match-data/
 
Pkboi24 said:
A couple of comments regarding posts I've read thus far:

@jdh71 I hear from my ICU attending that Davis is actually amongst one of the top programs in California.

@CritiPulm I've gotten mix reviews for Mount Sinai. Some say they don't even have a real ICU. It's more like a surgical bay where all the beds are separated by curtains. Others have said that it's solid training.

Also, would anyone like to give their opinion on why Yale went unmatched last year? Out of 8 unfilled spots in the nation for PCCM, 4 were at Yale. Thought that was weird since our PCCM PD tells me its a great program.

http://www.nrmp.org/match-data/fellowship-match-data/
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"top" program? it's not the bottom program by any means, but when you have UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, USC in the mix and Davis doesn't even have lung transplant, well, I think it's hard to make an argument of "top" program, but then I define "top" by actually being at the top. If you're defining it as "not the bottom," then there isn't much I can say about that, as I think one has simply conveniently re-defined the word "top" to make their argument, in much the same way that Calvin Ball calls a touchdown a three point lay-up when spiked over the top of the volley-ball net.

The bottom line, and this is my ever so humble opinion, you can't call yourself a "top" program if you don't have lung transplant.

And THAT might be Yale's biggest problem. They think they are better than they actually are. They are attempting to recruit talent out of the wrong pool, and those that make the journey to Yale based on it's name, are often the same people who are applying to other "ivies" and other top programs around the country, find out the emperor has no clothes, and don't rank highly. Yale would fill fine if they'd simply rank mere mortals instead of trying to compete with the real players for those tippy top candidates.
 
Anyone have info about VCU? No transplant but they list it as an elective. I guess their fellows go elsewhere for transplant experience. Specifically looking for info about clinical reputation and research opportunities. Looks like their fellows have a lot of oral and poster presentations.
 
Thank you jdh71 for your help

I have a question about LOR

I have 5 letters as following:
1. PD letter: very supportive, write excellent letters
2. Vice chairman letter; who writes super nice LOR
3. PCCM faculty who is my research mentor and promised a strong letter. I worked with him for about 2 years both clinical and research and he really likes me.
4. PCCM PD at my program who promised a strong letter and he really likes me.
5. PCCM chairman at my program who is very well known nationwide, but I don't know how strong his letter is going to be.

Which 4 of these would you recommend using?

Thanks
 
One more question for you jdh71: whose picture is this in your profile? Just curious
 
Mac2012 said:
Anyone have info about VCU? No transplant but they list it as an elective. I guess their fellows go elsewhere for transplant experience. Specifically looking for info about clinical reputation and research opportunities. Looks like their fellows have a lot of oral and poster presentations.
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Solid clinical spot. Wouldn't mind looking at those mountains all the time either. I was trained by someone who trained there. She was good. I never interviewed there for residency or fellowship but it does have a strong reputation and I like the product that was produced.
 
Coffee MD said:
Thank you jdh71 for your help

I have a question about LOR

I have 5 letters as following:
1. PD letter: very supportive, write excellent letters
2. Vice chairman letter; who writes super nice LOR
3. PCCM faculty who is my research mentor and promised a strong letter. I worked with him for about 2 years both clinical and research and he really likes me.
4. PCCM PD at my program who promised a strong letter and he really likes me.
5. PCCM chairman at my program who is very well known nationwide, but I don't know how strong his letter is going to be.

Which 4 of these would you recommend using?

Thanks
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You'll need your residency PD's letter. And then I'd recommend the division chief letter and the fellowship PD letter. And then probably the research mentor letter. If you are to read these letters and the vice-chair is much better than one of the others substitute that. Or you could send the research letter to research heavy programs and the vice chair letter to more clinical programs. Also if the chief's letter is "blah" don't use it even if he is famous.
 
jdh71 said:
WashU is arguably top 10. Probably more like top 15. Very academic and transplant. They want to produce physician scientist types. SLU is much more clinical great critical care but since WashU is in town they don't see as much of the weirder pulm which goes to WashU. Pulm is bread and butter there. Obviously no transplant. The KC programs aren't any kind of particular stand outs.
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Thank you jdh71 for your reply, So if I want to rank these program, will it be:
1- Wash U
2- SLU
3- U of Missouri Kansas City
4- Kansas U
5- U of Missouri Columbia

What do you think?
 
jdh71 said:
Bro. Come on. Give us your list. We'll talk about it then.
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Sorry,
Without listing all 40 or so programs I intend to apply to, could you maybe shoot out a list of the top 10 research and top 10 clinical programs across the country? I'm looking for a list like this on google, but haven't been successful thus far. I'm very curious about the NYC programs (ie. Columbia and Cornell) and the Boston programs (BID and Brigham Women's).
 
JasonLChertoff said:
Sorry,
Without listing all 40 or so programs I intend to apply to, could you maybe shoot out a list of the top 10 research and top 10 clinical programs across the country? I'm looking for a list like this on google, but haven't been successful thus far. I'm very curious about the NYC programs (ie. Columbia and Cornell) and the Boston programs (BID and Brigham Women's).
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Arguably. And I'd argue it. Neither the New York nor the Boston programs bump into the top 10 with the exception of Colombia. But definitely into the top 20. Any of those programs will be excellent for research.

The top research programs in my mind are: Colorado, UCSF, UW, Hopkins, and Penn. After that we can all debate. But I like Duke, Michigan, Pitt, WashU, and then Colombia.
 
Anyone applying for IP fellowship?
 
jdh71 said:
This thread might be interesting this year.
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Hi, I love procedures, one of the many reasons why I want to do PCCM. I am in program without fellows, so residents can do a lot. My attending told me I have done more than first year PCCM fellow. I did at least 15 Bronch, I do PleurX, surgical chest tubes and PCT as well. I would like to put this on my eras application somehow, to standout from the crowd. But can't find an appropriate way to do it. Any suggestions? ?
 
Which is the best among those 3: KU, UMKC or Univ of Missouri Columbia?
 
Hi,
I'm a DO without any real big research aspirations, I'm into some clinical research but mainly I just want to grow up to be a boots on the ground intensivist. I *think* I've decided to apply for pulm/cc spots instead of just cc due to the increased number of job opportunities and the opportunity for rest to avoid icu burnout. That being said, I know on paper I'm not a great candidate, and also my husband really only wants to be in the West, which is quite limiting.
Sooo, can anyone give me some beta on which programs, particularly in the west, are more community rather than research focused? Where should I not waste my time applying?
I've been out of residency for 3 years toiling away in outpatient primary care b/c I had to pay back a NHSC scholarship, now I'm really really ready to be back in the acute setting, specifically ICU.
Also, I have a letter from my PD and 2 from pulm/icu attendings. Is this sufficient?
 
Howdy! said:
Hi, I love procedures, one of the many reasons why I want to do PCCM. I am in program without fellows, so residents can do a lot. My attending told me I have done more than first year PCCM fellow. I did at least 15 Bronch, I do PleurX, surgical chest tubes and PCT as well. I would like to put this on my eras application somehow, to standout from the crowd. But can't find an appropriate way to do it. Any suggestions? ?
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Why not work it into your personal statement?
 
kubla said:
Hi,
I'm a DO without any real big research aspirations, I'm into some clinical research but mainly I just want to grow up to be a boots on the ground intensivist. I *think* I've decided to apply for pulm/cc spots instead of just cc due to the increased number of job opportunities and the opportunity for rest to avoid icu burnout. That being said, I know on paper I'm not a great candidate, and also my husband really only wants to be in the West, which is quite limiting.
Sooo, can anyone give me some beta on which programs, particularly in the west, are more community rather than research focused? Where should I not waste my time applying?
I've been out of residency for 3 years toiling away in outpatient primary care b/c I had to pay back a NHSC scholarship, now I'm really really ready to be back in the acute setting, specifically ICU.
Also, I have a letter from my PD and 2 from pulm/icu attendings. Is this sufficient?
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The letters are probably enough. The west isn't limiting a little but not completely. When you mean the "west" does that mean coast only? Or anything west of the rockie mountains?
 
jdh71 said:
The letters are probably enough. The west isn't limiting a little but not completely. When you mean the "west" does that mean coast only? Or anything west of the rockie mountains?
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I mean west of the Rockies, I'm originally from Colorado, so planning to apply there even though I have a snowball's chance. I was also planning on Utah because 2 of my former pulm attendings went there and are apparently friends with the current PD there so said they'd put in a word for me, however I gather it's a pretty academically focused place right?
 
kubla said:
I mean west of the Rockies, I'm originally from Colorado, so planning to apply there even though I have a snowball's chance. I was also planning on Utah because 2 of my former pulm attendings went there and are apparently friends with the current PD there so said they'd put in a word for me, however I gather it's a pretty academically focused place right?
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Utah is a fantstic place to train - a daimond in the rough - and middle of the road academically. They do have some serious researchers there and try to facilitate some serious research while you are there, but they also understand most of the folks that come through their program will end up working as clinicians. They don't take themselves too seriously. I think you've got at least a decent shot there - make sure your mentors give the PD a "head's up" to look for your application.

Cal Pacific is another nice more "community" spot - basically SF area. The Fresno program I don't know a lot about but you should send them an application and go if they invite. Loma Linda and USC are two other university spots where you might get a fair hearing. Banner-Good Sam in Phoenix is another interesting spot (Community hospital with rotation at the VA and transplant at St. Joe - I've had some interactions with the St. Joe's crowd and they are a good bunch). I don't know much about the New Mexico program or the one at UNLV.

You could also send a pulmonary application to Mayo in Scottsdale, and I'd be honest in your application (if you match there you ultimately want to do critical care too, but you definitely are interested in pulmonary) - but that will then require and additional two year critical care fellowship to follow.
 
ok great, thanks! I trained at Providence Portland's community IM program, so I was going to apply to OHSU b/c I'd love to be back in Portland, but it seems like the pulm/cc program is pretty microbiology-research oriented from reading about the faculty's research. Do you think I should just apply for CC only program there instead of pulm/cc? Do I have a better chance that way?
 
kubla said:
ok great, thanks! I trained at Providence Portland's community IM program, so I was going to apply to OHSU b/c I'd love to be back in Portland, but it seems like the pulm/cc program is pretty microbiology-research oriented from reading about the faculty's research. Do you think I should just apply for CC only program there instead of pulm/cc? Do I have a better chance that way?
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I don't think you get an invite to OHSU's pulm/cc. Do they have a MEDICINE critical care program there? Because I thought it was run by anesthesia.
 
kubla said:
ok great, thanks! I trained at Providence Portland's community IM program, so I was going to apply to OHSU b/c I'd love to be back in Portland, but it seems like the pulm/cc program is pretty microbiology-research oriented from reading about the faculty's research. Do you think I should just apply for CC only program there instead of pulm/cc? Do I have a better chance that way?
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The most published clinician-scientist in that department works on mouse models of sepsis. He is also (or used to be) the PD. He's also one of the best teaching clinicians I've ever encountered, and a genuinely nice guy to boot. (N.B. he wrote me the most incredible fellowship LOR for a different specialty so perhaps I'm biased).

All that said, they generally put out one clinician-scientist about every 2 or 3 years from that program. So don't get too hung up on that. Apply to PCCM if that's what interests you.
 
jdh71 said:
OHSU's pulm/cc. Do they have a MEDICINE critical care program there? Because I thought it was run by anesthesia.
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It seems like they have med cc, anesthesia cc, and surgical cc all as 2 year fellowship options
 
kubla said:
It seems like they have med cc, anesthesia cc, and surgical cc all as 2 year fellowship options
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Oh. Then that seems like a reasonable option. You simply will have no simple and built in "back-up" plan if you want to decrease your time in the unit.

Though, I think my "back-up," if still possible at that time will be "in-patient only" palliative care. Pulmonary patients can be needy.
 
gutonc said:
The most published clinician-scientist in that department works on mouse models of sepsis. He is also (or used to be) the PD. He's also one of the best teaching clinicians I've ever encountered, and a genuinely nice guy to boot. (N.B. he wrote me the most incredible fellowship LOR for a different specialty so perhaps I'm biased).

All that said, they generally put out one clinician-scientist about every 2 or 3 years from that program. So don't get too hung up on that. Apply to PCCM if that's what interests you.
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Apply everywhere, solid advice, but she won't get an invite from OHSU, even if they are only putting out a few physician scientists per every few years. I'll be very happy to be wrong. But that's my fingers on the pulse of this kind of thing. The "quality" (in quotes for a reason) of folks both internall at OHSU and applying from outside who want to be there if no other reason than it is Portland pretty much puts lots of players out in the cold. OHSU is a seller's market. They could probably arrange cage matches, MMA style, and people would show up to compete for a spot.
 
jdh71 said:
Why not work it into your personal statement?
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Well, I did include it in personal statement in brief. But could give more details. I would like to include more detail. I think that will help me stand out, is that right ? Or no one cares about it.
I wanna find appropriate way to put it on application, like how many bronchs,and PCT I did.
 
Howdy! said:
Well, I did include it in personal statement in brief. But could give more details. I would like to include more detail. I think that will help me stand out, is that right ? Or no one cares about it. I wanna find appropriate way to put it on application, like how many bronchs,and PCT I did.
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Most people going into this field like procedures more than the next guy. It probably won't make a huge difference. I think mentioning how much you enjoyed doing them in your perosnal statement is probably enough.
 
jdh71 said:
You can apply as soon as the first day that programs can download applications. Letters do not have to be uploaded to apply to any program, but most programs simply will not download your application unless you have the requested number of letters of recommendation there.
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I guess a follow up to this question/answer.

Is it better to apply then anyway right when the application opens tomorrow without LORs or submit all together? Just wasn't sure if it was like first come first serve almost (how residency felt like)
 
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