OMS Residency Ranking - Role of location and if it matters for future job outlook?

[Condylotomy]

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I’m torn ranking two programs.

Program 1 - Close to family/friends. In the state I would ideally settle down/practice in. Strong, respected program but scope of training and culture are not exactly what I’m looking for.

Program 2 - 4-5ish hour drive from family/friends. Program itself is exactly what I am looking for training, scope, and culture wise. Gut feeling is that I belong here and I get along better with residents/attendings. Location is just far from home and I have no friends in the area.

My question is how big of a factor does residency training play in future job opportunities? I would love to go to program 2 but I am afraid of losing opportunities in my state of choice if I don’t go to residency closer to there. I don’t have many strong existing connections for future practice.

 

[deleted923283]

Go to program #2 for sure!

The location of training does not matter for job opportunities. The one exception is maybe Christiana, because getting a dental license is pretty difficult in Delaware without doing residency or dental school there.

Otherwise, go where you will fit in and you like the scope.

 

[nade0016]

Residency plays no part in job opportunities. If a practice selects another person because of where they went to residency then that is not a practice for you.

 

[The Kube of Kubes]

Residency plays no part in job opportunities. If a practice selects another person because of where they went to residency then that is not a practice for you.

What about the scope of the residency?

 

[carabelliscusp]

I would pick 1. Friends and family are more important than career generally speaking.

 

[Allsmiles!]

I’m torn ranking two programs.

Program 1 - Close to family/friends. In the state I would ideally settle down/practice in. Strong, respected program but scope of training and culture are not exactly what I’m looking for.

Program 2 - 4-5ish hour drive from family/friends. Program itself is exactly what I am looking for training, scope, and culture wise. Gut feeling is that I belong here and I get along better with residents/attendings. Location is just far from home and I have no friends in the area.

My question is how big of a factor does residency training play in future job opportunities? I would love to go to program 2 but I am afraid of losing opportunities in my state of choice if I don’t go to residency closer to there. I don’t have many strong existing connections for future practice.

As you mentioned one residency gives you, “exactly what I am looking for training, scope, and culture wise.”

These are pretty important factors to consider. For me, these were the most important factors.

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

I would stay close with my friends and family. When you're getting wrecked by residency, it would be nice to be close to them for stress relief.

 

[OMFSW]

Friends/ family > scope. Increased scope is only fulfilling for most people during intern year. After that it becomes more of a burden as you burn out

 

[dratc]

What about the scope of the 2nd program interests you? Is it stuff you would actually be doing after residency, or would you need fellowship training to keep doing it?

If it’s just interesting surgeries that would require fellowship training to do on your own, then you’ll really need to consider if a fellowship is in your future. If not, then although seeing those surgeries is cool, you might regret being away from family to be involved in surgeries you’ll never do again.

That said, if I was in your shoes I would probably choose the second program. Fitting in to a program helps. And trusting this gut feeling you have may be a good idea. 4-5 drive isn’t bad at all. I moved across the country for residency. Not ideal, but not too bad.

You’ll have plenty of job opportunities. Fortunately job prospects are great in OMFS.

 

[axiumgod]

Go to the program with the culture you enjoy more. Plays a huge role in enjoying work vs hating your life.

 

[OrphanageCaretaker]

4-6 years of not hating your life at program 2 while being an easy 4-5h drive from friends/fam versus hating your life for 4-6 years because you’re <1h drive from friends/fam at program 1.

You’d be crazy to choose program 1.

 

[deleted923283]

As another said, unfortunately, even living close to family, you won't have much time to see them. You'll see your residents much more than your family. During residency, I would rather be happy and miss my family than be miserable and see my family often. Once I'm done in 2026, we're moving back to be near them. Residency is temporary.

I have a co-resident who drives back to his family every weekend he can. Usually at least twice a month. It's about 4 hours. He loves it. So 4 hours doesn't make visiting impossible.

 

[odontogenesis]

Program 2. FaceTime your family when you can’t drive, drive when you can.

 

[nade0016]

What about the scope of the residency?

No one knows what a scope of a residency is outside of the program. That is purely up to you. If you graduate from an OMS program. You are an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

 

[unsatisfiedomfs]

Residency is just not a fun time, your colleagues and the culture matters more than any “increased scope.” What’s the point in doing a couple of fun cases if you hate your life

 

[PatsMan1]

Location matters differently to everyone (some it’s very important, some not) you need to decide how important location is to you and then go from there