PD vs. Chair

[PhakeDoc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

A major factor for some is the personality/quality of a PD and Chair at the various programs. I'd love for residents and above to chime in on this. If you had to pick between a so-so PD vs. Chair, who would you rather it be?

I ask b/c I recently interviewed at a program and thought the PD was awesome and really concerned about education, whereas my interaction with the Chair was much more lukewarm. Now granted, that could also be that I only had 10 mins with the latter, as well as just differences in personality, but at the end of the day, who "shapes" your residency experience more?

Thanks!

 

[ResidentMD]

A major factor for some is the personality/quality of a PD and Chair at the various programs. I'd love for residents and above to chime in on this. If you had to pick between a so-so PD vs. Chair, who would you rather it be?

I ask b/c I recently interviewed at a program and thought the PD was awesome and really concerned about education, whereas my interaction with the Chair was much more lukewarm. Now granted, that could also be that I only had 10 mins with the latter, as well as just differences in personality, but at the end of the day, who "shapes" your residency experience more?

Thanks!

I am a current applicant, having been on a few interviews already, and I can say that as long as the department is heading in the right direction and faring well, dont worry about the Chairman. Its the PD that definitely shapes your experience, more than the Chair (as long as the department is functioning well). There is another discussion in the IM forum currently that does not even put too much weight behind the PD, but rather on the general morale of the residents.

An important issue to find out if the Chair will be leaving in the next 3 years. Because then the department can take an entire new direction. How much it will affect your residency (negatively), that probably someone else can comment on.

 

[Winged Scapula]

IMHO the PD has much more daily interaction with the residents than the Chair. In surgical specialties, the Chair often operates very little and is mostly concerned with departmental duties, research, etc. rather than daily resident functioning/concerns.

 

[gutonc]

PD, far and away. Unless there are like 4 faculty members in your dept or the PD and the chair ar the same person, the interaction you have with your chair will be minimal to nonexistent.

The first time I met my chair was the end of year banquet my intern year.

 

[ResidentMD]

PD, far and away. Unless there are like 4 faculty members in your dept or the PD and the chair ar the same person, the interaction you have with your chair will be minimal to nonexistent.

The first time I met my chair was the end of year banquet my intern year.

That is true. However, I must say that I have heard some places have weekly/monthly Chair rounds. Again, not something that you will use to make a decision on where you would do the residency, but something to possibly look forward to if there is a good chair.

 

[PhakeDoc]

Thank you very much for chiming in, folks. Looks I'll weigh the PD category higher!

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

That is true. However, I must say that I have heard some places have weekly/monthly Chair rounds. Again, not something that you will use to make a decision on where you would do the residency, but something to possibly look forward to if there is a good chair.

This is true...esp at some places where Chairman's rounds are notoriously intense.

I think the most important questions with a Chair are not the "personality" type questions that matter for a PD. With a Chair you want to know big picture stuff - is he/she moving the department in the right direction? Expanding research funding, recruiting good new faculty, etc.

 

[tarlovcyst]

Both PD and chairman are important figures in medicine. Sometimes, the PD eventually becomes chairman (or chairwoman) later down the road. I know at least 2 cases of this in IM programs.

As for the residency program itself, the PD is more important for your future, because he/she will be writing the recommendations and looking at your evaluations. PD is also the one that shapes your residency experience, and your fellowship future if there is one.