Phoenix Children's Hospital

[DoctorWannaBe]

Has anyone interviewed here who can give me their opinion about this program? I was impressed on my interview day and am just curious what other people's impressions were. Also, if you interviewed in California or Seattle, how would you compare Phoenix Children's with programs such as UCSD, UC Irvine, and Seattle? I liked all these programs and am having a tough time deciding.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[CrazyPeds527]

PM sent

 

[chicagobull]

I interviewed there recently, and was impressed. The residents seemed happy, the hospital is VERY nice, and the PD was very resident friendly. The residents spoke of weekend trips to Vegas, San Diego, and Sedona, which was encouraging. It seemed that most of the residents chose Phoenix based on Geography, and were happy with their decision.

I would be interested in hearing what others think of the program. This is the only program in the Southwest/West I interviewed at, so I can't really compare. Most of my interviews were/are in the midwest and Florida.

 

[Amelia]

I interviewed at Phoenix's Children's, I would also love to here from anybody who has any information about how it stacks up compared to other programs. The interview was extremely un-formal, don't know quite what to take from that?

 

[CrazyPeds527]

OK, I am speaking on this thread not only as thoughts from an applicant to this program, but also this is my home program and I have done more than one month here.

First of all, PCH I believe is underrated nationally in terms of reputation, but in terms of west coast, i believe it is really up and coming. The PD, associate PD and other faculty truly believe that residency should be challenging, but also a family-type environment. Amelia's comment of the interview being extremely informal is pretty much how most people truly are (one day when one of the surgeons was giving grand rounds, he noticed one of the residents wearing a tie, and commented how he must not be local because he couldn't even remember when the last time he saw someone in a tie 🙂

University of Arizona has sent 1/3 of their 3rd/4th yr students to Phx for 15 years, and now with the opening of a 4 year MD program in phoenix, not to mention the growth of Midwestern and AT Still (the two D.O.) programs in phoenix, Phoenix Children's really stands to be the forefront of pediatric medical education in Phoenix for decades to come.

In addition, the 2 facilities (the other is the county hospital) really allows the exposure of residents to both tertiary care as well as great bread/butter peds. The teaching at both facilities really emphasizes residents making their own decisions, and given the lack of fellows, (only fellows are ED, Endocrine, Derm and Heme/Onc), the residents are really running the show. I have seen very few places on the interview trail with a group of residents this friendly and teaching this good. The NICU is at Good Samaritan, one of the nation's leaders in multiples (sextuplets last year, cared for by the residents)

Not everything is perfect, though. Some people may be really turned off by the time at county given the large # of patients that only speak spanish (i really think this is personal preference, though). Others might feel that the informal teaching is "too informal". All personal preference, though.

One last thing...their board passing rate is not only one of the highest in the country, but the resident's raw score average last year i believe was 3rd in the country...they must be doing something right.

PM me with questions.

 

[CrazyPeds527]

I saw someone mentioned being future neurology...there is a Peds Neuro program in town over at St. Joseph's hospital that is very busy, i also know they have sent residents to Northwestern (Children's Memorial) for Child Neuro as well

 

[Amelia]

OK, I am speaking on this thread not only as thoughts from an applicant to this program, but also this is my home program and I have done more than one month here.

First of all, PCH I believe is underrated nationally in terms of reputation, but in terms of west coast, i believe it is really up and coming. The PD, associate PD and other faculty truly believe that residency should be challenging, but also a family-type environment. Amelia's comment of the interview being extremely informal is pretty much how most people truly are (one day when one of the surgeons was giving grand rounds, he noticed one of the residents wearing a tie, and commented how he must not be local because he couldn't even remember when the last time he saw someone in a tie 🙂

University of Arizona has sent 1/3 of their 3rd/4th yr students to Phx for 15 years, and now with the opening of a 4 year MD program in phoenix, not to mention the growth of Midwestern and AT Still (the two D.O.) programs in phoenix, Phoenix Children's really stands to be the forefront of pediatric medical education in Phoenix for decades to come.

In addition, the 2 facilities (the other is the county hospital) really allows the exposure of residents to both tertiary care as well as great bread/butter peds. The teaching at both facilities really emphasizes residents making their own decisions, and given the lack of fellows, (only fellows are ED, Endocrine, Derm and Heme/Onc), the residents are really running the show. I have seen very few places on the interview trail with a group of residents this friendly and teaching this good. The NICU is at Good Samaritan, one of the nation's leaders in multiples (sextuplets last year, cared for by the residents)

Not everything is perfect, though. Some people may be really turned off by the time at county given the large # of patients that only speak spanish (i really think this is personal preference, though). Others might feel that the informal teaching is "too informal". All personal preference, though.

One last thing...their board passing rate is not only one of the highest in the country, but the resident's raw score average last year i believe was 3rd in the country...they must be doing something right.

PM me with questions.

Do alot of the peds residents go on to fellowships? It seems like it is technically a community hospital, but with affiliations, does this matter?

 

[CrazyPeds527]

Re: Fellowships

I believe not as many residents do fellowships from PCH, but i don't think that has to do with not being able to get people in, i think it has simply been the residents that have chosen the program.

Overall, depending on the year, i think the number has ranged from 3/21 to 10/21 residents choosing fellowship over the last 6 or 7 years from PCH (from memory, don't quote me...it should be in the pack they gave you on interview day)

When i asked the PD about this last year, she said in the last 5 years specifically she could only remember one resident not getting his first choice for fellowship (he got his 2nd choice). All of the others got their first choice in fields like Cards, PICU, ER, Endo, Genetics and Neuro (again, off of the top of my head).

Regarding peds fellowships, i have heard that unless you are applying to cards or ER, you are in the driver's seat (of course who knows if this will change when WE would apply 🙂 And the PD (Grace Caputo) directed the Peds EM fellowship at Boston Children's before she came to PCH and co-wrote one of the main Peds EM texts...she knows seemingly everyone in that field.

That being said, the caveat is at the moment this is NOT a university program, it is a university-affiliated, and if you have you heart set on doing a fellowship at, say, stanford, it MAY cost you an away elective during residency. I am not sure about this, only an impression

 

[kirbyross]

I saw someone mentioned being future neurology...there is a Peds Neuro program in town over at St. Joseph's hospital that is very busy, i also know they have sent residents to Northwestern (Children's Memorial) for Child Neuro as well

I know there are two DO schools in AZ. I'm interested in Peds (as of now; a second year medical student yet to do rotations much), but I hear it's tough for DO's to match allopathic Peds residencies in the West.

Do you know anything about that? or can you direct me to a thread that knows more about that? I've been fishing around for a while now and can't seem to find anything definitive.

Thanks