post grad training question...

[Larry Renal]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm a 2nd year student, trying to figure some stuff out regarding post graduate training. My question is this: what does it matter whether you do a "top 20" residency or do it at a run of the mill academic center? in the end, aren't you still going to be an anesthesiologist? Is there a lot of competition in the job market, such that a residency from an upper echelon institution will make a big difference? Thanks and good luck!

Larry

ps. My apologies to gaseous and thoinga...sorry about my lack of forum etiquette. I won't jack any more threads. 😉

 

[gaseous]

Now I will graciously respond.

I don't think it matters all that much if you are planning on a career in private practice.

If academia is your thing, then I think the "bigger name" programs would give you an edge in slurping up the academic ladder.

I'm in the application/interview process right now and I'm not sure whether I will end up in academics vs. private practice therefore I'm attempting to get into the best program I can so I don't limit myself in the future. That said, I'm sure I will look back in 20 years and realize that it didn't matter at all. Kind of like I look back at undergrad now.

 

[ecf1975do]

i have to agree with gaseous. as someone who is applying for anesthesia residencies right now... i have a range of interview offers from community programs to good university to some "big name" programs. i am leaning towards private practice, but you never know down the line. I called up a recruiter in NYC recently and asked about prestige of a program if that carried any weight. I was told no, and that it had to do with "having ties to the area (location)." for me, like most people, it will probably come down to location, name of program, and whether it is a "malignant" program or not and i will ask alot of residents on my interview trail "if you had to do it all over again , whould you come back here?" i think thats important. i asked a gas resident recently what he knew about some of the programs i am going to be interviewing at. NOT to single out any program, but this person was from baltimore originally, and said he would have gone to u of maryland over hopkins, yet ended up at a program in nyc. for various reasons, which i dont think are of importance in mentioning here, he said that, sure people go to places becasue of a "name". he knew he wouldnt be happy there. in the end... it doesnt matter, just be the best clinical anesthesiologist you can...

again, i use these 2 programs as an example.. thats all
just my 2 cents...

 

[gaslady]

One huge advantage to some of the top programs is the difficulty of the cases. The large top academic centers often get patients that are referred from very far away. The reason is because they are known as the best and/or no one else will take the case or can't do anything further for them. The case load at a top place may look similar to lesser known programs however the difficulty of the cases at a top program is definitely greater.

Another plus to a top program is that you get the opportunity to work with the leaders in a field who are able to quote you the data for why we do the things we do.

 

[2Deep]

I agree with the above post. At UCSF you will be doing major spine (ant/post thoracic, etc.), big time craniotomies, and some other really weird stuff that doesn't fit into one classification. This is probably true for all huge regional medical centers. If you're considered "good", you will have the opportunity to these cases as a CA-1 here.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Sometimes, even if you're not good, you get those cases. I talked with our CA-1's one day and two mentioned that their first cases were: 1. Thoracic for LUL resection, 2. Crani for AVM clipping. One to one supervision obviously but a hell of a case to be your first.