Program Directors

[mintleaf80]

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I'm curious about how important Program Directors are in your decision making process. Reason I ask is because I've been to two programs thus far that were very impressive, but the major turn off was the Program Director. For one program, the PD was almost verbally attacking me during our short interview (which threw me off since this IS IM after all!), and plus, he totally dominated morning report and even the chief was mostly silent throughout. In the other program, the PD seemed either skeptical of what I was saying or just disinterested. The programs were otherwise excellent programs that appeared to have well adjusted happy residents and great post-residency career opportunities. I'm worried about the PDs though especially since fellowship may be in the future for me---any thoughts??

 

[Allygator89]

I'm curious about how important Program Directors are in your decision making process. Reason I ask is because I've been to two programs thus far that were very impressive, but the major turn off was the Program Director. For one program, the PD was almost verbally attacking me during our short interview (which threw me off since this IS IM after all!), and plus, he totally dominated morning report and even the chief was mostly silent throughout. In the other program, the PD seemed either skeptical of what I was saying or just disinterested. The programs were otherwise excellent programs that appeared to have well adjusted happy residents and great post-residency career opportunities. I'm worried about the PDs though especially since fellowship may be in the future for me---any thoughts??

If you don't like the program director, it may not be the program for you. The PD is going to be part of your learning experience, as well as the one that will ultimately be responding to changes requested in the program by residents. You need to have a PD that is receptive to listening to residents. Also, ask the current residents how they feel about how the program runs, how responsive the PD is to their questions/comments. They will be able to tell you what they think at the program.

 

[deleted4401]

It is totally program dependent for IM. In med school, the PD was extremely involved in all facets of the training program. During my prelim year, the PD was in the background, always willing to help or advise, but only if you asked.

You will have to ask the current residents, that is the only way to figure it out.

-S

 

[chicamedica]

also keep in mind that the PD can change at any moment.

 

[EspiritDeCorps]

Disclaimer: My opinion on this is not based on any residency experience, as I am still an MSIV.

I, however, still have thoughts that I think have some validity to them. The PD does have some influence in how the program will change in the future, although he/she is far from the only person directing this change. Any change they make is likely to be small compared to the enormous and complicated structure that is already in place.

However, I think the main important role the PD does have is his/her supportive role. Are they going to help set you up with an advisor/mentor for your career development? Will they help you start getting connected to the RIGHT people to do research with? My overall impression of a PD is that their importance in the program is overrated. Yes, they do make important changes and play supporting roles. But, in the end, the residents you're working with, the faculty, the curriculum, the location, etc. will play much larger roles in the program. You may see the PD only rarely at some programs. The changes they make may affect later residents only.

It is too easy to judge an entire program based on your short experiences with two interviewers and the PD (although of course the PD will likely play a much more influential role than whatever 2 interviewers you had). It seems that many programs are being rated largely according to PD personality, which I think will have only a limited role in our overall experience of the program.

 

[Onco]

I had an interesting conversation with a distinguished academic physician-scientist at my school about PD's. He thought PD's are not really the best physicians in the department and, usually, are not involved in teaching residents (unless if the PD happens to be chair or vice-chair of a small-medium program).

Being PD doesnt earn one any material benefit, in terms of finance or academic respect. A PD does not get paid an extra X amount of money for the extra X hours he spends on BS stuff like assigning call or managing interviews. We thought many program directors may have been psychologically dominated, in some way, by other residents and faculty during residency training. By becoming PD's, they are fulfilling a subconscious desire to have some control on the residents.

In regards to resident selection, at all good programs the PD has one vote.

 

[atsai3]

I had an interesting conversation with a distinguished academic physician-scientist at my school about PD's. He thought PD's are not really the best physicians in the department and, usually, are not involved in teaching residents (unless if the PD happens to be chair or vice-chair of a small-medium program).

My guess is that the longevity of program directors among internal medicine residency programs is bimodal. A large group of them have been around for years and years and continue to direct the program because they like teaching & mentoring and regard that as central to their identities as academic hospital faculty. Dr. Michael McFarlane at MetroHealth Medical Center (Cleveland, Ohio) comes to mind. There is also a large group of program directors who are fairly junior at their respective institutions who are given the reins of the training program for any number of reasons -- because nobody else wants to deal with the administrative hassle, because the physician-researchers with national reputations are busy writing NIH grant proposals, etc.

As to the importance of program directors in the ranking decision, I would echo previous contributors here -- they're important, and you should weigh them heavily when deciding how high to rank a program. You may end up not having much personal interaction with them, but you should be looking for a strong program director who can stick up for your educational opportunities when the hospital (which is run as a business, even if it is a not-for-profit) or other services attempt to treat you as simple, cheap laborers.

Cheers,
-AT.

 

[Onco]

I agree. However, if one is academically oriented, its perhaps more important to have a mentor faculty member at the program.

As far as the PD is concerned, just dont let that person be a nuisance on a day to day basis. Career-wise, PD's arent really important.