Program questions for residents and attendings

[cfdavid]

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Hello all. So, as you know, it's interview time. Lots of rhetoric about application competitiveness, but also NUMBERS of applicants.

A few questions for you guys/gals that have gone through this before.

1) Is it worth going on 15 plus interviews? After all, it's our future career! Also, isn't it a good idea (provided one can afford or is willing to fork out the dough to do it) to get a feel for as many programs as one has the opportunity??

2) What are your thoughts on work hours? I personally know of 2 programs with very different philosophies. One has an easier schedule, but this allows ample reading time for the residents which has translated into stellar written (don't know about oral) board scores. The other works their residents very hard, but hasn't had the best written board score outcomes the last couple of years.

Surely, one needs to find a balance, but what are some thoughts on this issue.

3) JPP and others have commented that it doesn't so much matter w/r/t program "name" or prestige. As long as the program is not on probation or having multiple year problems (high turnover amongst PD's etc), PP people look for work ethic, ability to get along with others, skills etc. etc., which doesn't a big name make. Do you guys agree with this?

Thanks in advance for any input!

cf

 

[cfdavid]

It's not the number of cases but the type of cases that are important. There is not much to gain by being stuck in an ortho room past four as a CA2, for example. Personally, time out of the hospital is very, very important. At the end of the day, you need time to decompress, eat, read, and sleep to stay happy.

Yeah, was kinda thinking this as well. I know of at least a few programs like that. Good case mix, but also a pretty good balance. The residents can actually read and just recover. I think it makes for a better resident.
I'll look for that balance, for sure.

Thanks for the input DreamMachine.

cf

 

[NotAMD]

Yeah, was kinda thinking this as well. I know of at least a few programs like that. Good case mix, but also a pretty good balance. The residents can actually read and just recover. I think it makes for a better resident.
I'll look for that balance, for sure.

Thanks for the input DreamMachine.

cf

15 interviews (anesthesia progs) max, i would say 10-11 is enough. You have to keep in mind there is a 90% chance u will match in first 3. All it takes is an email to cancel if your really unlikely to go there..

As far as asking about work hours I felt that it was difficult to accurately get an answer.. for example they would say "if your not on call you get out by 4" but then there is "late call" different from "overnight call" and how frequent is each of those?

So I developed some standard questions that I thought were high-yield...
cant remember them all but my best ones were:

"How many weekends a month do you get off per month?" Ask this to a resident of course not an interviewer, its direct and difficult to lie about, if its less than two, watch out.
"When your not on call when does a typical day end" If its after 5 watch out.

Ask an attending " How do you decide what to teach in the OR " and watch for their response, if there answer is.. "Well I just teach relevant points to the case" I considered it weaker than someone who actually had planned topics to discuss.

Ask if the lectures are resident run or attending run.. you dont want resident lectures the majority of the time.. which some progs try to get away with.

Then try to get an idea of the before and after shots of the residents there, where they went to med school, where they went for fellowship/jobs, and see if that matches you.

 

[inmyslumber]

I say go to as many interview as you can afford to if you have some thought you will be happy there. Try to get a sense of how satisfied (or dissatisfied) the residents and attendings are. If anything, a program you don't like will just confirm your top choice programs.

Cancel interviews in locations that you would never seriously consider moving. Don't hog the interview spot for another deserving candidate.

Don't be overly enticed by programs with "easy" work hours. In one hospital I know of, the residents leave "early" most days because they rely heavily on CRNA's. This has multiple sequelae which are not always favorable to the residents. You should consider a program with moderate work hours and challenging cases to be best prepared for life after residency.

I went to a residency during a time of program director change and thought the program actually was a little better afterward. Each case is different.

 

[scotchnwater]

Hello all. So, as you know, it's interview time. Lots of rhetoric about application competitiveness, but also NUMBERS of applicants.

A few questions for you guys/gals that have gone through this before.

1) Is it worth going on 15 plus interviews? After all, it's our future career! Also, isn't it a good idea (provided one can afford or is willing to fork out the dough to do it) to get a feel for as many programs as one has the opportunity??

Absolutely not. I agree with the 10-11 range (this may prove to be too many as well). If you're applying to the "right" places based on your competitiveness, you shouldn't have a problem getting this many interviews.

Think seriously about where you'd actually be willing to move. You may have a geographic preference (i.e. South vs. Midwest) or a more general preference (smaller town vs. booming metropolis). It's ok if you don't know what you prefer until you go on a couple of interviews (and as an eariler poster indicated, it's totally ok to cancel interviews once you realize you're no longer interested).

2) What are your thoughts on work hours? I personally know of 2 programs with very different philosophies. One has an easier schedule, but this allows ample reading time for the residents which has translated into stellar written (don't know about oral) board scores. The other works their residents very hard, but hasn't had the best written board score outcomes the last couple of years.

As you sagely point out, balance is key. If you're not working that hard, you won't get that much out of the residency, but all work and no-play makes you a dull boy.

I had heard that my program was "malignant" and "workhorse" before I came here. Then I found out the hours average about 55-60/week in the OR, the attendings are amazing, and there is a huge emphasis on protecting time for teaching. As a CA-1, I'm working *MUCH* less than I did as an intern - and I love every minute of it.

3) JPP and others have commented that it doesn't so much matter w/r/t program "name" or prestige. As long as the program is not on probation or having multiple year problems (high turnover amongst PD's etc), PP people look for work ethic, ability to get along with others, skills etc. etc., which doesn't a big name make. Do you guys agree with this?

I think there are certain advantages to having a "good" name, however there are MANY "good" names in anesthesia, so if that is really important to you it shouldn't be a problem to get in somewhere with a decent name.

 

[periopdoc]

Also, when you are looking at programs, don't balk because they have a lot of call. I would say that UW is a program with a higher number of call days than average. My wife and I loved this because it gave me so many pre and post-call days off. I did a couple of "externships" where I took minimal call and it sucked. My wife and I both couldn't wait for me to get back to the U where I went in at 1600 on call, came home at 0800 the next morning, and didn't go back in until 0600 the following morning. It's like a little free weekend with every call shift. 👍👍👍

- pod

 

[amyl]

more than say 12 interviews is really alot unless you have some sort of issue w your app or think you won't interview well. interview burnout is a real thing. i know you think you won't get sick of it (i didn't) but trust me you will.
balance is nice. where i am at we pretty much work 6-6 in the general ORS. its hard to find time to read now but i am a ca-1 and the clinical work seems a little front loaded with more time to read as time goes on. i wish i worked less and read more but there is really something to be said for been there done that vs read about it. maybe thats just me. residency is supposed to be tough. i was p.o.ed about being up working in the ORs for 24h straight on call until i got stuck in the cicu this month with 30h call no nap and endless post call rounds. medicine seriously sucks, even the worst anesthesia month or call is a picnic compared... at least for me.
i rotated at a few places as a med student and did see some significant disparity between the quality of residents between programs, sorry but i did. there are great people every where but the average is not equal btwn places.