Question about MCW

[luhando]

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So I'm actually applying for Radiology, and I really love the program at MCW, but I am getting married soon and my fiancee is applying to match next year (she's an M3 currently). MCW is the only anesthesia program in milwaukee, and that's what she's interested in.

My question about MCW anesthesia is that, from the research I've done, it seems to have a reputation of overworking its residents and of residents dropping out every year. I also noticed on the MCW Anesthesia website they mention 3-5 spots possibly being open for 2010. This concerns me and would definitely affect my decision when it comes to my rank list. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[LonghornJPS]

Gimlet is a current resident at MCW. You might try sending him a private message.

I finished up my training at MCW last June. Here is my perspective about pros and cons:

Pros:
* Due to the program size, residents work with a wide variety of staff at 5 hospitals. Therefore residents are exposed to diversity in terms of the patient population, the cases, technology, staff and how they approach cases, etc...
* Excellent research opportunities.
* This program is a clinical powerhouse. Residents are given a tremendous amount of autonomy. Combine that with the diversity mentioned above it translates into a competent clinical physician in the long run.
* The program continually evolves. The anesthesia department took over the SICU completely at the VA and made it a closed unit, and the RAAPS service has become a success with virtually all of the Ortho staff. Many of the general surgery and CT Surgery staff were increasingly requesting regional anesthesia for their patients.
* Very strong in pediatrics.
* All types of transplants.
* Great fellowship opportunities.
* Internal moonlighting opportunities
* High Board Exam Pass rate

Cons:
*Residents do work hard. Sometimes harder than people are accustomed to working. Residency is residency. It doesn't last forever.
(Do a search for Jet's "bow your head" post. It's a classic.)
* Resident/staff feedback/evaluation process was less than ideal but it was improving.
* Didactics. We weren't given much free time to study like some other programs. You study when you can. However, the education curriculum has been completely revamped with lectures now directed toward class level (separate lecture series for CA-1's and CA-2's/3's) as well as the introduction of rotation-specific formal lectures for all subspecialty rotations. Most residents pass the boards. I'm not sure what the pass percentage is for my class, but I havn't heard of anyone not passing yet.
* Hearts. However residents can do elective months during the CA3 year to ensure numbers.

Regarding people leaving the program, I've seen people leave to move closer to family, for medical reasons, to change fields and for other personal reasons. When you are dealing with a large program with 60+ residents, 1 or 2 might leave for one reason or another every year.

MCW always offers 3-5 positions outside the match. This isn't a red flag. Many programs offer positions outside the match because they get plenty of qualified applicants. Many of those applicants are people changing fields.

I have never regretted my decision to go MCW for my training. It's a solid program in a less than ideal climate.

 

[luhando]

Gimlet is a current resident at MCW. You might try sending him a private message.

I finished up my training at MCW last June. Here is my perspective about pros and cons:

Pros:
* Due to the program size, residents work with a wide variety of staff at 5 hospitals. Therefore residents are exposed to diversity in terms of the patient population, the cases, technology, staff and how they approach cases, etc...
* Excellent research opportunities.
* This program is a clinical powerhouse. Residents are given a tremendous amount of autonomy. Combine that with the diversity mentioned above it translates into a competent clinical physician in the long run.
* The program continually evolves. The anesthesia department took over the SICU completely at the VA and made it a closed unit, and the RAAPS service has become a success with virtually all of the Ortho staff. Many of the general surgery and CT Surgery staff were increasingly requesting regional anesthesia for their patients.
* Very strong in pediatrics.
* All types of transplants.
* Great fellowship opportunities.
* Internal moonlighting opportunities
* High Board Exam Pass rate

Cons:
*Residents do work hard. Sometimes harder than people are accustomed to working. Residency is residency. It doesn't last forever.
(Do a search for Jet's "bow your head" post. It's a classic.)
* Resident/staff feedback/evaluation process was less than ideal but it was improving.
* Didactics. We weren't given much free time to study like some other programs. You study when you can. However, the education curriculum has been completely revamped with lectures now directed toward class level (separate lecture series for CA-1’s and CA-2’s/3’s) as well as the introduction of rotation-specific formal lectures for all subspecialty rotations. Most residents pass the boards. I'm not sure what the pass percentage is for my class, but I havn't heard of anyone not passing yet.
* Hearts. However residents can do elective months during the CA3 year to ensure numbers.

Regarding people leaving the program, I've seen people leave to move closer to family, for medical reasons, to change fields and for other personal reasons. When you are dealing with a large program with 60+ residents, 1 or 2 might leave for one reason or another every year.

MCW always offers 3-5 positions outside the match. This isn't a red flag. Many programs offer positions outside the match because they get plenty of qualified applicants. Many of those applicants are people changing fields.

I have never regretted my decision to go MCW for my training. It's a solid program in a less than ideal climate.

thank you so much for the response. would you mind me asking you about a typical workday? and the call schedule? sorry for the detailed questions but this is a special kind of predicament in that i have to find out as much as i can by next month and im obviously not interviewing there.