Reputation of programs

[Farcicle]

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Hi everyone, trying to figure out what to do with my rank list...

There's been a good deal of talk about the top-tier programs, i.e. UCSF, Penn, NYU, Yale, etc....

Anybody have opinions on some other programs? I was hoping for some thoughts (anything anyone knows) about especially Miami and UCSD... I had heard good things about both programs, but of course the overall institutions are not quite as highly regarded (as compared to perhaps their specific derm programs)...

I have been through of course the "ranking" article that comes up whenever you search on google, looking at NIH funding, lectures at conferences, etc. but I don't find it incredibly helpful. I would rather get some idea from people who know people in the field and what they think.

Was also thinking of UW and Duke, but they are smaller programs... not sure if that is good or bad? I guess it could be either... it's a rough time, thinking about these rank lists, but I guess there are worse problems to have!

Good luck, everyone!

 

[dermathalon]

They are all solid programs. Sorry that I can't break it down any more than that but it's a personal decision. Also, I don't know what role the overall institution is going to play for you if the derm program is good unless you are thinking about collaborative research. In that case you'll want to think about particular faculty and should care less about the overall institution. Actually, the institutions at UCSD and Miami are great places with a lot of resources so I don't know what you mean when you say that they are not highly regarded. Do you mean the undergraduate rankings? If so, they are not relevant to your training.

You are right to take the ranking article with a grain of salt.

Where do you want to end up eventually? Are you going to do research? How much cosmetics do you want? Do you want faculty that are approachable? How open is the program and program director to meet the individual needs of the residents? Etc, etc.

I ranked several "small programs" over the "top-tier programs" but, again, it's a personal decision.

 

[Derminator]

I ranked several "small programs" over the "top-tier programs" but, again, it's a personal decision.

I'm with dermathalon on this. Before I started interviewing, I was convinced I was going to rank programs based on reputation. But during the interview process I could easily distinguish which programs I would probably be happiest training at, and it really had nothing to do with reputation of the program. There were some programs I just felt I would fit well with, and I'm ranking those at the top.

It's such a tough decision! I hope it turns out well for all of us 🙂

 

[Farcicle]

Thanks for the replies! I am still trying to figure out my rank list (guess I lost out on the "you're my number 1" boat)...

I had read some not-so-positive comments about Miami from a few years ago on the Dermboard (the yuku one) as well as UCSD, but that was ages ago, both with different/changing PD's at the time. Some people were putting Miami in the top 5 (i.e. contending for the 5th spot), or at least top 10 in terms of reputation... I'm only considering this because I'm interested in academic derm or else I wouldn't particularly care. Also saw comments that the residents are extremely busy, but that isn't really a bad thing to me... someone had mentioned that the new PD is supportive, which I think is more important in the end...

 

[sensitive skin]

If possible, attend the program with the highest number of residents and dedicated faculty in Mohs, pediatrics, and dermpath, and ideally fellowships for each. You can't go wrong!

I personally could not imagine being at a residency program with single-digit numbers of residents...it would be so awkward! Recipe for disaster.

 

[asmallchild]

Thanks for the replies! I am still trying to figure out my rank list (guess I lost out on the "you're my number 1" boat)...

I had read some not-so-positive comments about Miami from a few years ago on the Dermboard (the yuku one) as well as UCSD, but that was ages ago, both with different/changing PD's at the time. Some people were putting Miami in the top 5 (i.e. contending for the 5th spot), or at least top 10 in terms of reputation... I'm only considering this because I'm interested in academic derm or else I wouldn't particularly care. Also saw comments that the residents are extremely busy, but that isn't really a bad thing to me... someone had mentioned that the new PD is supportive, which I think is more important in the end...

The other thing to consider is that what residents deem to be important and what practicing dermatologists deem to be important (particularly those in academics) can be radically different.

I'm not advocating flocking to those programs with all around negative reviews but I wouldn't let negative reviews (particularly outdated ones from anonymous residents) change your mind about a place that you had a great gut feeling about.

 

[Hoser]

If possible, attend the program with the highest number of residents and dedicated faculty in Mohs, pediatrics, and dermpath, and ideally fellowships for each. You can't go wrong!

I personally could not imagine being at a residency program with single-digit numbers of residents...it would be so awkward! Recipe for disaster.

Yeah, if one or two residents are sick/on vacation/having babies on a given week then didactics could be pretty lonely. Just you and a couple of other residents. Not a big pool of potential friends to choose from either. I'm hoping to match somewhere with more than 2 per year but we'll see.

 

[Dermguy]

If possible, attend the program with the highest number of residents and dedicated faculty in Mohs, pediatrics, and dermpath, and ideally fellowships for each. You can't go wrong!

I personally could not imagine being at a residency program with single-digit numbers of residents...it would be so awkward! Recipe for disaster.

My favorite places had a lot of residents and faculty in Mohs, pediatrics, and dermpath, but I have to say that for RESIDENCY training I think going to a place without fellows is better because you get more attention from the faculty. At some places I think the fellows get all the faculty attention.

Obviously the advantage of going to a place with fellowship programs is if you want to do a fellowship and you hope to stay. Otherwise I consider it a little bit better to go to a place with great faculty who will pay you all the attention during residency instead of being distracted by fellows.