Any experiences with the residency coordinators? Am I the only one who is getting frustrated at how entitled they come off and how much power they think they have (even over those who have already matched)??
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Residency Coordinator Rage
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Agreed. In addition, many PCs will be more like your "Team Mom." All those pages/e-mails you get from GME that say attendance at such-and-such is "mandatory or highly encouraged?" PC will let you know which ones you actually need to be at. Need paperwork to get EMR access at a hospital outside the main institution? A good PC will make sure it all gets to the right place, notarized, stamped, in triplicate, etc. with minimal effort on your part. Is there a free dinner at a fancy restaurant coming up that you are eligible to attend? The PC is going to send you the reminder e-mail.
Especially at the junior resident level, likely you will interact more with the PC on a regular basis than the PD. When you need something, there's a problem... you're probably going to go to your PC first.
If you can't learn to love your PC, at least learn to work with them within the system your residency has set up. These people have your PD's ear and, as previously stated, can make or break you sometimes.
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Some people initially have a problem with the coordinator ordering them around, because "who the hell are they to tell me (Dr. Bad-@ MD) what to do?"
The truth is that they have a very large amount of power over you. But, unlike nurses, coordinators are on your side, and don't use this power as as thinly-veiled threat (e.g. "be nice to your nurses, or we'll make your life hell").
Be nice to them, and don't cop any attitude, especially this early. They are extremely helpful, and play a large part in your successful transition from student to resident to attending. Sometimes they end up having to play mom to a bunch of residents, scolding them and hounding them to log cases/fill out timecards/etc...all while taking crap from people with sentiments similar to yours...it's often a thankless job.
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We're pretty lucky in that our coordinator is perhaps one of the nicest people I've ever me. She's also very good, and always on her game. After talking to her, the amount of work there is to do to keep the program running (and in compliance with the institution, ACGME, etc.) is incredible. And seeing how many residents don't exactly take some of those emails seriously, I can see how some coordinators might start getting a bit frustrated.
But I agree with everyone else's sentiments: You need to play nice. This person can definitely have an impact on the stress level of the next 5-7 years of your life.
But I agree with everyone else's sentiments: You need to play nice. This person can definitely have an impact on the stress level of the next 5-7 years of your life.
I appreciate the input. While I love the program I matched at (the residents and attendings are great), she is not a good representation of the department by any means. She was rude at the interview, and even rudder to me now. Apparently none of the residents, and most of the attendings, don't like her, but she's still there because the PD and her are close.
Case in point- yesterday I called HR to answer a simple question on some of the thousands of forms I am filling out. They must have contacted her that I called (quality assurance?), and she called me this morning with an angry message saying "it was extremely inappropriate on your part to go over my head, this is behavior that we have no tolerance for at our department and is frowned upon by our chair and PD. If you want to make a good start before you come, this better not happen again."
And of course my disclaimer, I have had some great experiences with RCs at other programs with interviewing (some really helped me out a lot). This isnt a generalization by any means, I am voicing my frustration with this particular person, and wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences.
Case in point- yesterday I called HR to answer a simple question on some of the thousands of forms I am filling out. They must have contacted her that I called (quality assurance?), and she called me this morning with an angry message saying "it was extremely inappropriate on your part to go over my head, this is behavior that we have no tolerance for at our department and is frowned upon by our chair and PD. If you want to make a good start before you come, this better not happen again."
And of course my disclaimer, I have had some great experiences with RCs at other programs with interviewing (some really helped me out a lot). This isnt a generalization by any means, I am voicing my frustration with this particular person, and wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences.
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I feel like the coordinator is our main contact for all those forms that we are filling out, actually for anything right now related to our residency. They are usually the ones telling you all about it sending you constant emails. They're thus also the ones that are usually able to answer any questions about them. Why not go to them first?
I'm usually pretty nice to everyone, but if I had a rude coordinator I would be overly nice to them. I think they're in a situation where they expect that because usually everything they do is helpful in some way to the residents, they may also end up being nicer to the people that are nice to them.
I'm usually pretty nice to everyone, but if I had a rude coordinator I would be overly nice to them. I think they're in a situation where they expect that because usually everything they do is helpful in some way to the residents, they may also end up being nicer to the people that are nice to them.
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Kind of weird. If the coordinator didnt like you, you probably wouldnt have matched. They usually hold absolute veto power on the rank list. Would try my best to get along with this person, or you will have a long 5 years"........
Was recently accused of lecturing from a pedestal on high so please take this in the spirit in which it is intended....
Whenever you join a new organization (e.g. residency in your case), you should make a concerted effort to lay low and maintain a low profile for a period of time while you pay very careful attention to the power dynamics of your new environment. This will save you from making the usual gaffes that you will see other, less mindful interns/residents make.
The PC holds an inordinate amount of power and serves as a liaison between interns/residents and the faculty. They are also excellent sources of insider information about your program. If they like you, they will help you in many ways that you will not appreciate at the intern level.
The importance of your PC can simply not be stressed enough. Hopefully your PC is a nice person, but if not it is incumbent upon you to find some way to interact well with him/her.
Bottom line: Your PC is potentially the greatest administrative ally you will have in your program, or the worst obstructionist you can imagine. As a new member of an organization, you have an opportunity to forge a strong, valuable, relationship with him/her... Do that instead of creating an adversarial relationship.
Whenever you join a new organization (e.g. residency in your case), you should make a concerted effort to lay low and maintain a low profile for a period of time while you pay very careful attention to the power dynamics of your new environment. This will save you from making the usual gaffes that you will see other, less mindful interns/residents make.
The PC holds an inordinate amount of power and serves as a liaison between interns/residents and the faculty. They are also excellent sources of insider information about your program. If they like you, they will help you in many ways that you will not appreciate at the intern level.
The importance of your PC can simply not be stressed enough. Hopefully your PC is a nice person, but if not it is incumbent upon you to find some way to interact well with him/her.
Bottom line: Your PC is potentially the greatest administrative ally you will have in your program, or the worst obstructionist you can imagine. As a new member of an organization, you have an opportunity to forge a strong, valuable, relationship with him/her... Do that instead of creating an adversarial relationship.
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The irony is strong in this one.
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Good advice.
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You should make every effort possible to be on the good side of the coordinator, ideally one of her favorites. As mentioned, they have a ton of power and are the right hand person of the program director and an extension of that person's power. In this situation, while your call to HR was innocent on your part, that is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is her perception. Lose all defensive attitude. I would call the program coordinator ASAP and apologize profusely. Consider sending her flowers. I'm not joking.
You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you 'randomly' don't get your vacation choices, 'randomly' work the major holidays, etc. This can happen, and the PD will never take your side in any kind of power struggle with the PC.
You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you 'randomly' don't get your vacation choices, 'randomly' work the major holidays, etc. This can happen, and the PD will never take your side in any kind of power struggle with the PC.
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Just apologize nicely in an e-mail, use more exclamation points than are truly warranted, and always assume that every e-mail you ever write to or from a work e-mail account could land on your program director's desk. I've heard of more than a few people giving someone enough rope to hang them with because of an e-mail they sent. It's not the loose lips that sink ships - it's the stupid e-mails.
Just respond with "I'm sorry! I saw the phone number listed on the form and thought that was my contact person. I'll definitely let you know if I have any more questions!!!!!!!!!!"
Maybe not that many exclamation points.
Just respond with "I'm sorry! I saw the phone number listed on the form and thought that was my contact person. I'll definitely let you know if I have any more questions!!!!!!!!!!"
Maybe not that many exclamation points.
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Definitely make friends with your residency coordinator - this will be one of the most important people during your training.
