right type of residency program

[anes121508]

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Hi new to the site. 4th year looking for advice. Program directors have emphasized the importance of "fit" and finding a program that offers what you are looking for.

I've felt that the right fit people wise for me was UIC in Chicago. Had the best experience with their residents and faculty. Thought they were great people and I feel as though I would be happy working there. Personality wise I feel like it fit in there.

I plan on doing fellowship and possibly becoming faculty as part of a small to medium size program that helps train residents. Visited U Chicago and it appears that in the end when it comes to getting a fellowship and eventually a job in a competitive market, U Chicago has a the advantage over UIC. I enjoyed my visit to UChicago and liked it, but certainly don't have the gut feeling that I would fit in there. (What does one tell really tell me anyways, I don't even know.)

How do I weigh the "personal fit" vs the national reputation of a program? Will I regret picking the people I would like to work with over the national reputation when it comes time to actually get a fellowship or job? Any advice would be appreciated. Also feel free to let me know if I'm totally mixed up about something. Thanks in advance.

 

[beardpapa]

Hi new to the site. 4th year looking for advice. Program directors have emphasized the importance of "fit" and finding a program that offers what you are looking for.

I've felt that the right fit people wise for me was UIC in Chicago. Had the best experience with their residents and faculty. Thought they were great people and I feel as though I would be happy working there. Personality wise I feel like it fit in there.

I plan on doing fellowship and possibly becoming faculty as part of a small to medium size program that helps train residents. Visited U Chicago and it appears that in the end when it comes to getting a fellowship and eventually a job in a competitive market, U Chicago has a the advantage over UIC. I enjoyed my visit to UChicago and liked it, but certainly don't have the gut feeling that I would fit in there. (What does one tell really tell me anyways, I don't even know.)

How do I weigh the "personal fit" vs the national reputation of a program? Will I regret picking the people I would like to work with over the national reputation when it comes time to actually get a fellowship or job? Any advice would be appreciated. Also feel free to let me know if I'm totally mixed up about something. Thanks in advance.

I thought UIC was great too. They have some big names on their faculty. The chair is from UCSF, director of recruitment from MGH, pain director from MGH, peds from Boston Children's, PD was on faculty at the Brigham. So the connections are there. And getting into fellowship depends a lot on how hard you work. And when I visited, they told me that big name fellowships are not out of reach from UIC. They just placed someone at Duke for cardiac. I too got the vibe that they were very chill but still a great academic center. The personalities there seem very down to earth. I think you'd be very happy at UIC, personally and professionally.

 

[Bertelman]

As far as fellowships go, I'd just like to set the record straight on how very little I think the rep of a residency influences your fellowship options. It's all connections.

I went to a small- ahem, very small residency program. As a CA-1, we "placed someone at Duke for cardiac".

In my class, the majority of us ended up at big name cardiac programs. This was coming from a place that most would consider a 2nd or 3rd tier residency program, whatever the F that means.

 

[Josh1]

Bertelman, where did you go for residency if you don't mind me asking? Reveal the gem! Or just PM me.

 

[DScully]

Go with the personality fit, instead of reputation.

You don't want to be miserable for next four years (I assume you don't want to torture yourself) and you will be a happier person if you feel that you fit with that specific program - which, believe or not, will make you a better anesthesiologist.