Sanford University (South Dakota) IM

[FutureDocDO]

I have an interview coming up there. Does anyone have any thoughts on the program? e.g., strengths, etc... Thanks!

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[lapooh]

I have an interview coming up there. Does anyone have any thoughts on the program? e.g., strengths, etc... Thanks!

I interviewed there recently. It is a good program , with bulk of the general months at the VA, and the bulk of the elective months at the other 2 hospitals. I felt there was less autonomy at the Sanford hospital, than what I am looking for. It is a relatively easy program, in terms of hours etc. My interviewers were superb, and came across as people who have a very strong interest in education. Sioux falls is a bigger and better place that I had initially assumed it to be. It is basically half american and half foreign grads. Met only a few residents; they all said it is a good program for residents with a family.

Downsides: No in-house fellowships ( may start geriatrics and cardio sometime); limited research; (?) only 2 wks of vacation.

 

[FutureDocDO]

Thanks!

 

[elresidante]

I interviewed there recently. It is a good program , with bulk of the general months at the VA, and the bulk of the elective months at the other 2 hospitals. I felt there was less autonomy at the Sanford hospital, than what I am looking for. It is a relatively easy program, in terms of hours etc. My interviewers were superb, and came across as people who have a very strong interest in education. Sioux falls is a bigger and better place that I had initially assumed it to be. It is basically half american and half foreign grads. Met only a few residents; they all said it is a good program for residents with a family.

Downsides: No in-house fellowships ( may start geriatrics and cardio sometime); limited research; (?) only 2 wks of vacation.

Beings that I am a resident in this program, let me tell you a little more about the program.

We have 3 hospitals - 1 VA (30 beds and and ICU) and 2 "community" hospitals (each 300+ beds - all subspecialties) and we rotate equally through all three.

I would argue that it's not an "easy" program, but rather resident friendly. If you think doing your own blood draws, taking patients to xray, putting in foleys, carrying 20 patients/day, etc, etc is FUN than don't come here - we have nurses/support staff to do that. And residents here get treated like doctors, as opposed to say ditch diggers ("hey, intern"). Call every 4 nights at VA, otherwise shift work 6 days a week at other two hospitals. Average hours first year is 70-ish/week on inpatient medicine rotations and much better on electives/clinic months (40-50) because no cross cover for call. Average patient load is 4-7 patients/day inpatient rotations but can be 8-10/day if very busy or certain inpatient rotations (ICU) - but the latter is rare on inpatient medicine rotations. On-call usually 2-5 admits/nights and we cap at 5 first year, which means your supervising resident takes the rest. As a 2nd year there is no cap, but we very rarely get more more than 6-7/night - and that will be enough to keep you busy and still do a good job.

Autonomy depends on your attendings comfort with you caring for your patients, i.e. how good of a resident you are - you may have a lot if you do a good job🙂.

As for research, we have 1 month (4 weeks) first year totally dedicated to research and many of our residents get either projects completed or things published (even a cardiovascular research institute with publishing PhD's). There is quite a bit of research here despite our "small" size. If you want to get things published, you will not have a problem, which is a major factor when applying for fellowships, which many of our residents do (and get accepted).

Sioux Falls is a very nice city - safe, clean, nice people, etc. And it is close to Omaha (2.5 hrs) and Minneapolis (3.5 hrs). All the residents here like it - FMG and American grads, and many choose to stay after completing residency/fellowships (Sioux Falls/SD is an underserved area for those with VISA issues). We never have residents transfer out to other programs because they didn't like the city or program. And pay is very good here for residents - no state income tax and low cost of living!

As for fellowships, 4 residents in our 3rd year class matched to fellowships this year - Baylor (rheum), Iowa (ID), St. Louis (rheum), and Nebraska (rheum), and we often have residents match into nephrology, endocrine, etc., and occasionally more competitive specialities (cards, GI) - although probably you would be better served to go to a larger academic program if you want GI/cards. There is likely going to be a cards fellowship here in the next 2-4 years, however, and we have approval for a geriatric fellowship.

We have 3 weeks of vacation actually (15 days). And you can do 1 away rotation every year if you would like.

That is about all I can think of. I like it here a lot, and feel like I have learned a tremendous amount. I'd say our program strives very hard to find a good balance of work, education, and free time.

 

[FutureDocDO]

Very informative. Thank you!

Beings that I am a resident in this program, let me tell you a little more about the program.

We have 3 hospitals - 1 VA (30 beds and and ICU) and 2 "community" hospitals (each 300+ beds - all subspecialties) and we rotate equally through all three.

I would argue that it's not an "easy" program, but rather resident friendly. If you think doing your own blood draws, taking patients to xray, putting in foleys, carrying 20 patients/day, etc, etc is FUN than don't come here - we have nurses/support staff to do that. And residents here get treated like doctors, as opposed to say ditch diggers ("hey, intern"). Call every 4 nights at VA, otherwise shift work 6 days a week at other two hospitals. Average hours first year is 70-ish/week on inpatient medicine rotations and much better on electives/clinic months (40-50) because no cross cover for call. Average patient load is 4-7 patients/day inpatient rotations but can be 8-10/day if very busy or certain inpatient rotations (ICU) - but the latter is rare on inpatient medicine rotations. On-call usually 2-5 admits/nights and we cap at 5 first year, which means your supervising resident takes the rest. As a 2nd year there is no cap, but we very rarely get more more than 6-7/night - and that will be enough to keep you busy and still do a good job.

Autonomy depends on your attendings comfort with you caring for your patients, i.e. how good of a resident you are - you may have a lot if you do a good job🙂.

As for research, we have 1 month (4 weeks) first year totally dedicated to research and many of our residents get either projects completed or things published (even a cardiovascular research institute with publishing PhD's). There is quite a bit of research here despite our "small" size. If you want to get things published, you will not have a problem, which is a major factor when applying for fellowships, which many of our residents do (and get accepted).

Sioux Falls is a very nice city - safe, clean, nice people, etc. And it is close to Omaha (2.5 hrs) and Minneapolis (3.5 hrs). All the residents here like it - FMG and American grads, and many choose to stay after completing residency/fellowships (Sioux Falls/SD is an underserved area for those with VISA issues). We never have residents transfer out to other programs because they didn't like the city or program. And pay is very good here for residents - no state income tax and low cost of living!

As for fellowships, 4 residents in our 3rd year class matched to fellowships this year - Baylor (rheum), Iowa (ID), St. Louis (rheum), and Nebraska (rheum), and we often have residents match into nephrology, endocrine, etc., and occasionally more competitive specialities (cards, GI) - although probably you would be better served to go to a larger academic program if you want GI/cards. There is likely going to be a cards fellowship here in the next 2-4 years, however, and we have approval for a geriatric fellowship.

We have 3 weeks of vacation actually (15 days). And you can do 1 away rotation every year if you would like.

That is about all I can think of. I like it here a lot, and feel like I have learned a tremendous amount. I'd say our program strives very hard to find a good balance of work, education, and free time.