Southwestern vs. Baylor-Dallas PM&R

[Mavs]

Could someone tell me what the reputation of UT Southwestern is for PM&R. Apparently they are doing many things (i.e. hiring new faculty) to solidify their program. Also, which Dallas based PM&R program is better, Southwestern or Baylor-Dallas?? From what residents have told me, PM&R at Southwestern is a better training program than the revered Baylor-Houston?......please anyone comment!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ampaphb]

Could someone tell me what the reputation of UT Southwestern is for PM&R. Apparently they are doing many things (i.e. hiring new faculty) to solidify their program. Also, which Dallas based PM&R program is better, Southwestern or Baylor-Dallas?? From what residents have told me, PM&R at Southwestern is a better training program than the revered Baylor-Houston?......please anyone comment!

Southwestern took on two interventionists this year - please PM me before finalizing your ROL

 

[ShrikeMD]

I usually do NOT like to participate in these type of discussions, but given my familiarity with these programs, I will share this perspective. My onsite sources (derived from all 3 sites) lead me to believe that UTSW probably can provide a stronger overall academic experience than the Baylor-Dallas program.

On the other hand, Baylor-HOUSTON (not Dallas) can probably provide a stronger overall academic experience than the UTSW program. Having said this, Baylor-Houston (an "elite" program), like many programs, would like to improve its pain/musculoskeletal educational exposures for its trainees. This relative weakness, coupled with new faculty at UTSW in pain may prompt a MS/pain oriented trainee to consider UTSW more seriously. However, the overall strength of the didactic programs and neurorehabilitation experiences (at TIRR), EMG/EDX (and the corresponding faculty), existing fellowship programs (in SCI and BI), plus the "reputation" factor (and research too) prompt me to give the overall nod to Baylor-Houston when compared with UTSW.

Caveat: It is the RESIDENT's responsibility to take advantage of educational opportunities that exist in a residency training program. The program itself is a "multiplier" of the effort you put into your education. A hard-working self-starter can become a good physiatrist from most residency programs in this country, even those with minimal didactic programs. Conversely, if you don't work hard, read whenever you can, apply yourself in ALL of your rotations, all of the potential advantages that a particular residency program can offer are squandered.

 

[drusso]

Caveat: It is the RESIDENT's responsibility to take advantage of educational opportunities that exist in a residency training program. The program itself is a "multiplier" of the effort you put into your education. A hard-working self-starter can become a good physiatrist from most residency programs in this country, even those with minimal didactic programs.

You know, this "multiplier" sentiment was often bandied about my residency program too. It's as if, the residency program or academic medical center is just one big intellectual buffet for your consumption and all you (lowly resident) have to do is APPLY yourself. It is odd way to approach professional training for adult learners, don't you think? Especially when everything from educational psychology teaches us that this is the most inefficient approach to learning.

I'm certainly glad that we don't take this educational approach with airline pilots, oil-tanker captains, and air-traffic controllers...training programs for individuals in these fields are actually required to demonstrate that their training methods help trainees achieve a reliable and reproducible behavioral threshold of competency.

 

[ampaphb]

I usually do NOT like to participate in these type of discussions, but given my familiarity with these programs, I will share this perspective. My onsite sources (derived from all 3 sites) lead me to believe that UTSW probably can provide a stronger overall academic experience than the Baylor-Dallas program.

On the other hand, Baylor-HOUSTON (not Dallas) can probably provide a stronger overall academic experience than the UTSW program. Having said this, Baylor-Houston (an "elite" program), like many programs, would like to improve its pain/musculoskeletal educational exposures for its trainees. This relative weakness, coupled with new faculty at UTSW in pain may prompt a MS/pain oriented trainee to consider UTSW more seriously. However, the overall strength of the didactic programs and neurorehabilitation experiences (at TIRR), EMG/EDX (and the corresponding faculty), existing fellowship programs (in SCI and BI), plus the "reputation" factor (and research too) prompt me to give the overall nod to Baylor-Houston when compared with UTSW.

Caveat: It is the RESIDENT's responsibility to take advantage of educational opportunities that exist in a residency training program. The program itself is a "multiplier" of the effort you put into your education. A hard-working self-starter can become a good physiatrist from most residency programs in this country, even those with minimal didactic programs. Conversely, if you don't work hard, read whenever you can, apply yourself in ALL of your rotations, all of the potential advantages that a particular residency program can offer are squandered.

Clearly you are not as familiar as you apparently believe - Baylor Houston brought back
Benoy Benny after he finished his fellowship at Michigan, and he is starting a very strong fellowship with a significant amount of University support. MD Anderson, one of the top fellowships in the country, is also affiliated with Baylor Houston's training program, and residents can rotate with their fellows.

A recent Baylor graduate also is now heading up the UT Southwestern Pain Fellowship. A former member of the LSU Faculty recently joined him. It will be interesting to see if their personalities mesh - stay tuned.

All in all, I think you are overestimating UTSW, and underestimating the UT/Baylor Alliance, IMHO

 

[axm397]

the OP's question was about Ballor DALLAS vs UTSW - NOT baylor Houston vs UTSW, right?

 

[ampaphb]

the OP's question was about Ballor DALLAS vs UTSW - NOT baylor Houston vs UTSW, right?

On the other hand, Baylor-HOUSTON (not Dallas) can probably provide a stronger overall academic experience than the UTSW program. Having said this, Baylor-Houston (an "elite" program), like many programs, would like to improve its pain/musculoskeletal educational exposures for its trainees.

.

 

[agdoc04]

UTSW: Larger. Affiliated with a teaching hospital. Very good medical school. Carries many research opportunities. Ability and resources to grow.
Residents are very independent, some would say to a fault. The hospital UTSW works with is a county hospital

Baylor-Dallas: Small program. Private hospital. One on one contact on rotations. Possibly hand-held to a fault. Extremely nice free standing rehab hospital. Strong TBI faculty. Very very nice Baylor Hospital across the street. Lots and lots of community clicic/private practice experience. Not much interventional experience.

Baylor dallas seems to prepare you well to be a well rounded general physiatrist, able to step into many roles in the community

UTSW is similiar, but is probably more geared for those wanting to do interventional procedures and pursue fellowships.

I have talked to many of the residents at both programs, and both programs have very strong strengths and some weaknesses. Its a preference on your learning style, preferred learning environment, and future plans.

 

[axm397]

Baylor-Dallas: Small program. Private hospital. One on one contact on rotations. Possibly hand-held to a fault. Extremely nice free standing rehab hospital. Strong TBI faculty. Very very nice Baylor Hospital across the street. Lots and lots of community clicic/private practice experience. Not much interventional experience.

My friend who just finished his pain fellowship is now an attending at Baylor-dallas so they are hiring interventionalists... Not sure how much he teaches the residents though.

 

[ShrikeMD]

Clearly you are not as familiar as you apparently believe - Baylor Houston brought back
Benoy Benny after he finished his fellowship at Michigan, and he is starting a very strong fellowship with a significant amount of University support. MD Anderson, one of the top fellowships in the country, is also affiliated with Baylor Houston's training program, and residents can rotate with their fellows.

A recent Baylor graduate also is now heading up the UT Southwestern Pain Fellowship. A former member of the LSU Faculty recently joined him. It will be interesting to see if their personalities mesh - stay tuned.

All in all, I think you are overestimating UTSW, and underestimating the UT/Baylor Alliance, IMHO

I would like to believe that I am always open to newer/better information. That is part of the reason that I read these posts.

The residency program director was the person I spoke to regarding the relative strength of the pain/musculoskeletal experience for most residents in the program. He told me about six months ago (paraphrasing) that if a prospective resident wants to receive a strong outpatient musculoskeletal/pain experience during their residency, that they would probably be happier training elsewhere. Most graduates of the Alliance do not consider musculoskeletal/pain to be the educational strength of this program. All the best to Dr. B and their efforts to improve this aspect of their training.

As to the comment regarding "all in all...overestimating UTSW, and underestimating the UT/Baylor Alliance", it is regrettable if this is the message I conveyed. I believe my initial post states my belief that the overall Baylor program is stronger than that of UTSW.

Again, these posts are a digression from the central theme of the relative advantages of Baylor-DALLAS vs UTSW.

 

[ShrikeMD]

You know, this "multiplier" sentiment was often bandied about my residency program too. It's as if, the residency program or academic medical center is just one big intellectual buffet for your consumption and all you (lowly resident) have to do is APPLY yourself. It is odd way to approach professional training for adult learners, don't you think? Especially when everything from educational psychology teaches us that this is the most inefficient approach to learning.

I'm certainly glad that we don't take this educational approach with airline pilots, oil-tanker captains, and air-traffic controllers...training programs for individuals in these fields are actually required to demonstrate that their training methods help trainees achieve a reliable and reproducible behavioral threshold of competency.

Personally, I use the "multiplier" term figuratively. My experience indicates that some residents take a passive approach to learning, and fail to take full advantage of the educational opportunities their programs potentially afford them. In my posts, I try to encourage residents who start these dialogs to take an active role in their education. Speak up, ask questions, find out who is interested in teaching aspects of physiatry that you are especially motivated to learn. Residents can often make their residency programs better educational environments, and in so doing, help themselves learn more.

Conversely, the residency programs carry obligations toward better education as well. I certainly do not wish to imply that the residency programs are absolved of their responsibility to find better ways of assuring that residents leave the programs able to achieve the reliable and reproducible thresholds of competency you speak of.