Supportive Residency Programs

[psychinterviewy]

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Hi! I'm applying to psych residencies right now and in the process of putting together a rank-list. I'm considering UW, Columbia, UCSF, UCLA, San Mateo, Stanford, Longwood, and Cambridge, and I would love to hear from anyone who knows these programs directly or indirectly whether residents seem particularly happy, collaborative, passionate and well-supported. I look forward to a rich, full residency experience and am wondering which of these programs emphasizes learning and personal growth over paying one's dues and the idea of just getting through residency? Thanks!!

 

[Tradewind]

My impression is that on the whole, smaller programs and programs that are further west tend to give more individualized attention to residents, have less rigorous schedules and more nurturing environments. Larger programs on the east seem to fill with more mature, independent residents. If you're talking about building an academic career for yourself, larger programs on the east would be dedicated to helping you with that.
Looks like a fine list. Best of luck with the match!

 

[dianamd]

My impression is that on the whole, smaller programs and programs that are further west tend to give more individualized attention to residents, have less rigorous schedules and more nurturing environments. Larger programs on the east seem to fill with more mature, independent residents. If you're talking about building an academic career for yourself, larger programs on the east would be dedicated to helping you with that.
Looks like a fine list. Best of luck with the match!

I don't know about this - that programs in the east are best for academic careers and those in the west are more supportive.

Cambridge, for example, is incredibly supportive towards the residents. Mount Sinai in NYC is probably the most supportive in NYC.

Going to Stanford, UCSF, UCLA, UW (?) -- those programs in the west would prepare you terrifically for an academic career.

Good luck.

 

[BobA]

You also have to ask, supportive of what?

If you want a career in Seattle, you'd probably be best off going to UW.

If you want to do forensics, pick a place with a strong forensics.

ditto for child, etc.

Do you want to do psychotherapy? some programs have better training than others.

I interviewed at some of the places you mentioned and they were very different. It would be like comparing apples to oranges. (for example, Longwood and Cambridge are completely different programs that are great for certain types of people. I could imagine someone with a strong research interest enjoying Longwood more, while someone with the goal of doing child or community psych enjoying Cambridge more. They are completely different places.)

 

[psychinterviewy]

Thank you BobA. Those are good questions you pose. Yes, supportive can mean lots of different things, but for me, it means that the program encourages residents to pursue their passions and interests (regardless of area) and helps them in that path by providing elective time, paid educational days, protected didactics, flexibility in the rotations schedule to meet specific professional development goals, etc. Other aspects of a supportive program would include a PD who backs up residents as much as possible when challenges arise and responds well to resident feedback, strong mentorship opportunities, a call schedule conducive to outside pursuits and/or moonlighting, and assistance with professional development and career planning.

 

[Tradewind]

I don't know about this - that programs in the east are best for academic careers and those in the west are more supportive.

Cambridge, for example, is incredibly supportive towards the residents. Mount Sinai in NYC is probably the most supportive in NYC.

Going to Stanford, UCSF, UCLA, UW (?) -- those programs in the west would prepare you terrifically for an academic career.

Good luck.

I didn't mean that the east-west phenomenon is categorically true. I don't know much about Cambridge or Mount Sinai - - I was considering them as "smaller" though their actual resident class size may not be. I do think the atmosphere at Stanford and UCSF is considerably more laid back than programs of a similar "caliber" on the east.

There are all kinds of academic career paths, too. I think it's a matter of what fits you. If you are shy/slow to warm up you might do better at a smaller place (or a place further west). On the other hand, if you or your mentors at your current institution think you'd get into the swing of things in a more competitive and perhaps more lively atmosphere, it might be worth thinking about. Otherwise, you might be thinking "what if..." in years to come.

I agree, thinking about where you want to end up geographically is important, as well.

The great thing about being in your shoes is that from here on out, decisions can change the specifics of your career path, but they're all leading to being a competent psychiatrist! How exciting is that?

 

[Regnvejr]

.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

My former program at U of South Dakota was great, we were a diverse bunch, and anybody that sounded interesting got an extra look (f.ex. Horse Therapy).

And certainly the PD was great (HI, Stacey). So were the individual dept heads. And C&A program right there if you wanted the fellowship.

Forgive me that my first thought is Mr. Ed. "Wilbuurrr...when you lock the barn and go to work I have flashbacks to when my mother was loaded onto the trailer and never came back..."

Wanted to properly welcome you to the group. Nice to have some input from the forgotten, underserved middle parts of the continent!

 

[BobA]

Thank you BobA. Those are good questions you pose. Yes, supportive can mean lots of different things, but for me, it means that the program encourages residents to pursue their passions and interests (regardless of area) and helps them in that path by providing elective time, paid educational days, protected didactics, flexibility in the rotations schedule to meet specific professional development goals, etc. Other aspects of a supportive program would include a PD who backs up residents as much as possible when challenges arise and responds well to resident feedback, strong mentorship opportunities, a call schedule conducive to outside pursuits and/or moonlighting, and assistance with professional development and career planning.

My impression was that Longwood and Cambridge would both meet your goals. Residents at Cambridge, of course, work much fewer hours. However, residents at Longwood have more direct access to "famous" researchers. But in general terms I think they'd both meet your goals.

 

[Regnvejr]

Forgive me that my first thought is Mr. Ed. "Wilbuurrr...when you lock the barn and go to work I have flashbacks to when my mother was loaded onto the trailer and never came back..."

Wanted to properly welcome you to the group. Nice to have some input from the forgotten, underserved middle parts of the continent!

Underserved is right. Anybody want a job, they're all hiring. The benefit is that they all love you. The first thing that happened when I came here was one local pediatrician referring his 6 autistic patients to me. Tough cases. And he had done a very decent job with them up till then. So I had a very supportive environment in residency, And very supportive referral sources as attending afterwards. The best of all worlds.

 

[Wednesday]

Thank you BobA. Those are good questions you pose. Yes, supportive can mean lots of different things, but for me, it means that the program encourages residents to pursue their passions and interests (regardless of area) and helps them in that path by providing elective time, paid educational days, protected didactics, flexibility in the rotations schedule to meet specific professional development goals, etc. Other aspects of a supportive program would include a PD who backs up residents as much as possible when challenges arise and responds well to resident feedback, strong mentorship opportunities, a call schedule conducive to outside pursuits and/or moonlighting, and assistance with professional development and career planning.

This is exactly how I would describe the UW program in my experience.

 

[CaMD]

This is exactly how I would describe the UW program in my experience.

University of Washington?

 

[dianamd]

Yes, supportive can mean lots of different things, but for me, it means that the program encourages residents to pursue their passions and interests (regardless of area) and helps them in that path by providing elective time, paid educational days, protected didactics, flexibility in the rotations schedule to meet specific professional development goals, etc. Other aspects of a supportive program would include a PD who backs up residents as much as possible when challenges arise and responds well to resident feedback, strong mentorship opportunities, a call schedule conducive to outside pursuits and/or moonlighting, and assistance with professional development and career planning.

Mmm... Sounds like a dream.

 

[Nika]

Hi! I'm applying to psych residencies right now and in the process of putting together a rank-list. I'm considering UW, Columbia, UCSF, UCLA, San Mateo, Stanford, Longwood, and Cambridge, and I would love to hear from anyone who knows these programs directly or indirectly whether residents seem particularly happy, collaborative, passionate and well-supported. I look forward to a rich, full residency experience and am wondering which of these programs emphasizes learning and personal growth over paying one's dues and the idea of just getting through residency? Thanks!!

Why are you considering all program in Bay Area except Pacific Medical Center? I heard it is a very supportive program.