Texas Programs

[cpb80]

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Hello-
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the following programs and how they compare to each other (reputation, location, etc.)?? Thanks
UT Southwestern, Dallas
Texas Tech, El Paso
Scott & White, Temple

 

[domer621]

Hello-
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the following programs and how they compare to each other (reputation, location, etc.)?? Thanks
UT Southwestern, Dallas
Texas Tech, El Paso
Scott & White, Temple

S&W and Southwestern have the best reputations, from what I've heard around here. They are very different programs, though.

S&W is located in a small city of 50k people. Southwestern is in the big city of Dallas, with over a million people. Southwestern also is at a huge county hospital, whereas S&W sees a mix of both county and community patients. S&W also has a very nice ED that was built a few years ago.

Both programs are solid, so it depends on what you want in a program. If you like the large-volume county feel in a big city, go to Southwestern. If you want to be at a big tertiary care referral center in a small city, choose S&W. For what it's worth, I've heard that Southwestern residents are constantly seeing a bunch of patients, so there is very little time for teaching. If you like doing all of your own learning, then this would be an ideal setting for you. At S&W, you still see patients, but there is also time for faculty bedside teaching.

 

[cpb80]

S&W and Southwestern have the best reputations, from what I've heard around here. They are very different programs, though.

S&W is located in a small city of 50k people. Southwestern is in the big city of Dallas, with over a million people. Southwestern also is at a huge county hospital, whereas S&W sees a mix of both county and community patients. S&W also has a very nice ED that was built a few years ago.

Both programs are solid, so it depends on what you want in a program. If you like the large-volume county feel in a big city, go to Southwestern. If you want to be at a big tertiary care referral center in a small city, choose S&W. For what it's worth, I've heard that Southwestern residents are constantly seeing a bunch of patients, so there is very little time for teaching. If you like doing all of your own learning, then this would be an ideal setting for you. At S&W, you still see patients, but there is also time for faculty bedside teaching.

hey thanks for the informative reply 👍

 

[roja]

In terms of reputation, outside of texas, it is all moot. Like many threads about programs, you will see that the RRC tightly regulates EM and you will get good training at all three of these programs.

Location is a very very important question, as each of these are in VERY different parts of texas. You also want to think about personality (not just of the EM program, but each hospital and thier other services [you will be interacting heavily with that hospitals other residents and faculty])

Other things to think about are what is important to you: do you want an academic career? do you want to do a fellowship? do you want ultrasound exposure? international medicine opportunities?


Ask how much of each of these you get. Where are their residents going after they graduate?

 

[docB]

If only there were someone on the board who knows about the Texas Tech, El Paso progam.

 

[marin205]

Hi, I'm starting to look into EM and was wondering how competitive these programs are (as well as the other Tx programs). Any good place I can find stats? Thanks!

 

[BKN]

If only there were someone on the board who knows about the Texas Tech, El Paso progam.

Heh! 😉

Clearly Texas Tech is the oldest and best. . .But I'm hardly disinterested.

Marin, since Texas is the second most populous state, has great weather and relatively fewer slots, all of the Texas programs can fill easily. Probably not as competitive as the Left coast programs, however.

Cheers, BN

 

[turtle md]

since Texas ... has great weather

This is relative. Hot and humid in some parts, hot and dry in others. Most of the SE of the state is, in summer, like living in someone's armpit.

That said, the Spring and Fall are quite nice.

Texas is nice, but not for everyone. After 17 years there, I was happy to leave. I like to come back to visit, but couldn't live there again.

 

[BKN]

This is relative. Hot and humid in some parts, hot and dry in others. Most of the SE of the state is, in summer, like living in someone's armpit.

That said, the Spring and Fall are quite nice.

Texas is nice, but not for everyone. After 17 years there, I was happy to leave. I like to come back to visit, but couldn't live there again.

OK. I stand corrected. EL Paso has great weather.

 

[docB]

OK. I stand corrected. EL Paso has great weather.

But Texas is a small place and it's pretty much the same throughout the state, right?😀

I remember the first time I ever had to drive I10 from east to west. It's so discouraging to hit that first mile marker east of Houston. It's like 890 or some such nightmare.

 

[turtle md]

But Texas is a small place and it's pretty much the same throughout the state, right?😀

I remember the first time I ever had to drive I10 from east to west. It's so discouraging to hit that first mile marker east of Houston. It's like 890 or some such nightmare.

And there is no mile 666. Amazingly, you just go 2 miles between 667 and 665 😀

 

[Old_Mil]

Scutwork says that you do all your own rads reading...plain films + CTs.

Is there no backup from rads at all?

With the increase in crime, kidnappings, etc along the Texas/Mexico border how safe is El Paso for families?

 

[Derek]

I wrote that review in 2005. The radiology dept has expaned with many radiology subspecialties represented at this time. They are working on starting a radiology residency. On night shift, on-call rads will usually only be called for CTA's of the chest and the surgeons will call on most Level I trauma's.

I still believe the training is outstanding in El Paso. I would recommend it for anyone who likes to jump in and get their hands dirty. If you are one who is more passive and needs your hand held then this program probably is not for you. It is less academic than some of the other programs in Texas, but the physician who comes out the El Paso program can handle anything that roles in the door when they graduate. Every program will claim this, but in my opinion there are only a few county style programs throughout the country which produce this caliber of physician.

 

[BKN]

Scutwork says that you do all your own rads reading...plain films + CTs.

Is there no backup from rads at all?

With the increase in crime, kidnappings, etc along the Texas/Mexico border how safe is El Paso for families?

We have a radiology program now. I will continue to require all of my residents to read every film since radioloigists make mistakes as well.

El Paso is the third safest city >100k in the US this year (2nd last year, 4th year before, 3rd year before that). Yes there is a horrible drug war going on acroos the river, and we treat a lot of the victims, but we're still a quiet nonviolent town. We're the trauma center, about 6% penetrating.

 

[december07]

Hello-
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the following programs and how they compare to each other (reputation, location, etc.)?? Thanks
UT Southwestern, Dallas
Texas Tech, El Paso
Scott & White, Temple

What about UT-Houston EM program? Can anyone please comment of this? I've heard that it's really competitive there, is this really true? thank you.

Also, a general question for 4th year EM rotation: do you require the students to read X-Ray, CT, MRI etc? if so, should be spend a month in radiology before the first EM rotation?

 

[Dr. Ditka]

What about UT-Houston EM program? Can anyone please comment of this? I've heard that it's really competitive there, is this really true? thank you.

Also, a general question for 4th year EM rotation: do you require the students to read X-Ray, CT, MRI etc? if so, should be spend a month in radiology before the first EM rotation?

UT Houston is a good program. I did a month there earlier in the year. It is an academic hospital, with nice facilities in the medical district. It looks like it would be competitive based on the residents that I saw there. They have around 10 medical students rotate per month which I think would make it even more competitive if you didn't rotate there.

 

[deleted77919]

…

 

[BKN]

How much more difficult would residency in Texas be without much Spanish speaking ability?

Basically impossible? Tough but manageable? Not so bad?

I'll speak only for El Paso. We are on the border, the hospital is a mile form the largest crossing. 80% of our population is Hispanic. About 30-50% of the patients speak Spanish only. They tend to be the older, sicker patients.

We put all of our residents who are not bilingual through a Medical Spanish course the first month. Since essentially all of the nursing personnel are bilingual, translation is always available.

The need for Spanish used to be a barrier to recruitment, now it's a plus. There's hardly an ED in the US now that you don't need Spanish regularly. Our grads all come out of the program able to do a H&P, discuss the bleeding hemorrhoids, and explain to the patient and family the plan. Ordering dinner however . . . not so much.

Most of our residents are happy they got the additional skill.

For the rest of the residencies in Texas, I'd imagine it's on the order of 20-30% Hispanics, about half with no English.

 

[EM Junkie]

I'll speak only for El Paso. We are on the border, the hospital is a mile form the largest crossing. 80% of our population is Hispanic. About 30-50% of the patients speak Spanish only. They tend to be the older, sicker patients.

We put all of our residents who are not bilingual through a Medical Spanish course the first month. Since essentially all of the nursing personnel are bilingual, translation is always available.

The need for Spanish used to be a barrier to recruitment, now it's a plus. There's hardly an ED in the US now that you don't need Spanish regularly. Our grads all come out of the program able to do a H&P, discuss the bleeding hemorrhoids, and explain to the patient and family the plan. Ordering dinner however . . . not so much.

Most of our residents are happy they got the additional skill.

For the rest of the residencies in Texas, I'd imagine it's on the order of 20-30% Hispanics, about half with no English.

At UT-Houston, its even less than that, I'd say about 5% speak no English whatsoever. We have a 24 hour telephone translation system for all languages, with in house Spanish translation much of the daytime. Next year the residents will start rotating at the county hospital, LBJ. The numbers of Spanish only patients are much higher there, but still with in-house translators (24 hours there).

 

[GeneralVeers]

In Corpus Christi we had about 60% hispanic population, but surprisingly only about 10% spoke Spanish-only.

I think the medical Spanish program is a great idea and think EVERY program should do it regardless of location as it would make graduating residents more marketable.

Los Angeles was the worst ever in terms of Spanish. Approximately 40% of patients there spoke no English (or claimed not to).

 

[december07]

In Corpus Christi we had about 60% hispanic population, but surprisingly only about 10% spoke Spanish-only.

I think the medical Spanish program is a great idea and think EVERY program should do it regardless of location as it would make graduating residents more marketable.

Los Angeles was the worst ever in terms of Spanish. Approximately 40% of patients there spoke no English (or claimed not to).

How competitive is Corpus Cristi in term of board score? can anyone please answer this? how many applicants and how many slots available? thank you.

 

[GeneralVeers]

How competitive is Corpus Cristi in term of board score? can anyone please answer this? how many applicants and how many slots available? thank you.

I'd say low-end of competitiveness. Last year I was a chief, and they had 200 applicants for 8 positions. They do give heavy preference to students who rotate through the program. No minimum board score that I know of, and I did interview some applicants who had less than stellar scores.

 

[MikeyLu2010]

Do you guys accept COMLEX scores for the Corpus christi program.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Do you guys accept COMLEX scores for the Corpus christi program.

Not sure, although the PD is a DO so it's likely.

 

[DaveinDallas]

How's Corpus in terms of family friendly? I'm planning on doing a rotation down there if I can swing it. My kids are a little older (8 and 10) and I
don't know much about the area.

Also, can you comment on how they are about 2nd career people (i.e. us
old guys)?

 

[GeneralVeers]

How's Corpus in terms of family friendly? I'm planning on doing a rotation down there if I can swing it. My kids are a little older (8 and 10) and I
don't know much about the area.

Also, can you comment on how they are about 2nd career people (i.e. us
old guys)?

They interviewed lots of 2nd career people, and many of their residents have done other residencies.

To be honest I don't think their schools are that good (i.e. most of the high schools also have daycares associated with them). Lots of other things to do though, like the beach, and excellent fishing.

 

[Valtry]

I was wondering if any of the more recent interviewees has heard any more news on the status of Houston naming a PD? I interviewed early in the season and things were really still up in the air. Also, if you wouldn't mind expounding a little on your thoughts of UT-Houston's program that would be awesome too, I'm not from Texas and it doesn't seem to have been in the prior comparisons of this thread!

 

[Bluemirage]

I was wondering if any of the more recent interviewees has heard any more news on the status of Houston naming a PD? I interviewed early in the season and things were really still up in the air. Also, if you wouldn't mind expounding a little on your thoughts of UT-Houston's program that would be awesome too, I'm not from Texas and it doesn't seem to have been in the prior comparisons of this thread!

You should private msg EMJunkie. He's currently a resident at UT-Houston.

 

[WilcoWorld]

What do those more knowledgeable than I think of the chances for a program to ever start up in Austin?

 

[GeneralVeers]

What do those more knowledgeable than I think of the chances for a program to ever start up in Austin?

When I left there, it wasn't even in the pipeline.

 

[DrSwede]

Anyone have any thoughts as to the program starting up in Fort Worth?

 

[GeneralVeers]

Anyone have any thoughts as to the program starting up in Fort Worth?

They were going to start a residency in San Antonio at the university, until my good friend Mike Sanchez was killed by an idiot driver. Now they have no department chair or residency director, so the program will die before it ever launched.

 

[Dr. Ditka]

Anyone have any thoughts as to the program starting up in Fort Worth?

They will find out if they get a program in the middle of February. They will not be in the match but might accept paper applications. I think in a few years that the program will be really good. The pathology is broad and they just got a brand new ED. Also, the PD is the same one who started Scott and White in Temple and that is a great program.

 

[hyperbaric]

I was wondering if any of the more recent interviewees has heard any more news on the status of Houston naming a PD? I interviewed early in the season and things were really still up in the air. Also, if you wouldn't mind expounding a little on your thoughts of UT-Houston's program that would be awesome too, I'm not from Texas and it doesn't seem to have been in the prior comparisons of this thread!

I am also very interested to know who the new PD will be. Hopefully they will announce before final rank lists are due.

 

[japtat918]

I am also very interested to know who the new PD will be. Hopefully they will announce before final rank lists are due.

I spoke to the PD last week and he told me they won't name one until March or so.

 

[DrSwede]

They will find out if they get a program in the middle of February. They will not be in the match but might accept paper applications. I think in a few years that the program will be really good. The pathology is broad and they just got a brand new ED. Also, the PD is the same one who started Scott and White in Temple and that is a great program.

I heard from a 4th year who rotated through there that all the labs, imaging, etc... are taken care of before the patient is even seen by the doc. He felt like this was a potential negative in terms of training, since you wouldn't be allowed to figure out what you need to do for the patient.

Any thoughts about that?

 

[Dr. Ditka]

I heard from a 4th year who rotated through there that all the labs, imaging, etc... are taken care of before the patient is even seen by the doc. He felt like this was a potential negative in terms of training, since you wouldn't be allowed to figure out what you need to do for the patient.

Any thoughts about that?

That is true right now and would hurt a training experience in my opinion. However, they will NOT be doing this if they get a residency program. That was one of my questions too.

 

[dmitrinyr]

They will find out if they get a program in the middle of February. They will not be in the match but might accept paper applications. I think in a few years that the program will be really good. The pathology is broad and they just got a brand new ED. Also, the PD is the same one who started Scott and White in Temple and that is a great program.

So, once they are approved, how can one apply for these residency positions as it is far too late for ERAS?

 

[Dr. Ditka]

So, once they are approved, how can one apply for these residency positions as it is far too late for ERAS?

1. contact the PD at JPS and tell him you are interested
2. print out your ERAS and mail the paper copy to him
3. if they get approved and you get in then drop out of on-line match

 

[snakedoc]

it's John Peter Smith Hospital. I just interviewed there a couple of weeks ago. the PD's name is Gossett and sounds kick ass. broke his freakin neck in Aug, quad for a while, and was back at work for their site survey in late Sept walking!. thinks it went great and expects to hear in Feb as said above. busy county place with a brand new ED with 8 trauma bays, about 50+ other beds, and a second CT being installed in the ED soon. i don't think the prelab/xray thing will be a big deal as it it showing up in more and programs to get pts moving. if you don't know what basic labs are needed for a belly pain wu or something, then don't look there i guess..

 

[Derek]

I heard from a 4th year who rotated through there that all the labs, imaging, etc... are taken care of before the patient is even seen by the doc. He felt like this was a potential negative in terms of training, since you wouldn't be allowed to figure out what you need to do for the patient.

Any thoughts about that?

I would not let that scare you away from any one program. Triage ordering is common in programs as there are increasing pressures to have blood cultures drawn within 4hrs of the patient walking in the door and EKG in 10min, so this is just part of medicine today. Some programs allow competent 2nd and 3rd year residents write the triage orders prior to the patient entering a room, which at some facilities can be 12+ hours. Being able to slap some good orders down based on limited information about the patient and their condition is an important skill to have. Remember those test questions in medical school where you would say to yourself they haven't provided me enough information to answer this question, but from what I do know I think choice A. is the answer. Same skill applies in triage ordering as frequently the complaints don't fit with the pain scores or the vitals and you have to piece a picture together in your mind of what is going on without having all the information and based upon that place some orders.

Once you are out on your own and doing solo coverage at an ER that just gets slammed, you will need this skill and ability to get things going on patients you haven't seen yet. This keeps the flow of the ER moving and it keeps the nurses happy as they don't like having patients fill their beds but not have orders to do anything with them.

 

[dmitrinyr]

it's John Peter Smith Hospital. I just interviewed there a couple of weeks ago. the PD's name is Gossett and sounds kick ass. broke his freakin neck in Aug, quad for a while, and was back at work for their site survey in late Sept walking!. thinks it went great and expects to hear in Feb as said above. busy county place with a brand new ED with 8 trauma bays, about 50+ other beds, and a second CT being installed in the ED soon. i don't think the prelab/xray thing will be a big deal as it it showing up in more and programs to get pts moving. if you don't know what basic labs are needed for a belly pain wu or something, then don't look there i guess..

How many people do you think they've interviewed already? Probably not that many (maybe a few dozen) as there isn't an official residency program available and so they cannot officially interview for a position that does not exist. I interviewed there as well and thought that the PD was pretty cool. I did not meet any of the other attendings. He stated that they will have to adjust to teaching residents instead of doing everything by themselves. Still, the PD had lots of enthusiasm about the upcoming year and was looking forward to start the year.

 

[dmitrinyr]

1. contact the PD at JPS and tell him you are interested
2. print out your ERAS and mail the paper copy to him
3. if they get approved and you get in then drop out of on-line match

When do they get approved, does anyone know?

 

[Dr. Ditka]

When do they get approved, does anyone know?

I was originally told by the PD they would find out feb. 15th or 16th, but I have not heard anything yet.

 

[dmitrinyr]

I was originally told by the PD they would find out feb. 15th or 16th, but I have not heard anything yet.

I was told the same thing by the PD. Maybe they are waiting to hear back from Texas medical students prior to contacting other applicants. I don't know, maybe they will wait until after the match to get people that did not match. Still, I'm anxiously waiting to see what happens. Good luck

 

[Robz]

I am also very interested to know who the new PD will be. Hopefully they will announce before final rank lists are due.

It may be a bit of time still for a couple of reasons. First, they have the short lists but are still in the final evaulations, including continued interests, second visits, and the like. Second, even when they select one it may take a bit to get settled. Things like getting a Texas medical license and moving to Houston takes a little bit of time. Things are pretty stable here currently and Dr. Reichman is still here until the turnover.

 

[Richspiders07]

I was told the same thing by the PD. Maybe they are waiting to hear back from Texas medical students prior to contacting other applicants. I don't know, maybe they will wait until after the match to get people that did not match. Still, I'm anxiously waiting to see what happens. Good luck

Any updates? I'm still a few years out of worrying about the match, but am very interested in returning home [DFW] for residency. Also, what are some general thoughts about brand new programs? I'm not looking to be a hotshot ER attending in a prestigious academic hospital.. so does it matter?

Also.. is this residency solely at JPS, or do you get shuffled through other area hospitals??

 

[december07]

Any updates? I'm still a few years out of worrying about the match, but am very interested in returning home [DFW] for residency. Also, what are some general thoughts about brand new programs? I'm not looking to be a hotshot ER attending in a prestigious academic hospital.. so does it matter?

Also.. is this residency solely at JPS, or do you get shuffled through other area hospitals??

Is this program associated with any of the TX medical school? This is a dumb question, but is this going to be an MD or DO program? Is it associated with TCOM or UT Southwestern? I have to ask cause I tried the search engine and not much came up. And there is no info on this program on the AOA or the AMA website.

 

[Dr. Ditka]

Is this program associated with any of the TX medical school? This is a dumb question, but is this going to be an MD or DO program? Is it associated with TCOM or UT Southwestern? I have to ask cause I tried the search engine and not much came up. And there is no info on this program on the AOA or the AMA website.

I heard that the JPS residency was approved to start for next season. I don't know if it is associated with a particular school. If I had to guess then I would say UNT. It is a 3 year MD program.

 

[jbp100]

I heard that the JPS residency was approved to start for next season. I don't know if it is associated with a particular school. If I had to guess then I would say UNT. It is a 3 year MD program.

Can't be an MD residency and be affiliated with a DO school. I have never heard of this at least. When Dr. Gossett talked to our EM club, he said they were seeking affiliation with UT-Southwestern. I don't know that they obtained that.

If they are approved to start next season, are they taking a class starting in July? Others on this thread talked of interviewing with them for this cycle.