Thoughts on Vanderbilt

[stat!!]

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This is one program I wish I could do a second look at. I visited about two days before I took step 2 and I was very preoccupied. I thought the day went very well, but it seemed that while the residents were happy, the interns were being worked to death. The morning report was also slightly bizarre, run in part by the chairman who demanded evidence regarding every comment (there is a resident who searches online during morning report to find evidence). Anyway, I am conflicted because I didn't get the best vibe, but the program has great fellowship placement and I've heard Vandy's got a great reputation. Anyone else have similar/different experiences at Vandy?

 

[Loopo Henle]

I don't have all the answers, but you can read my post on the interview experiences thread.

 

[Eidolon6]

This is one program I wish I could do a second look at. I visited about two days before I took step 2 and I was very preoccupied. I thought the day went very well, but it seemed that while the residents were happy, the interns were being worked to death. The morning report was also slightly bizarre, run in part by the chairman who demanded evidence regarding every comment (there is a resident who searches online during morning report to find evidence). Anyway, I am conflicted because I didn't get the best vibe, but the program has great fellowship placement and I've heard Vandy's got a great reputation. Anyone else have similar/different experiences at Vandy?

I am a fellow at Vanderbilt currently, having come from an outside institution. The vibe you got is probably the right one. The Chairman of Medicine here is a basic science elitist who feels that the modus primum of being a physician is to become a bench researcher. This attitude is reflected in the morning report and teaching conferences and clinical topics at Grand Rounds are shunned. Many of his changes here have not been looked upon well by other faculty and many housestaff look at the guy as kind of a joke...but one who has a lot of power and influence. Subspecialty stratification depends highly upon level of NIH funding....private funding means nothing to him. Don't expect the merits of being a good clinician to get you very far with him or his office.

Generally the housestaff are very good. The interns work hard and have a fairly stiff year but nothing that other places wouldn't have. I've found that even though the residents are beaten over the head with questions about evidence based medicine...they often don't use the evidence...which is irritating. Fellowship placement among residents here is good....lotsa cardiology, GI, heme/onc. People interested in pulmonary typically are desperate to stay in the fellowship here because it carries a strong reputation. Renal (which is also strong) is by far the most rigorous as their schedule is rough and the attendings (which include the Chairman) are known to be cantankerous and malignant.

The facilities here are OK. Vandy has tiny patient rooms and the place was built without appropriate call rooms, so makeshift rooms are located near elevators and busy thoroughfares....quite noisy. The MICU is large, but not particularly filled with much useful work-area. The VA is typical, maybe a little better than average, but not much. Nashville is a nice town, fairly easy to get around in on non-traffic hours, good cost of living, nice music scene. Weather is generally mild.

 

[stat!!]

Thanks for your reply. I am heading to Nashville for a look around this weekend. Got any recommendations for restaurants or music scenes? Where do people go out on a friday or saturday night? Thanks again...