I am a CA-2 at the University of Michigan. I think there are several reasons for not matching those 4 spots last year including transitioning to a new PD, and being a little over-selective. Everyone was a little with a new PD coming on board this year but she has transitioned in extremely well. There have already been several positive changes in this past year. I am most excited about the educational program taking a more structured format.
I think the strengths of this training program are:
- Amazing faculty
- Some of them world renowned (Mashour, Brummett, Kheterpal, Polley, Ramachandran, Healy)
- Extremely involved and friendly chairman, Dr. Tremper (I see him almost everyday at morning conference); He is also extremely supportive of residents.
- 55 hours/wk work schedule during CA-1-CA-3; 57 hours/wk during intern year
- Solid training experience where you will definitely get all of your numbers within this one large institution without any doubt
- You will gain confidence and a strong skillset
- Structured educational curriculum with morning conference, M&M, journal club, tutorials, and simulations
- Program that supports research (I went to two national conferences this year to present case reports -- 6 days each fully paid)
- If you want to get involved with research you will have many opportunities. Check out December version of Anesthesiology dedicated to UofM research contribution to Anesthesia. Also note that UofM has 3 faculty members who are now editors for Anesthesiology.
- A sense of teamwork amongst residents; we have each other's backs as cheezy as that sounds
- Food money when you stay for 12 hours or longer if it includes 7pm
- Most weekends off after you're a CA-1
- Excellent fellowship opportunities, and UofM tends to take their own; I had a Brigham residency grad tell me how insanely hard it was for him to match Cardiac at UofM because they take their own so heavily. Out of this year's CA-3s, 7 wanted pain; 5 are going to UofM, 1 to Hopkins, and 1 to MD Anderson
- UofM Anesthesia is pretty well respected nationally; When I meet people at conferences they always say how good a program UofM is.
I think the only downside of this program is that it is not kush. And if thats what you are looking for you probably shouldn't look here. This is a place where you work hard, with some extremely bright people, you learn a lot, and you do some good by the end of the day.
I am extremely satisfied with my training so far. Please post any program related questions you might have and I would be happy to answer them.