UHCOM vs TTUHSCEP vs UTRGV vs UTTYLER

[medstud3724]

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I’m struggling to decide my rank list. I know that TTUHSCEL is probably the most established out of all these schools. I’m trying to choose a school that will provide me with the most opportunities or make it easier to search for opportunities to secure an exceptional residency. I’m leaning toward UHCOM because it’s near the Texas Medical Center (TMC), which would offer more opportunities compared to the rest. I really want to attend a school that provides the best education, experiences, clinical opportunities, and a strong chance of matching into a competitive residency. How would you rank these schools?

UHCOM​

Pros: What I like is that it’s near TMC and has a small class size. Location might allow me to explore great opportunities. Always wanted to move to a bigger city.
Cons: a little newer and less established compared to some. Not fully accredited.

TTUHSCEL​

Pros: It has some really good match outcomes, the students seemed very nice and cool, and it’s a more established school. Like that they also train students to learn Spanish and have distinctions.
Cons: Perhaps the location.

UT Tyler​

Pros: Great environment, super welcoming, I actually liked the location, I was impressed with UT Health hospital, and the new SOM they’re building looks absolutely amazing. Would be ranked number one if it weren't for it's newness. New technology and I'm sure clinical experiences will be great.
Cons: It’s the newest medical school in Texas, has no graduating class, and I’m worried that attending could impact my chances of getting into a competitive specialty or residency. Not fully accredited.

UTRGV​

Pros: the mission aligns with my values, it has a small class size, and it might offer better networking opportunities.
Cons: They’ve cut ties with the main hospital, and I’d prefer to study somewhere farther from home.

 

[wysdoc]

UH COM students do not generally rotate at TMC hospitals, so don’t use that as a plus
UTRGV lack of teaching hospitals is a serious deficit and should put it at #4 on your list in my opinion

 

[medstud3724]

UH COM students do not generally rotate at TMC hospitals, so don’t use that as a plus
UTRGV lack of teaching hospitals is a serious deficit and should put it at #4 on your list in my opinion

personally how would you rank these schools?

 

[Med Ed]

TTU is the clear winner here.

HCOM is a HCA school, you would only see the TMC as part of a commute.

 

[cowboydoctor29]

I know this is a delayed response, but for future readers, UH does have affiliations with other organizations outside of HCA, so it's not an "HCA" school. Based on their rotation guide, students can rotate at St. Joseph Medical Center and Texas Women's Hospital. The school also has rotation affiliations with the Texas Heart Institute and MD Anderson.

Also @wysdoc, I see that UH COM is a member of the TMC (since 2021), so there could be added rotation affiliations that I'm not aware of. Felt that I should provide updated info, especially since the school is so new.

 

[wysdoc]

Also @wysdoc, I see that UH COM is a member of the TMC (since 2021), so there could be added rotation affiliations that I'm not aware of. Felt that I should provide updated info, especially since the school is so new.

@cowboydoctor29 can you explain what you mean by UH COM is a member of the TMC?

 

[Med Ed]

I know this is a delayed response, but for future readers, UH does have affiliations with other organizations outside of HCA, so it's not an "HCA" school. Based on their rotation guide, students can rotate at St. Joseph Medical Center and Texas Women's Hospital. The school also has rotation affiliations with the Texas Heart Institute and MD Anderson.

Look at the bigger picture. Establishing affiliation agreements is the easy part of the process, and many schools have to form a lot of them to have sufficient clinical education space. Baylor and McGovern own 99.8% of the TMC, leaving a third medical school in the city to look elsewhere for the majority of its hospital-based education opportunities. I have no doubt that some UH students drift through MD Anderson and the THI each year, but so do many visiting students from many other schools.

UH has addressed this rationally, by running a LIC (which are typically outpatient), having a rural health component (which can be done outside the city and therefore with less competition), and forming a useful affiliation with DHR down near the border. If you want inpatient medicine or surgery experiences at this school it looks like you are mostly at HCA Kingwood. If you want EM you are mostly at HCA North Cypress, HCA Kingwood, or HCA Clear Lake. The Woman's Hospital of Texas is HCA. Peds experiences are through TCH, but you're in one of the suburban sites and not the main TCH facility in the TMC. So yes, if you attend UH you will get a lot of outpatient clinical education, and for inpatient you will be no stranger to the HCA system.

 

[cowboydoctor29]

@cowboydoctor29 can you explain what you mean by UH COM is a member of the TMC?

@wysdoc I think I was getting at how being a member institution has allowed the school to develop a portfolio of "home" electives and collaborations with other members of the TMC, such as MD Anderson, THI, UH Pharmacy (for research), and Methodist (based on what their advanced rotation guide said). Not sure if there are added partnerships with other TMC members outside of those. Of course, a major bulk of 3rd year training comes from the HCA Houston network right now. @Med Ed, thanks for the added info regarding rotations.

To add, I know they had a board meeting last month to seek funding for a new teaching hospital, so the clinical rotation landscape could definitely be a bit different in 3-5 years.