UNC pathology program

[path1234]

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Does anybody have interview experience with UNC pathology? Is it a good program compared with Duke or Wash U? Any infor will be appreciated. 🙂<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com😳ffice😳ffice" /><o😛></o😛>

 

[abc123puck]

bump

 

[KeratinPearls]

WashU has a name for Surgpath. That about all I know.

 

[Euchromatin]

Does anybody have interview experience with UNC pathology? Is it a good program compared with Duke or Wash U? Any infor will be appreciated. 🙂<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com😳ffice😳ffice" /><o😛></o😛>

While interviewing back in the fall of 2009, I met a resident who had transferred from Wash U because they felt the atmosphere was rather malignant and way too much time was spent grossing. That person seemed very happy at the place they had transferred to. No idea if anything has changed with regard to the surg path rotations there in the interim. I have no experience with the UNC or Duke

 

[GtownCobra]

Okay, I'll chime in. I went to UNC for residency and fellowship. I had a terrific experience there, met some awesome people, and learned a ton. The program is well balanced, and over the years grossing responsiblilites have actually diminished some. 1st years now have protected slide preview time, and to my knowledge are not allowed to gross after the PAs leave (which is around 4:30). 2nd years gross an entire bench when on Surg path, and 3rd and 4th years just do "one or two interesting cases a day" when on service.

We used to get a solid block of protected board study time in the Spring of 4th year, that may be changing some, I'm not sure. No one has failed boards though since I can remember. I don't have a ton of knowledge on Duke's program, but from what I've heard UNC is a bit more relaxed. Anyways, great place to train, but there are a ton of great places to be, so just pick one and go with it.

 

[path1234]

GtownCobra, thank you so much for your info. Sounds like UNC is a great program but not too tough. I have other two questions:
1. What subspecialty is best at UNC? I noticed they mentioned in resident research area: "cardiovascular biology, thrombosis and hemostasis; carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and progenitor-cell research; infectious diseases, immunology, protease inhibitors and drug development; molecular genetics pathology; nephropathology; and neuropathology." Still wondering which one is best in UNC.
2. How should we evaluate a program? from the paper they published? or from the fellowship training they can offer? Though you don't have to stay in the same place for the fellowship, does it reflect how strong academically the program is?

 

[mlw03]

Why do so many applicants have this ranking mindset, ie something has to be "best"? It's not a content. Your goal is to get good training, and ranking what area of research is best at a given program is a silly enterprise at best.

Path1234 - I'm guessing you're not American based on your English (if you are, that's an issue). Evaluating a program is a very complex thing, and it's been discussed frequently on here. May I suggest using the search feature to see some past discussions. The most important thing in any residency program is to learn the basic, core skills of your specialty, and to gain the knowledge necessary to help you pass the board exam. Beyond those basics, which most programs in the US will offer, it comes down to fitting in, liking the people, and do you want to live in that place for 3 to 6 years.

 

[KCShaw]

And what research is being done at an institution often does not correlate with the day-to-day activities, learning, or teaching within the residency program. It might matter if you have a specific interest in those specific research activities, but chances are that you won't have time to do anything about it. If you can't get past the notion that a place needs to be "best" or whatever at something, in general you're probably better off finding out about their consult services -- do they get a lot of surgpath referrals from across the country (not just small regional hospitals), and if so is it mainly just one organ system, and what pathologist(s) does it really depend on? This generally correlates with the fellowship program(s) available there. As a resident you are much more likely to gain from those folks than you are from the PhD's working on grants over at the medical school or main campus, which might not even be in the same city as the hospital you work in.