Univ of Arizona Anesthesiology

[Gardner]

Has anybody out there had any recent interactions (rotation, resident, or interview) with the res program at U of Arizona? I'd like to get feedback for better or worse.

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[UMMS FMD]

Has anybody out there had any recent interactions (rotation, resident, or interview) with the res program at U of Arizona? I'd like to get feedback for better or worse.

I interviewed there in November and was impressed. It's a smaller program but seems solid. The residents were a sharp bunch and all seemed happy. PM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[militarymd]

Tucson right? AWESOME city to live in.

 

[Gardner]

Tucson right? AWESOME city to live in.

Yeah, it's in Tucson. The parts of city that I've seen are aren't so nice, but I hear the foothills are quite different. About the same weather as Phx - where I'm from. Do you know anyone from the anesth program?

 

[militarymd]

Yeah, it's in Tucson. The parts of city that I've seen are aren't so nice, but I hear the foothills are quite different. About the same weather as Phx - where I'm from. Do you know anyone from the anesth program?

As with any mid-sized city, there will be bad parts, but my wife and I stayed at the Westward Look in on Ina a couple of weeks ago, and had a really good time...GREAT restaurants.

I was thinking about join the big private practice group in town in 04, and met a couple of new grads from there...they were all happy with the program.

Sorry, but I have no contact info.

 

[aredoubleyou]

U of AZ is the best, most fantastic, superb, outstanding program in the universe....or at least in Tucson 🙂

Medium sized program, no fellows, lots of cases including hearts, transplant, etc... lots of trauma. They keep us busy.

No major complaints, the big wigs address the major issues and are receptive to changes and improvements. Most the complaints are the same from any decent program (too many cases, etc), but hours rarely get far above mid 60's per week. Reasonable call schedule, usually overnight call at the hospital 2-4 times a month in main OR.

Parts of tucson can be pretty dumpyl, but its certainly not a hard ghetto by any stretch of the imagination. North side of town pretty nice to very nice. Its afordable and livable.

Hope that helps

 

[RickKane]

Anybody know if fellowships are in the works at U of A? I heard a rumor about pain and maybe CT.

 

[Gardner]

As with any mid-sized city, there will be bad parts, but my wife and I stayed at the Westward Look in on Ina a couple of weeks ago, and had a really good time...GREAT restaurants.

I was thinking about join the big private practice group in town in 04, and met a couple of new grads from there...they were all happy with the program.

Sorry, but I have no contact info.

Great! Thanks for the info.

 

[Beck928]

I will echo what my buddy aredoubleyou says. We are pretty content in general, but there are always upsides and downsides to every program. If you love the outdoors, clean air, being warm, and the mountain views in city with a small-town feel, then you will like Tucson. We are busy when we are at work, but have weekends off unless we're on call, a great bonus. The staff treats us pretty well and we do get a good variety of cases. Trauma is the thing that keeps us busiest. As a group, our residents are great, and we often times go out for a Friday happy hour together. If you interviewed here and went to dinner with us, you probably got that feel. Any questions, PM me! Good Luck!

 

[sixstringfan]

word

 

[G0S2]

I was impressed with the program overall during the interview. Drawbacks are very little ENT cases and if you want more peds or advanced neuro cases (clippings etc) you have to go to Phoenix. New regional guy who is a graduate of the program who just returned from his fellowship. Seemed extremely busy. New attending in my dept is a recent grad and she loved the program.

 

[RussianJoo]

Anyone know if this place is US-IMG friendly?

thank you in advance for your post.

 

[Trisomy13]

Drawbacks are very little ENT cases ....

Do a couple of 15 hour total laryngectomy/pharyngectomy with bilateral neck dissections and a pectoralis flap reconstruction and then tell me that "very little ENT cases" is a drawback anywhere. Man, I hate those cases. Seems like they are 12 hours minimum, and I know of at least one that went a full 24 hours (granted, due to major surgical complications).

 

[ckatennis]

I have a question about the program. I am a third year medical student interested in Anesthesia. I would love to go to the University of Arizona but I think the best way for me to do this is to do an externship there during my fourth year. Do they accept students for externships? What month do the students usually rotate? Do you buy chance know what the average step 1 and step 2 scores are for the program? Thanks for information in advance!

 

[aredoubleyou]

I have a question about the program. I am a third year medical student interested in Anesthesia. I would love to go to the University of Arizona but I think the best way for me to do this is to do an externship there during my fourth year. Do they accept students for externships? What month do the students usually rotate? Do you buy chance know what the average step 1 and step 2 scores are for the program? Thanks for information in advance!

Do they accept students for externships? Yes

What month do the students usually rotate? From the begining of the year to the interview season - other med school students get more attention later in the year (after october)

Do you buy chance know what the average step 1 and step 2 scores are for the program? No, but its more insane every year, glad I matched when I did cause I wouldnt have with the current CA1 class!

 

[Duane E]

I did a rotation there in November and really enjoyed it. Very bright bunch of residents, good mix of married/single residents. I asked several residents how they ranked UofA and I only found one where he/she said it wasn't their top choice (was #2).
They are building a Pediatric hospital on campus that will be opened in 2010; currently they have the option of doing a rotation at Phoenix Children's.
Warm weather allows for lots of golfing, mountain biking/hiking, etc.

If you want to know the bad I would have to say it's the traffic. I stayed about 8 miles away and it still took me 45 minutes to get home. If you plan to live there, make sure you rent/own in the right place!

All in all, I can only hope that they rank me! :hint: :hint:

 

[Beck928]

Good luck Duane, my fellow DO in the house!

 

[kazuma]

Anybody know if fellowships are in the works at U of A? I heard a rumor about pain and maybe CT.

Bump.

Is this true or just a rumor? I don't recall hearing anything about this during my interview.

 

[Gardner]

When I interviewed there in Dec 2009 they said there was a strong possibility of opening a pain fellowship at the time. Since they had a single Chronic Pain attending at the time I thought it was a little far-fetched.

I wish the opened up some fellowships there. The only thing I see possible there though is CT.

 

[castafari]

I interviewed there last year. That program is the bomb. You get all the experience you need under one roof including pediatric organ transplants. I was walking around Tucson in a T shirt in December. I would have given my left nut to get in. Instead I am at a program where it still snowing in april.

 

[RickKane]

Anybody know if fellowships are in the works at U of A? I heard a rumor about pain and maybe CT.

To answer my own question from a couple years ago...U of A is starting a couple fellowships. An ICU fellowship is happening this year and may already have a fellow lined up. The pain fellowship was supposed to be on the books by 2012 but a new hire pain guy bailed on his contract. They need to fill his spot and it will be good to go. Should be starting July 2013. They have enough pain procedures to support at least 2 fellows.

 

[kazuma]

To answer my own question from a couple years ago...U of A is starting a couple fellowships. An ICU fellowship is happening this year and may already have a fellow lined up. The pain fellowship was supposed to be on the books by 2012 but a new hire pain guy bailed on his contract. They need to fill his spot and it will be good to go. Should be starting July 2013. They have enough pain procedures to support at least 2 fellows.

Good to hear, thanks for the followup. Do you know how many ICU fellows they're approved for? I didn't see anything about it on their website.

 

[PMPMD]

Good to hear, thanks for the followup. Do you know how many ICU fellows they're approved for? I didn't see anything about it on their website.

Not on ACGME either

 

[Katheudontas parateroumen]

Any new info on U of A program?

 

[timgasman]

What is life like for attendings here?

 

[purpledragon1]

Any recent reviews of this program? Liked it when I visited, but don't know too much about it.

 

[Katheudontas parateroumen]

Friendly people there, non-competitive attitudes. No fellows other than 1 ICU and 1 pain. You'll meet your numbers with everything and be a competent independent anesthesiologist. Level 1 trauma (only one in southwest region so you'll cover the border and all of southern AZ). They see hearts, peds hearts, some transplant (kidney, heart, livers) but not many. Pretty busy OB service. Anesthesia basically runs CTICU and neuroICU; SICU is split with surgery. Will get bread and butter regional. Everything is basically in-house with one other South campus near by and a VA. Call schedule is pretty nice because it's staggered (so no 24 hours and stuff). CA1 year is the best as I don't think CA1 take any call for like the first 6 months or something. Moonlighting is available like $75/hr CTICU. You'll probably get hand up in getting either the pain or ICU fellowship which is a plus.

Living in Tucson is cheap. Probably cheapest place in America with apartments single bedroom can find <$500/month, gas is like cheapest in US and not much traffic. College town otherwise not much else.