University of Arkansas????

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Don't know much about this program.... Dec. and Jan. are packed and I don't know if I should go to this one. Seems friendly, good work hours, but how good are you at running gas on the other end of residency (how good or bad of a program is U of A???) How is the case load? Any info 😕

 

[TofuBalls]

The first 20 minutes of my interview day at U of A was spent talking about J-1 visas... no lie. Considering that half of my fellow interviewees (sp?) actually would benifit from this talk, it set the tone for the program in my view. Everyone I met there was nice and seemed happy but the J-1 visa stuff really turned me off... 🙄

 

[timtye78]

U of A has a strong academic history, and seems to have no problem with board scores, and clinical skills. Their facilities are top of the line in my opinion. Really nice new hospital with new equipment. They take a lot of interns every year-they seem to have good volume, good mix of trauma, etc.

I think the major factor with this place is location. Little Rock, AR is an older, quieter town, and I have heard they have trouble with "gangs" there as well. Lots of poor people there, and rundown neighborhood near the university center (altough same here at OU in that respect).

As far as things to do in the area for R and R:They have a lot of 'outdoorsy' type stuff, hiking, fishing, stuff. But it seems quiet. Although you really aren't too far from Memphis TN which I haev heard is a lot of fun.

If your training is the biggest issue for you, you will have made a great choice. If you are married and your spouse prefers a nice urban metro area or if you are single, looking for local bars/hotspots, this wouldn't be the place for you!

 

[txdoc2b]

Has anyone else interviewed at Arkansas? Just wanted to hear other opinions of the programs and the interview day itself. I am going there Dec 16th...anyone else? Also, anyone know what the dinner is like that night? Do you get to change out of your interview suit or do you go right there?


THanks!

 

[timtye78]

Has anyone else interviewed at Arkansas? Just wanted to hear other opinions of the programs and the interview day itself. I am going there Dec 16th...anyone else? Also, anyone know what the dinner is like that night? Do you get to change out of your interview suit or do you go right there?


THanks!

Dinner for me and friends that also interviewed was a chinese buffet restuarant..The way the day went is they broke people up for interviews and mixed in the tours as usual, then made an announcement that they were all now headed for dinner. No time or opportunity to change out of suits. And everyone came such as faculty and PD Dr. Pablo. It was lighthearted and relaxed at this point. I hope this helps.

 

[pkpkpk420]

The first 20 minutes of my interview day at U of A was spent talking about J-1 visas... no lie. Considering that half of my fellow interviewees (sp?) actually would benifit from this talk, it set the tone for the program in my view. Everyone I met there was nice and seemed happy but the J-1 visa stuff really turned me off... 🙄

Anyone thats interviewed at U Ark, what did you think of the program besides all the j1 stuff they kept on about....

Howd the interview itself go? how many other ppl interviewed with u on the same day?
Residents/faculty seem to get along well?

 

[OldManDave]

Anyone thats interviewed at U Ark, what did you think of the program besides all the j1 stuff they kept on about....

Howd the interview itself go? how many other ppl interviewed with u on the same day?
Residents/faculty seem to get along well?

I left my UofA interview w/ a less than positive impression - mind you, I interviewed in Dec 2002. I was underwhelmed by the newly named Chair & they had 2 new co-PDs. According to one of the residents, they'd had an interim Chiar for some time & had sturggled to find a PD too. However, the two co-PDs were apparently quite impressive, even if the new Chair was not.

The thing that impressed me the least was the CA-1 who gave us the tour. He prattled on & on about how easy the program was & how they spent most of their time sleeping, goofing off or playing video games. His focus was upon minimizing his personal level of exertion. I was concerned about how broad-based this attitude was & how deeply entrenched that disposition was.

Overall, I felt it was a program with significant problems, but also one that folks were really trying to get back onto the right track. Given a few years of solid leadership, it could be a very strong program. UAMS' other residency programs are known for being very solid, well run and turn out some excellent physicians. The facilities are superb & there is tons of research going on there.

I found myself wishing like hell that gas had not been such a weak link there. Otherwise, it would have been an excellent place to a reisdency.

Oh...somewhere above someone comments about Little Rock not being a good place for singles. I beg to differ. I grew up in Little Rock & it had/has a dynamic nightlife. Plus, in the last decade, there has been massive urban renewal going on. Parts of downtown (good places to get shot in the 80s & early 90s) are now high-shopping, restaurants & swank apartments...even if the Clinton Library looks like a mobile home on stilts. LR has a surprising quanitity of cultural diversity, quisine and a lot of outdoorsy activites immediately available. Definitely a less than well known gem of a place to live.

 

[hihihi]

z

 

[OldManDave]

Lots can change in 2 years for a residency program....by the way, still waiting on an e-mail back from ya Oldmandave, check your e-mail from about 2 years ago. Anyway...

Bottom line with this program is this...As recent as 2 years ago, the majority of residents were FMG's. No personal offense against FMG's, but in this day and time, lots of FMG's in your program sends out a bad vibe. Well, in the last 2 years the vast majority of residents have been home grown UAMS students. This means nothing to you folks on the east coast or out in California, but it is a good sign for a recovery for the UAMS gas program.

Just thought I would counter Oldmandave's comment since I am still waiting (again, about 2 years) on an e-mail back from him.

Thanks.

2 years huh? Wow...didn't realize I was that far behind in responding to e-mails! My sincerest apologies... 😀 Being as I don't have any e-mails in any of my inboxes that old - I musta lost the thing. So, if ya want to gim'me another chance, I will promise to try & do better & actually respond this time. Really 2 years? I usually pretty decent about getting back to folks...oh well, feces occurs when you're old, a resident & a new parent.

Oh. By the way, your opinion of UAMS is really not counter to mine. It actually reflects what I said I perceived to be a likely future for the program. It was not too strong then , but I said it could be after a few years of solid leadership.

 

[Razorback]

This is a strong program. I know that 13 people from my medical school class at AR went into Anesthesia and I think about 10 of them will be CA-1s there next year...the FMG thing was a problem about 3-4 years ago.

Little Rock is enjoyable; the gang stuff is really a stereotype and will not cause you any problems. (The fact that this is still brought up gets to me, in 9 years, I never saw a "gang") The downtown area is newly revitalized and the quality of life is excellent.

It is unfortunate that people will write reviews on a program after interviewing in 2002. I always like to emphasize that you need to see a program for yourself and not to pass judgement based on the opinion of strangers. That "interim chair" that was referrred to previously is the CURRENT chair. The PD has been the same since my 2nd year in medical school. Residents are bright and well qualified; they were my peers. Attendings were trained at top institutions all over the country.

I would not discredit or disregard this program. It is good training with great people in a lively Southern city.

 

[pkpkpk420]

if the FMG thing is not an issue anymore how come they spent such a significant amount of time going on about visas at the interview as per the above poster?

 

[OldManDave]

This is a strong program. I know that 13 people from my medical school class at AR went into Anesthesia and I think about 10 of them will be CA-1s there next year...the FMG thing was a problem about 3-4 years ago.

Little Rock is enjoyable; the gang stuff is really a stereotype and will not cause you any problems. (The fact that this is still brought up gets to me, in 9 years, I never saw a "gang") The downtown area is newly revitalized and the quality of life is excellent.

It is unfortunate that people will write reviews on a program after interviewing in 2002. I always like to emphasize that you need to see a program for yourself and not to pass judgement based on the opinion of strangers. That "interim chair" that was referrred to previously is the CURRENT chair. The PD has been the same since my 2nd year in medical school. Residents are bright and well qualified; they were my peers. Attendings were trained at top institutions all over the country.

I would not discredit or disregard this program. It is good training with great people in a lively Southern city.

I am very glad to know that what I predicted has come true - that the program would be back on its feet & be strong one day. I don't my post as having been a negative toward the program - I merely am relating precisely what I saw & was told and I clearly qualified my assessment as resulting from a Dec 2002 interview. Also, as I clearly state, "...was a program with significant problems, also one with folks who are tryiing very hard to get it back on the right track..." -- that is not a negative assessment, but a positive statement regarding the program's future.

Regarding LR - I grew up there...lived nearly 30 years there (vs 9). At one time, there was a severe gang problem. As a resp therapist working ICUs & ER/trauma, I witnessed first-hand the results of gang-banger. Even at Ark Children's Hosp (we took all trauma up to age 21, which includes the vast preponderance of the gang-bangers), we even had the LRPD gang unit periodically come to educate all of us in the ICU & ER on who & what the gangs were up to, who was warring with who & the gang signs. Fortunately, the LRPD got savvy on combating with gangs & that problem is largely isolated to their territories - which is why you likely did not see it.

I agree LR is a great city...much more vibrant than when I left in 94. However, it is still a good sized city & has the ills associated with said size. All in all though, I think it would be a great place to live, train & have a family. It may even be where I return to set my roots too. There is so much more to see & do there vs when I left - and it was pretty damned cool even then.

 

[DC DOC]

I know this is an old post, but wondering what current attendings/residents or students think about the University of Arkansas program in more recent years. I am interested in a Peds fellowship in the future and heard they have a decent program. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[imfrankie]

I know this is an old post, but wondering what current attendings/residents or students think about the University of Arkansas program in more recent years. I am interested in a Peds fellowship in the future and heard they have a decent program. Any info would be appreciated.

I know a couple of peds anesthesia attendings there--really nice, smart, capable guys.