I am contemplating where to rank U of Ok on my rank list, but I wasn't able to get a good feel for the program. The intern year sounds amazing, but I wasn't convinced that the residents and the attendees were very close. I also didn't do a very good job of taking notes while at the interview and am struggling to remember things like call schedule, moonlighting and board pass rates. Anyone with knowledge of the program who could provide me with some information it would be appreciated. Thanks.
Goal: train "good perioperative physician"
Hours: Mid 50s during CA years. Less at Baptist for PGY-1
ITE: "at or above national mean". They did not volunteer board pass rate.
Call: Baptist - you will be part of night float for floors. For CA years: 1 month night float per year, plus on peds, liver, and pain you have home call. There was talk of adding more CRNAs so maybe call will improve, but that was from resident.
Research: low for university center
Neuro: high numbers
Cardiac: medium to low numbers
Transplant: liver, pancreas, kidney
Didactics: Afternoon.
Significant CRNA presence: yes
I vaguely remember moonlighting being discussed. I think it was like $60/hr after 5 or 6 PM. Residents were annoyed cuz it used to kick in earlier at either 3 or 4.
A few things bugged me about the day though:
Everyone kept emphasizing the PGY-1 year's awesomeness, but we're training to be anesthesiologist, not interns. It's 3 years vs 1 year of residency, and it just felt really odd how much they emphasized the PGY-1 experience at Baptist and swept PGY 2-4 under the carpet.
The PGY-1s seemed very "out of the loop" when I asked them about the program. Seemed to be good intra-class camaraderie, but below average inter-class cohesion.
A higher than expected proportion (majority) of people stuck around for private practice in OK after graduating. I'm not sure if this was because of the "family friendly" nature of the program (people don't want to uproot family for fellowship or academics), or the program doesn't prepare you well for top notch fellowship. Also raised question about adequacy of network, which is a concern given that I'm not from Oklahoma.
I got the impression that it was a very family friendly program, but otherwise very average for a state institution. (Possibly a little lower in research output vs other state programs, but more than community programs). There is a "clinical scientist track" that gives you 6 months of research during CA-3 year. City seemed okay; might be a little lacking in night life, dating, and restaurants if you are from a major city or if you are a minority. On the up side housing is cheap at places with good schools if you have kids. Minimal traffic.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will be ranking them high, but more for lack of better options than for enthusiasm about the program.
