Usf im

[MSTP boy]

Just curious, how well regarded is USF IM? I received this email a few days ago, it seemed odd for a program to cancel a whole set of resident seminars like this.

-------------------------------------------
From: Dehainaut, Julie
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 10:57:21 AM
Subject: FW: B107 Thurs., Sept. 30th
Importance: High
FYI

Dear All,

Unfortunately, B107 at TGH will be in use tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010 from 8am-3pm by TGH Marketing. Board Review, Morning Report, Noon Conference/Grand Rounds will be canceled for Sept. 30th only.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused,

Jeannie Waterman
Administrative Assistant
USF Internal Medicine
2 Tampa General Circle 6th Floor, Rm. 6095
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 259-0671
Fax (813) 259-0679

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[gutonc]

Just curious, how well regarded is USF IM? I received this email a few days ago, it seemed odd for a program to cancel a whole set of resident seminars like this.

Are you trying to imply that the quality of a program is somehow related to its ability to find a room for noon conference on one day in September? Because that's crazy talk.

The answer to your question is that USF is a decent (but not really all that amazing) IM program. But the fact that they canceled a few conferences on one day out of the year has nothing to do with that. I'm pretty sure Hopkins and UCSF (and every other program) occasionally cancel conferences as well.

 

[sluggo]

I did 1 month there as an "away elective" as a 4th year medical student, interviewed there for residency, and again for fellowship.
On my elective month I found the residents to be pretty weak. Most "educational conferences" were just going over a few board questions. An attending told me flat-out that it was not a very good program. A fellow told me that it would not hurt me to go there, but it would not help me and it would limit fellowship options. During my interview, the PD flat out asked me why I was bothering interviewing there. I did not rank it.
I interviewed there again for fellowship and it was so bad that I left after lunch without even going to afternoon interviews.
Tampa is a nice city, though....

 

[jdh71]

I did 1 month there as an "away elective" as a 4th year medical student, interviewed there for residency, and again for fellowship.
On my elective month I found the residents to be pretty weak. Most "educational conferences" were just going over a few board questions. An attending told me flat-out that it was not a very good program. A fellow told me that it would not hurt me to go there, but it would not help me and it would limit fellowship options. During my interview, the PD flat out asked me why I was bothering interviewing there. I did not rank it.
I interviewed there again for fellowship and it was so bad that I left after lunch without even going to afternoon interviews.
Tampa is a nice city, though....

damn

 

[AZhopeful]

damn

No kidding! It's pretty rare to hear such criticism about a program- that's something that you keep in mind for a long time, if it's true.

 

[docscience]

Going to be interviewing at USF in Jan. Not sure why the poster had such a bad experience.

Here is someone's take on the cardiology fellowship if that contributes to the program at all...
University of South Florida Tampa
Pros
-Dr. Curtis, head, is world-renowned EP doc who also works on EKG portions of cardiology boards
-busy, nice looking hospital
-placement after fellowship does not seem to be an issue and can get really competitive subspecialties
-busy VA where get good training
-in south florida where the sun is nice

Cons
-Tampa - supposedly 4th biggest transplant area in the country - unfortunately no exposure to this in the USF program anymore. Transplant cardiologists are all at a private hospital in the area and fellows not allowed to go over and work with them any longer - apparently a rift between hospitals over legal issues regarding insurance malpractice coverage for fellows.
-For same legal reasons, other private cardiologists no longer teach fellows
-A good amount of previous attendings left for unknown reasons
-Previous fellows work over at VA now to avoid legal issues
-no real imaging curriculum
-training divided over 3 hospitals, including busiest VA in the country (plus and a minus)

 

[w a n g]

Not really SOUTH Florida... but point taken!

 

[docscience]

Was wondering if anyone else had any info on this program. Thanks

 

[EyesofaJackal]

Not really SOUTH Florida... but point taken!

Culturally it's kind of the border between South and Central FL, but yeah, more central than Miami.

 

[DrVanNostran]

Any new opinions about USF? Interested in H/O and possibly cards. I love Tampa and know that Moffitt is a pretty nice center.

 

[DIce3]

IMHO the political and economic climate at USF is suboptimal.

 

[bronx43]

IMHO the political and economic climate at USF is suboptimal.

Can you expand upon this a little bit? I've got my interview coming up and I'm really excited about the program (mainly due to location).

 

[DrVanNostran]

Can you expand upon this a little bit? I've got my interview coming up and I'm really excited about the program (mainly due to location).

I am wondering why people are down on the program. I am excited about this one also. I really like Tampa and I have family there. Hopefully, the rumors are false.

 

[Newbie212]

anyone been to USF for an interview recently?

 

[Newbie212]

bump

 

[medguy83]

I had my interview earlier this month. I thought the program was pretty decent. The facilities are really nice. Most of the residents are really laid back. I did find that there were some notable differences between my interview there and other programs. For starters, while it seems that most residents have no trouble with fellowship placement, there's nothing to be found with regard to data on that. Practically every interview I've been on handed me a folder with info about the city, the program, the training, etc. USF didn't provide much in the way of info. They handed out a copy of the residents' contract and a brief list of things to do in tampa. Even the PD didn't talk much at all about the program and what makes USF stand out. His presentation centered mostly on the application process and how applicants are ranked and so forth.
There were some definite pluses to the program however. Moffitt cancer center is among the top 10 or so in the nation with regard to H/O training. The VA is busy as well as TGH, so there's no shortage of clinical experience. The residents are very approachable and down to earth; some, however, appeared a little too lax about the training and seemed a little more focused on the down time than actually learning medicine. I checked the program's site to see where most of the grads end up. It's Fellowship placement averaged between 45-55%; with most others doing hospitalist medicine. Practically all the fellowship matches were at USF with a few exceptions.
It's hard to truly get a feel for a program after spending only a day or so visiting the area. Overall I think it's a good program that can provide sound training. Plus it's kind of nice being able to look at dolphins and a sunset over the bay from an ICU. I think that like most other programs if you work hard and do a stand up job you'll be well taken care of when it comes to fellowship chances here. Granted, it might be a little easier if you choose to attend a program with a little more prestige. I would love to hear any more feedback from others about the program and their opinions about it.

 

[quique2]

Also interested in knowing more about IM in USF - they have an observership in ID which I am considering applying to (family in the area - cheaper than other places and I like ID and IM) but would like to know other people's opinions.

 

[Chickenwing]

BUMP....Was wondering if anyone had any other thoughts on the program, maybe who interviewed there this yr?