Utah vs. RIC vs. Columbia/Cornell

[Zline]

Good morning physiatrists,

I had great interview experiences at all three places (Utah, Columbia/Cornell, and RIC) and am having difficulty deciding how to rank these programs. I've also found precious little on Utah and Columbia/Cornell on here, so I was wondering if anyone would be willing to weigh in on what they believe the strengths and weaknesses of these programs are.

I've been in touch with residents and am going back for second looks at a couple of these places...but any further insight from SDNers would be greatly appreciated.

About me: looking for good generalist experience but leaning toward sports/MSK. Strong desire to do research, possibly RMSTP...but we'll see.

Geography is a non-issue...I am adaptable and could see myself equally happy living in the mountains or an urban environment.

Thank you!

zline

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[sloh]

I'm a PGY-1 right now, will be at U Mich next year. I interviewed at Utah and RIC. My 2 cents...

Utah is very strong in sports medicine from what I remember. RIC great inpatient exposure and I don't think you'd have any issues going into something like pain or sports med with the reputation and resources offered there. Coming from southern california, I enjoyed the city of Chicago more.

 

[padresp]

@Zline - I PM'ed you. I know Utah and RIC well and have nothing but amazing things to say about them.

RIC is well known on these threads for its fantastic training so I won't rehash that but have nothing bad to say about it.

For those interested in Utah, they have one of the best PDs in the country, in my opinion, an amazing sports program, and very few weaknesses. It's relatively unknown throughout the country, which may hurt its "reputation," though I feel like those in the PM&R world are aware of it. Salt Lake City is probably the most beautiful city in the nation, in my opinion, and there are 30+ miles of trails starting within 100 yards from the inpatient rehab unit. Park City is 30 minutes away. It's a small residency class (4-5 per year). They are building a brand new state-of-the-art rehab hospital shortly, but are currently in the hospital. They have a catchment area larger than just about anywhere (other than probably UW, which includes Alaska) with only 1 academic center in a several hundred mile radius, meaning you see everything. The population is very homogenous, though it is a surprisingly liberal city (the suburbs are not) - everyone thinks of the Mormon influence of the area, but SLC is basically a large college town. I don't believe they have a pain fellowship, but their sports fellowship is the best in the country.

 

[Zline]

@sloh & @padresp -- kind thanks to you both for weighing in; it's been very helpful.

 

[ampaphb]

Residency Program Director: http://medicine.utah.edu/pmr/faculty/director-message.php
Interim Division Chief: http://healthcare.utah.edu/fad/mddetail.php?physicianID=u0358507#tabAcademic

 

[oreosandsake]

Utah has an anesthesia based pain fellowship.

nice place to live if you like to get outdoors.

 

[j4pac]

Utah has an anesthesia based pain fellowship.

nice place to live if you like to get outdoors.

Doesn't it have the worst air quality in the country? Migraines and medicine don't jive. I didn't apply.

 

[Zline]

Doesn't it have the worst air quality in the country? Migraines and medicine don't jive. I didn't apply.

Pretty sure SLC can't hold a flame to LA and other west coast cities, but yeah, it's pretty poor. I think it's owing primarily to the fact that its intermountain/basin location makes it ideal for air and vapor trapping.

It's a shame what we humans are doing to the planet.

 

[Zline]

Residency Program Director: http://medicine.utah.edu/pmr/faculty/director-message.php
Interim Division Chief: http://healthcare.utah.edu/fad/mddetail.php?physicianID=u0358507#tabAcademic

I met them both, and they both seem like amazing people doing great things in the physiatry world. Also, so many solid attendings...residents gushed about Edgley, Henrie, C Hansen, etc. Honestly, the people at Utah's program stood head and shoulders above the rest, in my opinion.

 

[j4pac]

Pretty sure SLC can't hold a flame to LA and other west coast cities, but yeah, it's pretty poor. I think it's owing primarily to the fact that its intermountain/basin location makes it ideal for air and vapor trapping.

It's a shame what we humans are doing to the planet.

I use to live in LA/Long Beach/Anaheim and as much as I love it there...I would get FREQUENT migraines. From what I understand, Salt Lake City has the worst pollution in the country. At least in LA...the air has room to move...in Salt Lake it is trapped like soup in a bowl. I've also read that Salt Lake city has some of the worst crime in country (again, worst than LA) per capita. With a family...I just couldn't do it.

 

[Zline]

I use to live in LA/Long Beach/Anaheim and as much as I love it there...I would get FREQUENT migraines. From what I understand, Salt Lake City has the worst pollution in the country. At least in LA...the air has room to move...in Salt Lake it is trapped like soup in a bowl. I've also read that Salt Lake city has some of the worst crime in country (again, worst than LA) per capita. With a family...I just couldn't do it.

I think in any major city, you'll find pockets of significant crime. Like any major city, SLC has areas that are beautiful, safe, and family friendly. It has one of the best public school systems in the country. I have friends with small children there and they are really happy with their experience raising kids in Utah.

Again, depends on what you value. Given your sensitivity to air quality, makes sense that you'd want to sidestep SLC. Objectively speaking, I'd echo @padresp in saying that it's a great, progressive place to live with a relatively low cost of living for a high quality of life, and abundant opportunities to get out of the smog bowl and out into nature.

 

[oreosandsake]

I met them both, and they both seem like amazing people doing great things in the physiatry world. Also, so many solid attendings...residents gushed about Edgley, Henrie, C Hansen, etc. Honestly, the people at Utah's program stood head and shoulders above the rest, in my opinion.

You forgot Cushman.

 

[Zline]

You forgot Cushman.

I did, my bad. Sadly I didn't get to meet him, although I met the others.

 

[Zline]

I loved all three. In fact, two were in my top 3 rank list -- and one was only veto'd by my wife. It's hard for any of us to give definitive advice based on so little information about you, but I think if you're looking for strong overall training, possible Sports fellowship and you're dead-set heavy research career, I'd suggest RIC or Columbia/Cornell. They're much more academic programs with significant footholds in the research world. Not to say Utah is a slouch program or wouldn't provide you with opportunities for research, but it doesn't have the same reputation. Again, that's only IF you're dead-set on research.

Helpful perspective--thank you.