Uva

[srk2fd]

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Hey -
I'm a fourth year thinking about doing an externship at University of Virginia; I've looked at emra and scutwork but has anyone here done a rotation or interviewed there and have any comments? Thanks for anything you can offer.

 

[Seaglass]

I interviewed there and one of my classmates matched there. Here's my take based on very limited experience:

Pluses: Nice ED, almost all attendings have some sort of additional qualifications (Peds/ED, tox, etc.) Population is fairly diverse seeing a lot of country bumpkins and Charlottesville bigshots. Everything is centrally located in Charlottesville except for one away rotation for OB I think. Nice college town.

Cons: Smaller program but class size is appropriate. Rather isolated in Charlottesville. Not sure how much trauma they REALLY get but unless you love trauma I'm sure it's enough. Cost of living rather high.

If you have more specific concerns let me know and we'll see if it jogs my memory.

C

 

[Lumberg]

UVa is a great place for a 4th year rotation. I went here for medical school and am staying as a PGY-1 in EM. Everything Seaglass wrote is true...C'ville is an absolutely beautiful place to live. Great outdoor activites, mountains, ACC sports, etc. You are 2 1/2 hrs away from D.C. and the beach, so no worries regarding missing the city life. Night life on the other hand can be a little low-key if you're lookig for that kind of thing. Great restaurants and pretty groovy music scene, too.
The rotation is awesome. Anywhere from 12-15 8hr shifts ranging from 7a-3p, 3p-11p and 11p-7a. Occasionally, you may work a 12hr shift on the weekends, but that frees you up for w/es off! Pretty busy Level 1 trauma center, not so much penetrating (but enough!), but lots of blunt trauma. C'ville is an affluent community surrounded by lots of rural poor, so the pt. mix and the pathology is quite diverse. Wonderful teaching and didactics including EMS, tox, U/S opportunities during the month. Fast Track, Dedicated Peds ED and faculty. Tox is especially strong and hopefully if you rotate through here you'll get to go on the hike to Humpback Rock - which is a blast. The faculty here are top-notch. We have several "big-names" and they are all extremely approachable and fun to work with. I didn't have a single interviewer that didn't comment on a LOR from someone and knew them either personally or by reputation. It seems to me that they work hard here to find a low-key, collegial group of residents that work well together. Show enthusiasm and a team philosophy and you'll be right at home. I can't imagine a better place to train. Hope to see you next year!

'berg

 

[frog4brooke]

I enjoyed my rotation at UVA, but please be sure to look for a totally different atmosphere to do your second rotation. This kinda ties into the County vs. University thread.

After spending some time at Charity, I found the UVA rotation to be very "cushy," and it was a difficult adjustment-I was not able to write my own notes, I could not write orders, depending on the resident I could not interview the patient by myself and I had to watch. It really did drive me nuts! I learn more from writing notes and orders and having someone let me know if I left something out.

On the other hand, the attendings are GREAT folks-if there was time we hit on pertinent learning points and they were fun to work with. The residents were also a very nice group to work with.

On the trauma-I do not think I would say there is nearly enough. There were some cases that procedures (central lines, art lines, ect.) were "taken" from rotation residents and students by 3rd year EM folks-Just struck me as weird. Everywhere else I have been the EM folks have been the best, comfortable in teaching and handing off procedures to the rotating residents.

I agree, the opportunity to be there was great, I learned a lot or medicine, it also helped me to pick the type of environment I want to train in.

Enjoy the 4th year!
F4B

 

[srk2fd]

So the rotation at UVA doesn't allow students to write notes at all? Do the students have enough autonomy; in other words, for the most part can students be the first to see the patient alone?

 

[Lumberg]

I always saw pts by myself. I would briefly talk it over with my resident before presenting to the attending. There was some question regarding where to write in the chart, but no big deal. I saw tons of great cases and had my pick of cool procedures including numerous art. sticks, LP's, CL's, shoulder/hip reductions, intubations (incl. nasotracheal), all the suturing I wanted incl. hand/plastic cases if the consulting teams allowed, which they always did! Go figure.
No question Uva sees less trauma than your average county, but it is a Level 1 Trauma Center with a huge catchment area. I saw many, many MVA's, GSW's, knife wounds, farm/rural-type trauma, several snakebites(!), OD's, psych, etc, etc.
The attendings and residents were awesome, thay would come get me if something interesting was being done and get me involved. It is definitely a U-based program and all the good and bad that go with that. Good luck! PM me if any further q's.
'berg