Somehow I feel that a smaller class size might allow for more personalized attention from the faculty and administration.
You're right.
I like that the Emphasis program seems to allow plenty of opportunities for research.
right again.
The one area I know less about is the clinical training. I didn't hear much about years 3 and 4, since I met only M1s and M2s. Do students feel that the clinical skills classes in years 1 and 2 are adequate preparation for third year? How satisfied are students with their rotations? What is the teaching environment on the wards like?
I'm sorry you didn't get to meet any 3, 4th years. Usually there is an information session before lunch. Perhaps you were there during a 3rd year exam week or during 4th year interviewing (now) times. I'll do what I can to help you out with your questions and propagandize you.
Third year goes like this: 4 x 12 week rotations = surgery, medicine, and psych/neuro and peds/obGYN share their blocks. Each block starts with 1 wk intersession. Intersession = 2.5 days whole class together didactics and small group, 2.5 days specific to your rotation to start. Surgery, for example, has knot tying class and lectures on acute abdomen (does belly pain = surgery and how to figure that out).
Medicine = 3 x 3 week rotations (1 or 2 general medicine, usually one at the VA plus subspecialties like GI, Pulm, ID, Cards, etc.) and then 2 weeks of random days in outpatient clinic so you have time to study for your exam. Typical 1 or 2 interns, an upper level, 1 or 2 students, and an attending. Call is q4-6 'till midnight or 2 am.
Surgery = 5 weeks general surgery (VA, colorectal, lap GI, etc.) and 2 x 2 weeks of subspecialty (ortho, anesthesia, ophtho, plastics, ENT, etc.) and 1 week critical care skills. Same typical team structure. Call is overnight q4-5 on general, varies on subspecialties (none on anesthesia, ENT, ophtho, but sometimes people will take call on, say, ortho to make a good impression if it's something you're planning on going into - that said, these 4 weeks have absolutely no impact on your grade or evaluations, only personal relationships built). Still trying to figure out how Dr. Tarpley made a colostomy out of a tin can (ask him!)
Neuro = 2 x 2.5 weeks on 2 services (I did peds and general neuro. Other options are consults, VA, stroke) you do ~q7-8 call until about midnight. Dr. Valdivia is the clerkship director and is awesome. He is high intensity, tech savvy, and wants Neuro to be the best clerkship. He has podcast lectures and oogles of internet resources.
Psych = 2 x 2.5 weeks on 2 services (outpatient, addictions, mood disorders, psychosis, etc.) Take call ~2x until midnight through this whole time. Everyone is happy (probably about their schedules and quality of life) and nice to you (because they know that if they weren't, absolutely no one would go into psych!)
Peds = 2 x 2.5 weeks on one outpatient service and one inpatient service. Call is q4 overnight on inpatient, none on outpatient.
Ob/GYN = 2.5 weeks on OB, 2.5 weeks on either B9 Gyn or Gyn Onc. Call is till 10pm x 2 on GYN and a complicated short/long call schedule which ends up being ~q5 overnight and ~q5 till 7pm. Dr. Rush is the clerkship director and has been awarded numerous teaching awards. He's enthusiastic, loves his job, loves teaching, and pimps (albeit nicely) non-stop (which is actually really good).
First two years prepare you VERY well for clinical years. Anything more to say about this? Never heard any kind of complaint about not being prepared.
All rotations are very well done. Lectures are organized for all of them and some rotations do better (Medicine and OB/Gyn) than others (Peds) at getting them organized and lecturers there consistently and on time (weakness of Neuro)
Teaching environment differs by attending and service. Surgery rounds are short and not much teaching, but you get more in the OR. Medicine rounds are full of teaching and you end up wishing they weren't after 3 hours of it. Since you are often a large part of the team, your personality can dramatically change the attitude of the team - so I would say rounds are partly whatever you are like (so I hope you like them!).
I will probably go to Vandy.
right again!
Hope that helps, PM me if anyone has any questions. I am interviewing and rarely check this site, so it may take me a bit to get back to you, but I'll try.
Good luck and I promise you won't regret Vandy.
