Vanderbilt

[yosemite419]

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Just wondering if anyone has any feedback from their interviews on this program. In particular, does the program have any IMGs or DO students? What is the competitiveness level to match here? Do the residents seem happy? What is the call schedule like? Any feedback would be great! Thanks in advance!

 

[Poitiers2]

Vandy defilnitely had DO residents. There were several at dinner when I interviewed there.

Call schedule seemed to be more intense than a lot of other programs I looked at. For instance, third years would frequently tell me that they rarely moonlighted because they were busy enough with their current call schedule. I can't find my packet to geive me the exact specifics of the program. Perhaps someone else can better fill you in on that?

I did really like Vanderbilt's programs, and the residents did seem truly happy, if that's any consolation. The two biggest negatives there seemed to be the lack of residents moonlighting due to their schedules and for some, the lack of fellowships (they only have C&A, Addiction, and Psychosomatic).

 

[Doc Samson]

the lack of fellowships (they only have C&A, Addiction, and Psychosomatic).

How many fellowships are people expecting - they're only missing forensics, geriatrics, pain, and sleep. I can't think of many programs that feature all of the available psychiatry fellowships.

 

[bama]

There is plenty of time to moonlight during the 3rd Year at Vandy, but our current 3rd years have not been all that interested in doing so. I'm currently a 2nd year and I plan on starting later in the Spring and it could have been earlier, but I was being a big slacker 🙂. But no worries if Moonlighting is a big issue for you.

 

[Poitiers2]

How many fellowships are people expecting - they're only missing forensics, geriatrics, pain, and sleep. I can't think of many programs that feature all of the available psychiatry fellowships.

Well, that's why I said for some. 🙂

Good to know about the moonlighting opportunities out there at Vandy, though. It seemed like all the third and fourth years I spoke with on my interview day told me that they didn't have time to moonlight and that nobody did it. Class variations happen. 🙂

I also recall now that Vandy has a pretty complex call schedule, at least compared to some places. For instance, evening call during some years. Overnight in others.

 

[lilyofthevalley]

First years are complaining because upper-level residents lied about being happy--but it's a no-win situation. If we don't tell people how miserable the program is (resident morale is drop-dead low, we receive instructions on how to fill out the surveys, retaliation is a huge concern, and the larger vanderbilt system doesn't care b/c vandy's psych department has always been weak and our high patient:staff ratio brings in money) we'll never get help and we need it bad. It sucks because first years come in hating upper level residents for lying about the program, but they'll lie too when it's their turn. Go here if you have no other choice. It's bearable if you don't have a family.

 

[sella turcica]

First years are complaining because upper-level residents lied about being happy--but it's a no-win situation. If we don't tell people how miserable the program is (resident morale is drop-dead low, we receive instructions on how to fill out the surveys, retaliation is a huge concern, and the larger vanderbilt system doesn't care b/c vandy's psych department has always been weak and our high patient:staff ratio brings in money) we'll never get help and we need it bad. It sucks because first years come in hating upper level residents for lying about the program, but they'll lie too when it's their turn. Go here if you have no other choice. It's bearable if you don't have a family.

Ok - that's unfortunate to hear, but what's the reason for everyone being unhappy? Just the patient:staff ratio and call or something else?

 

[bama]

It goes without saying that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I must say I completely disagree with the above. I’m a resident at Vanderbilt and have been involved in the recruitment process for a number of years, and never has anyone been encouraged to mislead candidates, and I’m sure they would be asked to not be involved in the process if they were. The system at large has actually been very supportive of the Psychiatry Department and are currently spending a good chunk of change to completely renovate the psychiatric hospital, improve resources for teaching, and to hire new faculty (it feels like the number of faculty has easily doubled, i.e. the C/L service has gone from having no dedicated Attendings when I was applying to now having 4-5 dedicated Attendings who are involved in inpatient consults and are establishing specialty clinics within the other departments). I refuse to believe that people have been instructed on how to fill out surveys and I would personally report the program to GME if that was the case. There were meetings about the survey in order to address issues that came up and to clarify issues that seemed discrepant with available resources (i.e., residents stated that we didn’t have goals and objectives for rotations on the survey, when they were actually online and people didn’t realize it). I can only report that I am happy, and can’t answer for other people, although I do know there have been issues among the 1st and 2nd years about inpatient rotations being more difficult after changes were made to transition the psychiatric hospital to an almost all teaching facility. However, everyone is working to solve these problems as fast as possible, which has been consistent with my past experiences here when issues have come up. I apologize for being long winded but I feel that something needed be posted after the previous message for clarification and to offer another opinion, and I’m sure that anyone interested can have their questions answered about any concerns that they may have by the PD.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I'll throw out my opinion, but keep in mind that my experience is based on my interview experience last year.

If you want an academic career and you want to do residency in the south, Vanderbilt is a good option. The faculty all seemed pretty intelligent and the atmosphere seemed very academic. Research appeared easy to come by, and I've heard great things about the child fellowship.

The discrepancy I saw was between the upper years and lower years. I met and talked to 4 interns and 2 second years. None seemed happy, and a couple admitted to being downright unhappy. One intern mentioned that he/she thought a few of the fellow interns were only in the program because "good applicants don't usually want to come here." I attended the dinner the night before and most of the interns left pretty early (maybe stayed 1 hour or so). Most of the dinners I attended were long, and the residents stayed to answer as many questions as the applicants had. Many applicants left dinner with unanswered questions at Vanderbilt. The unhappiness of the younger residents was the biggest drawback that I found.

I spoke to 2 third years and 2 fourth years. All seemed pretty happy. They all mentioned that the last 2 years weren't that bad, and that they had good job offers. All had fellowships in mind, and were considering an academic career. All were nice and really cared about the program.

I really liked Nashville and how the program is a part of the undergrad/medical campus. I'm not sure that would make the traffic that nice, but I liked how integrated things were.

Most of the residents I spoke to had families and admitted they did little with any other residents outside of the hospital setting. I specifically asked if residents got perks from the undergrad affiliation (football/basketball tickets, rec center, etc.). None of the residents I asked seemed to know anything about that.

While the faculty I met at Vandy all seemed VERY intelligent, I have to say that this was my most grueling interview. Still, I didn't find it bad. A fellow applicant came out of an interview crying. I was next, so you can believe I was a little scared. The faculty had interesting questions (I won't mention them because I doubt they would want them mass distributed), and the group interview was different as well. I thought it was fun, others disagreed.

I ranked 10 programs in all. Vandy was either #5 or #6 on my list. Definitely a good program, but it had some drawbacks in some of my personal key areas. If you want an academic/research career and prefer residency in the south, I would definitely look here.

 

[TexasPhysician]

How many fellowships are people expecting - they're only missing forensics, geriatrics, pain, and sleep. I can't think of many programs that feature all of the available psychiatry fellowships.

I think only UTSW does in the state of TX.

 

[Doc Samson]

My personal experience with Vanderbilt is limited to interacting with their CL folks, but they certainly come across as happy and interested in teaching. Their CL director is a former colleague of mine who I respect and like immensely.

Aside from that, would also cite one of the Laws of SDN:

Beware the bitter first time poster

 

[sella turcica]

Beware the bitter first time poster

Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that. When I interview there I will definitely be on guard about it, so I'm glad that someone spoke up (if it's really true).

 

[peppy]

I met and talked to 4 interns and 2 second years. None seemed happy, and a couple admitted to being downright unhappy.

None of the junior residents I met came out and said they were unhappy, but they were very frank with my group about the fact that the hours were long, golden weekends are rare, and that you have a high patient volume (although they also mentioned in the context of saying that means you see a lot of good cases).
I can definitely see why someone who didn't realize what it was like ahead of matching there would be upset about the workload. That may have just been some bad luck in the particular residents that person met at their interview day. I think sites like this are priceless in getting the real story on programs.

I have to say that this was my most grueling interview. Still, I didn't find it bad. A fellow applicant came out of an interview crying. I was next, so you can believe I was a little scared. The faculty had interesting questions (I won't mention them because I doubt they would want them mass distributed), and the group interview was different as well. I thought it was fun, others disagreed.

I interviewed at a few places where I would not have been surprised if an interviewer made applicants cry, but Vandy wouldn't be one of them. They were all very friendly and respectful to me. I also found the group interview enjoyable. It was very casual and conversational when I did it (I don't know if the same interviewers always do it). It was not a big deal at all, and I loved that they were making an effort to talk about something unique in the group interview. I really appreciate it a lot when interviewers try to think of creative and thoughtful questions instead of using the old "So, let's just talk about what questions you have for me" trick all interview. 🙂

 

[sella turcica]

No offense to the person who cried during an interview, but if someone cracks that hard under pressure then they weren't prepared to discuss important things or too naive in revealing important personal things. If an interviewer truly acted like a jerk, I'm guessing that I'd get nervous about working there and just wouldn't rank the program. I wonder if they try to crack the lower-end applicants more, or if it's a standard tactic (at any program)? It would certainly make me feel like a poor fit if the "first date" was a stress-test.