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Sorry for the last minute rank list question, but which one would you rank higher? Which one is stronger in academics?
Thanks a lot
Thanks a lot
Vandy vs Pitt
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Don't know much about Vanderbilt. But I thought UPMC was an excellent program. I'd definitely rank UPMC above Vanderbilt.
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More inputs are greatly appreciated. Thanks
Didn't interview at Pitt, but I thought vandy was a really solid program. It seems like they do most everything pretty well, though there wasn't any one subspecialty that stood out head and shoulders above the rest. I got the impression that their residents work fairly long hours, but that they don't feel overworked and are pretty happy. Overall a solid place.
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Based on interviewing there, I felt that they're both good places with similar training quality, but seemed rather different based on program feel. UPMC has you at a lot of different hospitals. Vandy not so much with the driving to different hospitals. I'm still jealous about the Vandy Valet. I thought Pittsburgh was goina be a pain in the butt to live in compared to Nashville, but country music can get annoying.
For academics, I'm never sure what people mean. I don't think there is a significant difference in fellowship opportunities between the two places. Research wise, I think Pitt is better as a whole hospital/university personally with all the training grants and money flowing around that place, but that Vandy's dream team might be better if you are just comparing departments.
FWIW, I ranked Pitt over Vandy but it was more a personal gut choice.
For academics, I'm never sure what people mean. I don't think there is a significant difference in fellowship opportunities between the two places. Research wise, I think Pitt is better as a whole hospital/university personally with all the training grants and money flowing around that place, but that Vandy's dream team might be better if you are just comparing departments.
FWIW, I ranked Pitt over Vandy but it was more a personal gut choice.
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There's actually a good deal to do in Nash Vegas besides country music. They have a decent rock scene too.
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Vandy v Pitt is a good problem to have.
Full disclosure is that I'm profoundly biased toward UPMC, but both are, in my opinion, excellent training programs.
I interviewed at Vanderbilt and loved it. It was very high in my rank list; I was especially impressed with the intern year (which seems to be a MUCH more "aggressive" year than the CBY at UPMC) and the anesthesiology presence in the ICU. Vandy Valet is a stroke of genius, too, and I wish we had something like that here.
UPMC was my top choice, and where I ended up. I'm very, very happy here. Closer to home, and I grew up a Penguins fan, too. More importantly, I did not find a program with a better total training package than UPMC, in terms of volume of cases, educational balance (intraop/lecture/simulation/etc), subspecialty exposure, and happy residents. As a CA2, it seems like I "bought what I was sold" - the things you were told about on your interview day, and by the residents at the dinner beforehand, are the things you get when you're here. And the program really does seem to care. We (residents) are invited to the annual residency review retreat that the faculty & Chairman attend to discuss/improve the program, and real changes come as a result of our input. It's a big place, but you tend to work with a finite faculty so that they do know you by name after not too long.
UPMC is not perfect. I am on call, wearing an ID holder than contains the badges for the 7 hospitals I've rotated at thus far. 7 different ways to square narcs, 7 different things to do before bringing a patient to the PACU. It's good for me (now), but I *hated* that at the start, since every month or two brought a new way to do the same thing. If you want to settle in and plant roots, this might not be the place for you - although it does make you very comfortable at adapting when the circulator says "We don't do it that way here" minutes before your case starts, or if you're missing your favorite drug/blade/etc. And I wish I'd done more fiberoptic intubations by now.
Overall, you cannot go wrong at either place. I really am very, very happy at UPMC, but would likely have been thrilled with the Vandy experience, too. Let me know if you have any specific UPMC questions.
...and good luck with the Match!
Full disclosure is that I'm profoundly biased toward UPMC, but both are, in my opinion, excellent training programs.
I interviewed at Vanderbilt and loved it. It was very high in my rank list; I was especially impressed with the intern year (which seems to be a MUCH more "aggressive" year than the CBY at UPMC) and the anesthesiology presence in the ICU. Vandy Valet is a stroke of genius, too, and I wish we had something like that here.
UPMC was my top choice, and where I ended up. I'm very, very happy here. Closer to home, and I grew up a Penguins fan, too. More importantly, I did not find a program with a better total training package than UPMC, in terms of volume of cases, educational balance (intraop/lecture/simulation/etc), subspecialty exposure, and happy residents. As a CA2, it seems like I "bought what I was sold" - the things you were told about on your interview day, and by the residents at the dinner beforehand, are the things you get when you're here. And the program really does seem to care. We (residents) are invited to the annual residency review retreat that the faculty & Chairman attend to discuss/improve the program, and real changes come as a result of our input. It's a big place, but you tend to work with a finite faculty so that they do know you by name after not too long.
UPMC is not perfect. I am on call, wearing an ID holder than contains the badges for the 7 hospitals I've rotated at thus far. 7 different ways to square narcs, 7 different things to do before bringing a patient to the PACU. It's good for me (now), but I *hated* that at the start, since every month or two brought a new way to do the same thing. If you want to settle in and plant roots, this might not be the place for you - although it does make you very comfortable at adapting when the circulator says "We don't do it that way here" minutes before your case starts, or if you're missing your favorite drug/blade/etc. And I wish I'd done more fiberoptic intubations by now.
Overall, you cannot go wrong at either place. I really am very, very happy at UPMC, but would likely have been thrilled with the Vandy experience, too. Let me know if you have any specific UPMC questions.
...and good luck with the Match!
