West Penn Interview

[hotdogz]

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Hi all. Has anyone interviewed at West Penn and if so, what did you think of it? How was the day and your experience overall? Thanks

 

[BubbleHead]

I won't rank this program.

THE GOOD
- Happy residents
- Good rclinical experience - numbers well beyond ACGME minimums - CA-3 all finished counting proceudures. Good trauma, OB, regional, may lack some transplanats (don't remember).
- Nice location
- Nice little perks, book money, conference money/time, $2000 annual cafeteria allowance.
- Good board pass rate
- All the residents thought the proram was one they would pick again, current situstion aside.

THE BAD
- New Chair/PD
- New Vice Chair

THE UGLY
- Automatic RRC visit to this program, which is in flux and has not been preparing for the visit. Not to mention the people who just lost their jobs won't break their backs trying to help the new people.
- This type of change is a really bad sign, even for a solid program, I don't think anything is actually final until Feb.

 

[veetz]

I won't rank this program.

THE GOOD
- Happy residents
- Good rclinical experience - numbers well beyond ACGME minimums - CA-3 all finished counting proceudures. Good trauma, OB, regional, may lack some transplanats (don't remember).
- Nice location
- Nice little perks, book money, conference money/time, $2000 annual cafeteria allowance.
- Good board pass rate
- All the residents thought the proram was one they would pick again, current situstion aside.

THE BAD
- New Chair/PD
- New Vice Chair

THE UGLY
- Automatic RRC visit to this program, which is in flux and has not been preparing for the visit. Not to mention the people who just lost their jobs won't break their backs trying to help the new people.
- This type of change is a really bad sign, even for a solid program, I don't think anything is actually final until Feb.

Being an optimistic person, I'll definitely rank this program. Sure, there is a significant change underway, but the new Chair is coming from an established training program in which he held the Chair and PD positions. He seems to have a good plan for the transition and has been given free reign by the hospital to bring in an 'all-star' group of faculty. As far as transplants, AGH is supposed to be implementing a liver transplant program, so transplant numbers are likely to increase. Other than that, I agree with the Pros stated by Bubble.

 

[hermione]

Can anyone post the names of the new people coming in?

 

[Trisomy13]

Can anyone post the names of the new people coming in?

Dr. Troianos, soon to be formerly of Mercy Pittsburgh, is moving across the river to West Penn as the new .. chair, I think. He was the chair or PD of Mercy (sorry, all the interviews and I start mixing chair & PD names). He's active in cardiac anesthesiology research, and should be a good grab for West Penn if they get it together and put the rest of the department together.

That said, I'm still a little miffed at WPAHS for not being more accomodating after canceling my interview. They canceled on me, afterall, and they are practically my home site (LOR from them!). Offered me one other date that I could not make, and then said tough luck.



Fate carries me away from Pittsburgh once more.



hmm. interview in 5 hours. must sleep.

 

[Max Plank]

Hi all. I'm a PGY-I and have worked a few cases recently with Dr. Troianos. Wanted to let everyone know this guy's a champ. Was very impressed. As previously mentioned, he's big in the national cardiac scene, did his training at Penn, and is absolutely loved by his residents. West Penn should be quite pleased with the selection, and I know I'd definitely work for him.

 

[Steel_City]

I just hope everything goes well with the ACGME. I just interviewed at Case and they mentioned that they had heard rumors about the ACGME not giving West Penn Accredidation (think I spelled that wrong) this year. It seems like things are sooooo up-in-the-air with the program and they openly admit this. All promises and nothing materialized. I'm also afraid that most of the current residents will leave with the faculty come February 1st. I already know a few CA1s that are contemplating this and the faculty that is leaving now are being very nasty about the whole mess and trying to get the residents to leave the program. Personally, I think it will take a few years before the program really settles down. Initially, there will be lots of locums and a bunch of confusion. Ultimately, I'm very optomistic, however, in the short-term (3-year span) it seems to be a toss-up where literally anything could happen with at any given time. You can't just turn over an entire faculty and expect to hit the ground running. The new charman/PD won't even be there until Feb. 1st. I guess time will tell, however, this ordeal has made the papers so many times and has really embarrased the institution. What a shame.

 

[Steel_City]

I just hope everything goes well with the ACGME. I just interviewed at Case and they mentioned that they had heard rumors about the ACGME not giving West Penn Accredidation (think I spelled that wrong) this year. It seems like things are sooooo up-in-the-air with the program and they openly admit this. All promises and nothing materialized. I'm also afraid that most of the current residents will leave with the faculty come February 1st. I already know a few CA1s that are contemplating this and the faculty that is leaving now are being very nasty about the whole mess and trying to get the residents to leave the program. Personally, I think it will take a few years before the program really settles down. Initially, there will be lots of locums and a bunch of confusion. Ultimately, I'm very optomistic, however, in the short-term (3-year span) it seems to be a toss-up where literally anything could happen with at any given time. You can't just turn over an entire faculty and expect to hit the ground running. The new charman/PD won't even be there until Feb. 1st. I guess time will tell, however, this ordeal has made the papers so many times and has really embarrased the institution. What a shame.

 

[Idon'tknow??]

What is happening with Mercy if Dr. Troianos is leaving for West Penn. I'm going to neither program, but Trojanos is awesome and a mjor loss for Mercy...............

 

[Steel_City]

Mercy is up for graps at this point. They are rapidly recruiting new people but Troianos hand-picked the cream of the crop from Mercy to take with him to West Penn. Pittsburgh is FULL of uncertainty right now.

 

[FJLA]

Mercy is up for graps at this point. They are rapidly recruiting new people but Troianos hand-picked the cream of the crop from Mercy to take with him to West Penn. Pittsburgh is FULL of uncertainty right now.

When you say that Pittsburgh is full of uncertainty, what about UPMC? It seems that they are full-steam ahead, going strong like never before. Any thoughts or rumors about UPMC? Are they going to have to absorb the displaced West Penn residents?

Thanks for the insight(s).

 

[quark]

UPMC is okay. 😀 Still unknown whether the West Penn residents will join our program (should that need even arise).

When you say that Pittsburgh is full of uncertainty, what about UPMC? It seems that they are full-steam ahead, going strong like never before. Any thoughts or rumors about UPMC? Are they going to have to absorb the displaced West Penn residents?

Thanks for the insight(s).

 

[Steel_City]

UPMC is strong as ever. We joke around Pittsburgh that they will soon be running the world. They could EASILY absorb all of the West Penn residents if need be. Personally, I don't want any part of the nine-hospital UPMC system. It's a very arrogant place to be in general and althought the anesthesia residents are very happy, the rest of the hospital is not.

 

[Trisomy13]

UPMC is strong as ever. We joke around Pittsburgh that they will soon be running the world. They could EASILY absorb all of the West Penn residents if need be. Personally, I don't want any part of the nine-hospital UPMC system. It's a very arrogant place to be in general and althought the anesthesia residents are very happy, the rest of the hospital is not.

I am starting to think the gas program there is getting a bit arrogant too after receiving a letter from the PD explaining that the program would be too "rigorous and competitive" for me when I asked for reconsideration of my application.

Guess I'll have to rank some of these less rigorous and competitive programs like MGH, UAB, UF 😛 Thanks for nothing once again, UPMC.


Don't mind me. I'm just bitter that I have to leave family behind once again.

 

[quark]

I have to disagree with that statement about Pitt being an arrogant place. A couple of the sites may be, but the majority of them are not.

UPMC is strong as ever. We joke around Pittsburgh that they will soon be running the world. They could EASILY absorb all of the West Penn residents if need be. Personally, I don't want any part of the nine-hospital UPMC system. It's a very arrogant place to be in general and althought the anesthesia residents are very happy, the rest of the hospital is not.