What about El Paso

[scoutfire1]

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I've been looking into this program, but I can't really seem to get a real feel for it. It seems as though it is pretty small; I can't seem to find an indication of how many patients they see or if it is even trauma level 1. Anybody know about the good/bad about this program? Seems like an interesting place to live.

 

[deleted109597]

Had you bothered to search, you would know that their PD post on here a lot.

 

[deleted77919]

In fact, he started a thread on this very page.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

As stated previously, I am sure the almighty PD from El Paso will chime in, but I will lend a few words as well...

I just graduated from Texas Tech SOM Lubbock campus, and El Paso is one of the satellites of Texas Tech....although within the next few years they will be their own 4 year medical school...but on to EM

I interviewed at the program there and several of my best friends/classmates were MS3s and 4s there..and a few remained to do residency in EM. El Paso is VERY unique in that you see many advanced stages of disease that would have long ago already been treated in greater America. Majority of your patients are strongly hispanic backgrounds and with that comes spanish speaking. Some people seem to be concerned about a language barrier, but my friends (and the residents) assure that it is only a minor crutch and you tend to pick up what you need rather quickly (the school/hospital/program offers medical spanich courses and there are always translators around). I was really impressed with the residents there and the PD on here has been extremly helpful to me (and many others who read his words of wisdom on here) on my recent journey to residency..

You are probably wondering why did I not end up there.... mainly it came down to that I am a country guy that was born and raised in such and was ready to get back out. Outside of greater El Paso is bare, but its desert land with little to no water... needless to say, we really wanted to live back out in the country with a place for our horse and it did not seem easy to do there.

I think its a great program and gladly will give it a: 👍

 

[scoutfire1]

Thanks for the info, EM_rebuilder. So where do you water your horse? I'm actually a rural kind of person as well. How far out of town? What's your commute like?

It seems like there's a balance between living rural and getting all of the crazy/beneficial experience of the city. How did you balance these two?

 

[Lamont]

I rotated through the El Paso program as a student. Nice folks, good training. Plenty of pathology. Residents seemed happy. Liked it.

 

[kungfufishing]

I rotated through the El Paso program as a student. Nice folks, good training. Plenty of pathology. Residents seemed happy. Liked it.

unimportant, but the above is actually ME posting accidentally via my brother's account. post pad.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

Thanks for the info, EM_rebuilder. So where do you water your horse? I'm actually a rural kind of person as well. How far out of town? What's your commute like?

It seems like there's a balance between living rural and getting all of the crazy/beneficial experience of the city. How did you balance these two?

I will be starting soon... in Jackson, MS. Coming from Lubbock, TX (bought a home about 5 mins from school there obivously right in town).

We close in two weeks on almost 3 acres about 20 mins or so from the hospital. We really wanted more land but found that the commute gets much worse and the price obviously get higher (or you end up with a dump of a house on 10 acres). It was a good compromise and we have time to own the big spread one day.

As far as balance...steer clear of ultra large big cities if the country is important to you. I had little desire to be in Houston, Dallas, Philly, Detroit, DC, Baltimore, etc etc.... those places would make rural living impossible. In the end, remember it is only 3-4 years and you can do anything for that long...

 

[Derek]

I am a third year EM resident (off cycle for prior credit from FP) in El Paso. I agree with most of what has been said. This is truly a county program, RE Thomason is the county hospital for El Paso and seems to serve as such for most of neighboring Juarez. We see about 60,000 visits a year and we are the Level I trauma center for the surrounding 250mile radius and then some with transfers from all over Mexico and as far as Utah. The pathology is prolific and so are the procedures. I believe the only procedure I came here wanting to do that I haven't is a trasvenous pacer. The teaching is great and the weather is ideal. Yes, living near the border offers a unique culture. I believe the best place to learn EM is in a county program just as this. Please PM me if further questions.

 

[a_ditchdoc]

I think its a great program and gladly will give it a: 👍

I agree with what many posters on this thread have said. Texas Tech was one of my favorite programs. The pathology and acuity were certinly higher than many of the programs I interviewed at. Being directly across the border from Mexico was a bonus. The faculty were impressive and I really enjoyed the teaching style and environment there. Although just an impression based on a short visit, the teaching seemed to be well above any "academic" programs I interviewed with. The benefits offered surpassed any program. In the end, it was a favorite program in a not so favorite place. I spent the last four years of my life living in a desert. I could not find it within myself go back to one. Outdoor activities are very important to me, as are vegetation and the occasional water source. It seems like a minor criteria, but I really do love forests, streams, and lakes. Being single, I was also hoping for a place with many more dating opportunities.


Texas Tech really is a great place. I would have been happy to have ended up there.

 

[scoutfire1]

We close in two weeks on almost 3 acres about 20 mins or so from the hospital.quote]
This is a criterion I will be using to guide my list of applications. I'll probably add UMiss to the list. If you don't mind me asking, any other locations that you interviewed at that seemed to have the possibility of buying land at a reasonable price with a reasonable commute? The idea of having some breathing space at the end of a hard day seems wonderful.

 

[Jeff698]

I'm on 5 1/2 acres about 20 minutes from Scott & White in Temple, Texas. We're the only level 1 between Dallas and San Antonio and see around 65K a year. Good education, good pathology, good environment. Did I mention cheap housing and available land?

Take care,
Jeff

 

[scoutfire1]

I'm on 5 1/2 acres about 20 minutes from Scott & White in Temple, Texas. We're the only level 1 between Dallas and San Antonio and see around 65K a year. Good education, good pathology, good environment. Did I mention cheap housing and available land?

Take care,
Jeff

That's awesome - I'm adding Scott & White to my list w/ UMiss. Thanks! For me, one of the ultimate signs of success is to be able to have a dog that can roam around during the day on your land and greet you on the porch at night when you come home.

 

[EMT2RN2MD]

That's awesome - I'm adding Scott & White to my list w/ UMiss. Thanks! For me, one of the ultimate signs of success is to be able to have a dog that can roam around during the day on your land and greet you on the porch at night when you come home.

I'd also add to that list being able to take a leak off your back porch w/o offending any neighbors.

 

[roja]

The PD is a big meanie though. Be careful. 😀 Although I hear he can be bribed with icecream.

 

[scoutfire1]

The PD is a big meanie though. Be careful. 😀 Although I hear he can be bribed with icecream.

Does frozen yogurt count? What about the ice cream in the lil' paper cups on the wards, the ones w/ orange sherbert swirled w/ vanilla?

 

[hyperbaric]

I hear he can be bribed with icecream.

Good to know.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

I'd also add to that list being able to take a leak off your back porch w/o offending any neighbors.

I prefer the front porch... I couldnt swing that at my new place, but I can while I am here at my parents.... brb