where are the cushy transitional year progs

[chetthecat]

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no i am not a slacker, but i see transitional year as yet another hoop to jump through before actually getting to what I want to do. i don' t want to spend the entire year miserable, overworked, etc. what are some programs to consider and what are ones to avoid? prolly i would go anywhere except east coast. thanks.

 

[frotteurism]

i know tons of cushy programs, mostly in ny/nj/pa. Is that too east coast for you? (wasn't sure whether you were, say, avoiding south carolina or massachusetts specifically)

cushiest: york, pa; albert einstein transitional, philly; presby in philly; crozer-chester, chester pa (near philly); st. barnabas in livingston nj. Honorable mention to st. vincents in manhattan (both trans and im), cabrini im (manhattan), and pa hospital im in philly for primo location with minimal work relatively speaking. There's also some talk that lehigh in allentown, pa is easy with its 6 1/2 months of electives (call-free, i believe).

avoid surgery, any prelims or transitional in a hospital with a huge indigent population (tend to be in poor areas with poorly funded hospitals and understaffed floors). if a program never fills, there's usually a good reason.

remember im prelim isn't necessarily any worse than transitional, it's often even better, you have to look at each program individually. e.g. frankford trans in philly has a malignant reputation.

 

[jon_jon]

Hmmm, was wondering why Frankford hospital in Philly didn't match all their spots this past year.

I would include Christiana Hospital in Delaware as a cush transitional program as well.

 

[DCMDtobe]

bump

 

[ChocolateKiss]

When you say these programs are "cushy", what exactly do you mean? What would be a typical day (hours-wise), and what is the call schedule? Or is it the large number of elective months that makes these programs cushy?

Also, do these easier programs tend to be really competitive or not?

i know tons of cushy programs, mostly in ny/nj/pa. Is that too east coast for you? (wasn't sure whether you were, say, avoiding south carolina or massachusetts specifically)

cushiest: york, pa; albert einstein transitional, philly; presby in philly; crozer-chester, chester pa (near philly); st. barnabas in livingston nj. Honorable mention to st. vincents in manhattan (both trans and im), cabrini im (manhattan), and pa hospital im in philly for primo location with minimal work relatively speaking. There's also some talk that lehigh in allentown, pa is easy with its 6 1/2 months of electives (call-free, i believe).

avoid surgery, any prelims or transitional in a hospital with a huge indigent population (tend to be in poor areas with poorly funded hospitals and understaffed floors). if a program never fills, there's usually a good reason.

remember im prelim isn't necessarily any worse than transitional, it's often even better, you have to look at each program individually. e.g. frankford trans in philly has a malignant reputation.

 

[VentdependenT]

Illinois Masonic was a damn good transition year.

Some pretty difficult months with some pretty damn chill ones in there as well. You can make it as tough or as easy as you'd like however.

Good location as well.

 

[ljl1982]

deleted

 

[Neuronix]

and pa hospital im in philly for primo location with minimal work relatively speaking.

Relative to what? I'm not saying it's a bad program, but their IM interns get beat up as bad as any usual IM program. I know a couple people who have been through that residency thinking it would be easier than it is. I did some work there myself. It may have been cushy a long time ago, but these days the services are always running full...

 

[CandyVan]

mercy hospital in pittsburgh (arguably more midwest than east coast) = cush TY.

 

[90 diopter]

Presbyterian St Luke's in Colorado. My first month, I worked a cumulative 18 hours and climbed over 10 mountains. Went skiing almost 40 times between december and april. It was the best year of my life.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

no i am not a slacker, but i see transitional year as yet another hoop to jump through before actually getting to what I want to do.

Don't. Think of PGY-1 as a means to learn what you need for step 3 instead, or think of it as becoming a more well-rounded physician. If you're matching transitional, then you're probably already a good student. It should thus be easy for you regardless of where you go. A good intern year might be useful someday if you get stranded out on a deserted island with Thurston Howell.

frotteurism--lol--funniest name I've seen since Aseptic Pimp.

 

[caedmon]

I wouldn't necessarily say the TY at LDS Hospital in Utah was exactly cushy... but has the opportunity for (in my opinion) the best rotation ever. Medicine months (3) are pretty busy, I averaged about 60-70 hrs a week. Surgery months (2) I averaged less hrs. Good teaching. They treat interns very well with occasional get togethers and seemingly endless supply of food and cafeteria vouchers.

The best rotation ever you ask? If you have an elective month during the ski season, there is a rotation covering a small ski clinic at one of the local resorts. Wear a radio, ski, come to the clinic when someone gets hurt. Not bad!

 

[Emergen-C]

scripps mercy in San Diego

 

[ktat72]

John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth, Texas

- 7 months of call
- 2 electives and 1 month of outpatient clinics
- 2 months of ER
- you have a research requirement but usually tailored toward your career plans and is very simple
- no ICU
- very laid back faculty and residents
- no clinic on medicine months - only admit on call days - q5
- Fort Worth is a nice place to live - cheap cost of living, great downtown

the only main downside to this place is that JPS is a county hospital but the upside to that is you get to see a lot and get the opportunity to do many procedures

 

[radiodog]

I know a guy at UT Chattanooga. Supposedly you can count the number of overnight calls with your fingers. Plus you get 6 months of unrestricted electives including a research month. I'm not from TN so I overlooked it. Wish I hadn't.

Carillion in Roanoke supposedly gives you a country club membership. Doesn't get more cush than that.

 

[sharqq]

are transitional year harder to get then prelim med...what are the chances of you just matching for ty and then hoping to land a pgy2 spot by applying the following year

 

[Bubb Rubb]

I wouldn't necessarily say the TY at LDS Hospital in Utah was exactly cushy... but has the opportunity for (in my opinion) the best rotation ever. [...]

The best rotation ever you ask? If you have an elective month during the ski season, there is a rotation covering a small ski clinic at one of the local resorts. Wear a radio, ski, come to the clinic when someone gets hurt. Not bad!

if it's alta, i'm there 😀😎

 

[OneStrongBro]

Here is a post from someone that matched at Chattanoga. One of the programs only has 19 call nights for the WHOLE YEAR!!! On auntminnie (for radiology applicants) it is called the easiest internship in America.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
I recommend everyone to apply for the Hawaii transitional year. It is a tough year but it is in Hawaii! If you want the easiest possible year possible go to my #2 choice was Akron General. The reason is that UT-Chattanooga only has 2 weeks of vacation and Akron has 4 weeks of vacation (one of these weeks is for a meeting such as RSNA but you don't have to go). Plus Akron pays for everything such as medical insurance and dental insurance at UT you have to pay extra. Plus the salary at Akron is 44,500 (+1100 bonus) for $45,600. At UT-Chattanoga it is only $41,547. Akron is one of the highest paying PGY1 years. Close to $3000 to 4000 higher than most programs.

As for MSU/KCMS TY year, it only offers $41,000+ for salary. Plus they don't let you take home food on days that you are not on call. At Akron you can go to the hospital cafeteria anytime of the day and take home food for free. Free food 365 days for as many meals as you want.

My final ranking for transitional programs

1. Hawaii Transitional - very difficult year but it is in Hawaii. That is enough for me. They now do phone interviews so you have no excuse not to apply. On top of that they give you a moving stipend to help pay for the costs!
2. Akron General - the cushiest transitional in america. Only 19 call days for the whole year! No ICU requirement or weekly clinic. Plus you can take 3 radiology electives (general, pediatric, and interventional). Very, very competitive. They only take 4 people per year. All of the gunners know about this place thanks to uncleminnie and snarf's posts.
3. Oakwood - jokewood. do a search on oakwood on this forum and you will see this place is easy. The legend continues. 3 weeks of vacation is a plus. On medicine rounds on noncall days you leave the hospital before noon everyday!
4. UT-Chattanoga - I wish I matched at my top 3! Great location. Love the Lookout Mountains. Probably the best combo of easy year to fun city in the bunch. The only thing is only 2 weeks of vacation that is why I wish I match higher.
5. York -this place is a snob. They only take Johns Hopkins and Duke graduates. If you can handle the pretense go for it.
6. Roanoke - free golf membership is legendary. But so is the salary of only $39,000+. This wouldn't be bad if it was in Texas or Florida with no state income tax. This programs has one of the lowest salary of all PGY1 years. Middle of nowhere and no money. No thanks.
7. Mercy Pittsburgh - very overrated. You have ICU months and a weekly continuity clinic for the year. Plus the coordinator is horrible. She is rude and has a queen bee mentality. Even if it wasn't for the ICU months and continuity clinic I would not work with such a malignant person.

 

[GuP]

Can you guys comment which TY years allow one to moonlight the most so you can get that $$ ?

 

[GuP]

i know tons of cushy programs, mostly in ny/nj/pa. Is that too east coast for you? (wasn't sure whether you were, say, avoiding south carolina or massachusetts specifically)

cushiest: york, pa; albert einstein transitional, philly; presby in philly; crozer-chester, chester pa (near philly); st. barnabas in livingston nj. Honorable mention to st. vincents in manhattan (both trans and im), cabrini im (manhattan), and pa hospital im in philly for primo location with minimal work relatively speaking. There's also some talk that lehigh in allentown, pa is easy with its 6 1/2 months of electives (call-free, i believe).

avoid surgery, any prelims or transitional in a hospital with a huge indigent population (tend to be in poor areas with poorly funded hospitals and understaffed floors). if a program never fills, there's usually a good reason.

remember im prelim isn't necessarily any worse than transitional, it's often even better, you have to look at each program individually. e.g. frankford trans in philly has a malignant reputation.

Can you comment on the other TY programs in NJ or NY?

 

[MAYOphtho]

6. Roanoke - free golf membership is legendary. But so is the salary of only $39,000+. This wouldn't be bad if it was in Texas or Florida with no state income tax. This programs has one of the lowest salary of all PGY1 years. Middle of nowhere and no money. No thanks.

I dont know where you got this information. I interviewed there. 45K+ and cost of living low there. Also, golf club, athletic club membership, $850 in moving expenses, palm pilot. 5 call months (only 30 total nights...maybe). All of the electives are no call no weekend (that's 7 months). There is also 1 ER month with no call (but may have a weekend night or two). So of 13, 4 week blocks. 7 of them have NO CALL and NO WEEKENDS, ER no call maybe weekend, and 5 inpatient months (2 peds, 2 medicine, 1 minimally invasive surgery - bariatrics, etc). Also, the last block is VERY light and you can leave early if needed to move. By far the best in the world.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I agree with Scripps Mercy ...