Which Program is Better for Job in West?

[Snacker]

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I am seriously considering the following programs:

Carolinas Med Center
UCLA-Harbor
University of Arizona
New Mexico
OHSU

I love them all, and am wondering which will help me be more competitive for a community job in the West. Any thoughts? Is one more prestigious than another? Even though Carolinas is a fantastic program, does it hurt that it's not in the West?

 

[EctopicFetus]

I think this depends on where you want to really be. Do you want to be in Cali or elsewhere out west.

I know the Grads of Arizona are going all over the west including some very very high paying community jobs, also arizona is a fast growing state so there might be more demand in the future. I think it really becomes regionalized if you want to go to the Northwest then I imagine OHSU is where it is at.

Most of the Harbor people end up staying in Cali mostly in LA, I cant speak about OHSU and New Mexico, I cant speak for Carolinas out west but I would imagine you are on point because their alumni network wont be as strong out there.

The reason is the PD & Chair are more likely to know the community people that are close to their location. Also the alumni are more likely to be located closer to the city you train in.

 

[margaritaboy]

I don't think you will limit yourself by going to any of those fine residencies that you have listed, even if one is on the East coast. We have an exceptional Carolinas grad that has been an attending here for 3 years.

If you already know exactly what city you want practice in, it might help to attend residency in that city as it will give you some local contacts and a lay of the land as you train there.

Short of that, go to residency where you want to live and will be comfortable working for 3-4 years. You will probably have pretty significant mobility and job marketabity when you finish.

 

[hastalamalaika]

Snacker,

any chance you rotated at UCI in november? if so, i did along with you and i wanted to get your opinion on some of the programs you listed.

 

[BKN]

I am seriously considering the following programs:

Carolinas Med Center
UCLA-Harbor
University of Arizona
New Mexico
OHSU

I love them all, and am wondering which will help me be more competitive for a community job in the West. Any thoughts? Is one more prestigious than another? Even though Carolinas is a fantastic program, does it hurt that it's not in the West?

Great list.

It's said that people tend to practice where they trained because they make connections. I'm not sure that's all that true in our specialty. Generally, where an applicant residency hasn't affected marketability in EM for my graduates nor for the many other people I've met along the way.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I can only speak for Arizona. I also interviewed at Harbor, New Mexico, and Oregon and thought highly of all of them (except for living in LA.) I cancelled my Carolinas interview, but have also heard nice things about them.

Regarding the Northwest, we have put 5 people in Oregon and at least 3 I can think of in Washington since I got here. If that is where you want to go, rest assured you can get there from here. We have also placed multiple people in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and of course Arizona. We have had a couple of people go to California, but for the most part, people who want to live in California don't come to our program anyway. Naturally, since our residents come from all over, they go back to all over, so we have a fair amount in the Midwest and the East, but they generally cluster in the West.

You are obviously a good applicant (judging by the interviews you got) and you shouldn't have any trouble finding a job coming out of any of the excellent programs on your list. Just pick the program where you like the people and the city. Don't let the job market affect your residency program decision much.

 

[turtle md]

I am at an East Coast Program, and we have a graduating PGY-3 going to Cali, and another going to Seattle. So go where you want for residency ...

 

[spyderdoc]

I trained East Coast and had no problems finding work on West Coast. I've worked both in LA area and SF Bay area...Your list is impressive, so you will find work anywhere you want. Just go to a program that is located in a place you don't mind living in for a few years....The rest will follow.....