Interviews:
Dr W: Asked about clinical rotations, asked me to reiterate my interest in Anesth. Asked me why surgery over Int Med/TY. I talked to him about learning to optimize surgical patients, being part of the OR team. Talked about 'what do you do outside of the hospital', I mentioned reading and naturally he didn't seem too happy. He asked about physical pursuits and I told him about running and working out and waterpolo team in college. Said 'I want my residents to be happy outside of the hospital, happy residents are those that have a life'
'You wont get weeks and weeks off to interview next year. Our responsibility extends only over this prelim year, we do not invest our time finding you a job after. You cannot take too much time off, because you are not a child anymore, you need to grow up and step up to the responsibilities as a surgical intern' Ugh...
Dr M (PD): Excellent credentials, he said. Talked about my experience as a visiting student, I emphasized the hands-on nature of the rotations, that I didn't do any more after graduating because it would have only been an 'observership'. I talked about my excellent interview at LSU, he asked if they require a prelim from outside (I said yes. Oh no. Lie). He asked me to rate my clinical skills on a scale of 1 to 10. I laughed, then I said, 'My skills are good, I have no problem communicating with patients, getting a history or doing a physical exam. I have never had any problems with patient interactions' He replied saying, I believe that, I can see that from the way you present yourself. Just from talking to you for five minutes, even though I have never worked with you, I can see that your clinical skills are probably good. I said thank you. (It is hard to market myself this way, I feel like I am objectifying myself, creating a 'brand' and selling it mindlessly. I am still extremely awkward about it when an interviewer compliments me on my self-motivation/grades/communication/whatever) I just say 'thank you, I appreciate it.'
I sold myself pretty hard to him.
I asked about maybe completing some sort of research in my prelim year, he said, 'I will be the last person to stop you from doing that. However with your 80 hour work week and adjustment issues etc, I'd be happier if you would take some time off to just relax and be happy. I want residents to be happy. If however you are motivated to do something I wont stop you.'
Also 'yes you will have time off to interview next year if you need it. We want you to be successful, we will support you'
Dr N: Talked to her about the ICU experience. Talked about why surgery prelim for anesthesia. Talked about living in the area, talked about needing a car. Talked about an elective month in anesth during my prelim year, she says they try their best to be flexible but are not always able to accommodate. Talked about 'surgical experience in India'. I told her about internship year in India. She asked 'do you know how to scrub/have you scrubbed in'. I was amused. 'Yes I have scrubbed, assisted, done a simple case under supervision. Have closed skin several times. Done a lot of procedures: pleural taps/ascitic taps/lumbar punctures etc. Not sure if that is relevant to surgery....she interrupted and said, 'Well procedures are procedures, either you can do them or you can't.'
She rushed me out pretty quick saying 'I'm sorry, I have other people to see'
PC talked to me, separate short interview about visas. Really appreciated this one.
She said J1s only, I showed her the info packet that she gave to us where it said clearly H1 is available. She apologized for the misinformation and said thank you for bringing that to her notice.
I told her I was taking step 3 soon, and she wrote it down, I asked why it mattered, she said 'well it's always good to know'
I asked if there were any exceptions to the J rule, she said 'Yes'
I said 'are you getting my hopes up?'
She said, 'just keep us posted on your scores' Cryptic. But I appreciated that she told me that it MIGHT be negotiable.
Call:
-4w night float: 1 SR+2JR+2 Interns to cover. No transplant/cardiac emergencies, mostly vascular/general/emergency
-No home call
-12 hour calls on both weekend days to maximize availability of golden weekends
-Sometimes Sat overnight call
-Every 5 wks, 3 weekends working, 2 weekends golden
PROS:
-H1 MAYBE
-PHILLY! I love Philadelphia. I really liked Abington too. Safe neighborhood, rich.
-Residents are happy
-Full support for presenting at conferences
-Private practice but lots of autonomy
-Busy ER: 100,000 visits/yr
-Lots of geriatrics
-Lots of faculty are products of Abington Memorial's surgery residency and so they are personally invested in the quality of education here
-Protected didactic time about 1 hour in the mornings twice a week
-Lots of procedures. Interns avg 120 log-able cases/year
-Chief's clinic: resident run clinic, faculty supervised. Lots of autonomy. Underserved patient population.
-Students from Temple, Drexel and PCOM
CONS
-Week long blocks for vacation
-Not sure how much time off I'd get to interview again next year. Chiefs said usually 7 days given for interviews. This does not seem like enough time. Chiefs make the schedule and they seem supportive, but not incredibly supportive.
-No dedicated research time
-Hard hard work
-Level 2 trauma, mostly blunt, nothing penetrating
-No anesth rotation in PGY1
-No dedicated ICU rotation, just enough to get the required experience on the transcript. Interns part of the Trauma service, which includes rounding in the ICU every morning for a month and managing incoming trauma's the rest of the time. Not sure if I'll get enough?
-No electives in PGY1
-No outside rotations possible at bigger hospitals in Philly
-Not much scope to interview/do meaningful research in one year.
CURRENT RANKING:
0. Uni of Iowa Anes, Iowa City, H1B, categorical
1. Metrohealth Anes, Cleveland. H1B possible, requires prelim
1.5 LSUHSC Anes, Shreveport, J1 only, categorical
2. Henry Ford Anes, Detroit, H1B possible, categorical
2.5. UF-Jacksonville Anes, Jax, J1 only, Advanced with linked Surgery prelim
3. New York Methodist Anes Brooklyn, out of match, H1b only if already sponsored, req prelim
4. Metrowest TY, Framingham, only J/ Griffin Hosp, Derby Int Med, H1B possible
4.5 Providence Hospital, Southfield, Gen Surgery, H1B possible
4.7 Abington Memorial, Abington, Gen Surg, J only but H possible (?) This is good if I have anes in place already. Rethink other wise.
5. UIC MGH Surgery, Chicago, only J
5.5. Hurley Med Ctr, Flint TY. H1B possible
6. St Agnes, Baltimore Int Med, H1B possible
7. Uni at Buffalo Sisters of Charity, Buffalo Int Med, J1 only
9.Bronx-Lebanon, NYC, Surgery H1B possible
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