Conemaugh Int Med - Johnstown, PA (4 spots)

This is western Pennsylvania, and I fell in love with the beauty here. Even in the winter, it was gorgeous. Not a single level or flat street: everything, the entire city, winds up and down the hills.

The hospital itself consists of 5 connected buildings, they span more than one little hill. So the hospital kind of undulates its way over the mountains, the quaint little buildings don't really match their levels. So floor 2 of one building might connect to floor 5 of the next building because of the hills.

There are beautiful picture windows everywhere, looking out over natural scenic beauty as far as the eye can see. It was so gorgeous in the winter, I wonder if I will be able to take the beauty of spring, summer and fall.

Passport scare happened here.

The every day pace of this place seemed incredibly laid back. Resident camaraderie is good, they seemed happy. Cheap cost of living. I was told that the nurses were eager to help, to 'own' their patients. That they'd go out of their way to discuss their cases with you (which I thought was nice).

SCHEDULE:
6m floor
2m ICU
1m ER
3m Electives (can do Anesthesia)

CALL:
Long call usually once/twice a week
Short call from 4-7pm
Night float: 7 to 7. Total 1m of float, split into 2x2weeks, on floors ONLY. 6d/week. Elective people cover that once day off which is usually sat/sun.
ICU call q3 or 4, depending on number of interns. This is 4p to 7p, usually 2-3 weekend calls/month

VACATION: 3 weeks (4 including the christmas/new year week)

Okay lets be more organized:

PROS:
-H1 possible
-resident camaraderis
-interactive didactics
-beautiful, laid back, nice people/nurses
-cheap rent 400-500/month

CONS:
-Johnstown: hard to get here from India, hard to get out if trying to interview
-no Anesth support if I don't match to anesth
-dead, apart from natural beauty

0. Uni of Iowa Anes, Iowa City, H1B, categorical

1. Metrohealth Anes, Cleveland. H1B possible, Advanced, requires prelim

1.5 LSUHSC Anes, Shreveport, J1 only, categorical

1.7 Temple Uni Anes, Philadelphia, H1B, Advanced, requires prelim

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

4.3 Conemaugh Memorial, Johnstown, PA 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.

4.8 WHRE, Youngstown OH, Int Med, MAYBE H1

4.9 Howard Uni, DC, Int Med, J1 only

5. UIC MGH Surgery, Chicago, only J

6. St Agnes, Baltimore Int Med, H1B possible

7. Uni at Buffalo Sisters of Charity, Buffalo Int Med, J1 only

8. Hurley Med Ctr, Flint TY. J1 ONLY

9. Bronx-Lebanon, NYC, Surgery H1B possible

WRHE, Youngstown OH

Int Med Prelim, 5 spots, J1 only

Program is in the process of applying for 'not for profit status', once that is done (MAYBE by March 2014) they will start sponsoring H1s. Contact the Designated Institutional Official Ms Kimberly P Howe before ROL deadline!

SCHEDULE: 13 blocks of 4 wks
Floors 5m
MICU 2m
Electives 3m
Primary care 1m
Night float 1m
No clinic

Interviewers:
1. Dr Bailey
2. Dr Brar

VERY pleasant interview experience. Pre interview dinner was awesome. They gave us a lil 'care package' at the end. Program Coordinator was awesome. Very helpful and smiley and kept us entertained the entire time.

PROS
-Possibility of continuing into PGY2 Medicine if nothing else works out.
-Everyone is really nice
-Youngstown so cheap: One bedroom apartment ~500/month. PGY1: 45,000. Less than others but apparently really good for Youngstown cost of living
-On call meal allowance $160/month
-$500 book allowance
-PAID orientation beginning June 24th
-Close to Cleveland, Pittsburgh
-CALL schedule: Night float system in place. Once a week on elective/primary care blocks will have to do overnight shift on either Fri/Sat/Sun night.
-Admitting on floors q4. On ICU q3
-PD offered that Pulm and Cardio rotations are popular for anesthesia. Can do 1m Anesthesia.
- I LOVED THEIR DIDACTICS!!! SO MUCH FUN! Extremely interactive case discussions, 'detective work', the socratic method very much apparent.

CONS
-Middle of nowhere
-Need a car
-H1 uncertainty
-No real Anesthesia support
-Residents seemed happy, but seemed like this was not their first choice. All of them said that they hardly had any interviews.

Soooo probably JUST below Howard. Will have to think about finances when prioritizing between Howard and Youngstown.

0. Uni of Iowa Anes, Iowa City, H1B, categorical

1. Metrohealth Anes, Cleveland. H1B possible, Advanced, requires prelim

1.5 LSUHSC Anes, Shreveport, J1 only, categorical

1.7 Temple Uni Anes, Philadelphia, H1B, Advanced, requires prelim

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

3.5. Hurley Med Ctr, Flint TY. H1B possible

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.

4.8 WHRE, Youngstown OH, Int Med, MAYBE H1

4.9 Howard Uni, DC, Int Med, J1 only

5. UIC MGH Surgery, Chicago, only J

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

Howard DC

Howard, Prelim Med, 13 spots, J1 only

I really liked the feel of the place. In the heart of DC, residents seemed really nice. Everyone I crossed in the hallways told me to have a good day. Man in elevator chatted with me and told me 'he was on room air' when I asked how he was. Then he elaborated: 'On room air is a big deal down in the nursery where I work' He went on to tell me 'I have a nice smile, keep smiling always'

Random person on the floor walked me to the interview room, that was nice. Everyone I spoke to was incredibly nice and helpful. PC is annoying, her demeanor is loud and less than professional. She ordered us around at lunch and made us stand in lines like we were cattle. She would scream across the room when talking, making it impossible to carry out a conversation with the people sitting with me at lunch. Ugh.

Residents: very forthcoming, very happy. They seem happy working here. Lots of IMGs, Indians and African Americans. Ran into people from Ethiopia and Turkey. Culturally very diverse, I would enjoy learning here.

Interview: Single long interview with associate PD. I was the last one in the entire group to interview. We started with 'Tell me about yourself' and I talked for a while. It was nice, he seemed very receptive to everything I had to say. He told me I have excellent scores, excellent letters and good clinical experience. Said I had a good shot of matching into Anesth with 7 interviews. He seemed to like my profile. Said 'Let me be honest' and went on to say how PGY1 prelims can get seamlessly absorbed into categoricals as PGY2 if advanced anesth does not work out. Said, we fully support you to follow what you want to do, but if you can't get it, and you're a good prelim Med intern, then we will keep you.

I really enjoyed my time with the associate PD. He is originally Indian from a long time ago, but born in Guyana (South America). He seemed very laid back, the way he talked. Very approachable. The others told me he is poker faced during the interview, but I felt that he gave me positive responses very clearly.

At some point he asked me about my strengths and weaknesses, and what I am looking for in a residency program.

PROS
DC is awesome
Hospital is nice, people are really nice
Great safety net: can get into the int med categorical program on J1
Can to anesth elective OUTSIDE (not available in house) But they will support the paperwork to make it happen somewhere else
Focused didactics, most residents are able to make it consistently. 75% mandatory attendance
EMR present by June
Great patient population: Inner city hospital
Intern caps are honored.
Schedule: 4m med floors, 2m ICU/CCU, 1m EMed. Rest is onco, neuro, ambulatory care (non internal med ENT/PMR/GYN/adolescent med/uro) and 1m elective
All rotations at Howard Uni
If I attend continuity clinic, then can transition seamlessly to PGY2

CONS
J1 only
DC is expensive, apartments cost $1000-1200 a month at least
Vacation time: must be taken in a single 3 week block
CALL schedule: on floor and ICU is q4.
Night float 9pm to 7am for 4-6 weeks: can be floor or ICU.
Overnight call on fri/sat night cos no night float. Happens about twice a month, 24 hour call

This place will be at the bottom of my primary list, below H1s and Anesth but above all other meaningless J1s.

CURRENT RANKING:

0. Uni of Iowa Anes, Iowa City, H1B, categorical

1. Metrohealth Anes, Cleveland. H1B possible, Advanced, requires prelim

1.5 LSUHSC Anes, Shreveport, J1 only, categorical

1.7 Temple Uni Anes, Philadelphia, H1B, Advanced, requires prelim

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.

4.9 Howard Uni, DC, Int Med, J1 only

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