1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
A few things. First, we're a four-year program. This allows us
more time for research, electives, and teaching. Second, we're
incredibly high volume but *also* have a great support system.
So we get the variety and volume of a county hospital, as well
as the strengths of a high-caliber academic medical
institution. Third, although all the residencies at Rhode
Island are great, we're widely regarded as one of the best -- so
there's none of the "looking-down-on-EM" stuff that goes on at
some other academic institutions. Finally, and most
importantly, our entire third year is spent in the (6, usually
double-booked, sometimes triple-booked) critical care rooms,
where the sickest of the sick are brought: as a result, by the
end of the year, we can handle ANYTHING with aplomb.
2. If not
answered above, what's the best aspect of your program?
The combination of high volume, good pathology, and
stellar academic research/teaching.
3. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
We just got a new chair
of the department, who's super-motivated to improve both
teaching and research (beyond their already excellent levels).
I anticipate that the program will go from great to superb in
the next year.
4. Is there
anything you would change about your program if you could?
Because of our high volume, sometimes the teaching
suffers. This should be changing in the next year thanks to the
new chair and the hiring of ten new attendings. A new
teaching-only attending shift is being created which will help
immensely.
5. How much are you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs,
etc.?
NOT AT ALL... unless we want to...
6. Do you learn
mostly from attendings, other residents, or textbooks? Does this
vary when you do off-service rotations?
In the ED, mostly from attendings, although the 4th
year residents are responsible for running one of the "sides" in
the ED (so when you're working on that side, you learn from
them). On off-service rotations, it's mostly from other
residents, although there are usually teaching rounds and/or
lectures each day to learn from attendings. How much you learn
from textbooks is up to you.
7. How does EMed
rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Very highly. We are our own department and are so
well-regarded that we have gotten funding for #1: a brand-new
multi-million dollar E.D. (opened April 2005) and #2: all of our
fourth-year positions, which were previously funded by our
department (since the gov't only pays for 3 yrs of EM programs)
8. What are the
perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks, conference
fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
Conference fees for any conference you're presenting
at, $1500 in conference fees for the 4 years for "other"
conferences, "debitek cards" to cover meals, $180 a year for
textbooks, $90 a year for professional organizations, lunch each
conference day...
9. How do you
rate your rotations outside of the emergency department?
Very strong. And constantly being tweaked to improve
on the experience. Of note, all of the off-service rotations
have to WORK to keep EM rotating with them... which they want
... so they emphasize the EM-applicability of what we're
learning. Thank goodness.
10. What's the
best elective you've done?
Hmm. Probably Plastics. Really really useful.
11. How much does
your program focus on research?
It focuses on research as much as you want it to.
There are ample opportunities, and almost all of the residents
have presented at least an abstract at a national conference.
(There is a requirement for at least one "academic project"
during residency, but this can mean anything you want.) Some do
only that, some go on to publish one or multiple papers in
national/international journals. The faculty are eminently
approachable and are very excited to have resident participation
in their research, or to serve as mentors for resident-led
research.
12. What do you
love and hate most about the city you're in?
Love most: it's small and hip and less expensive than
Boston. All the "new" chefs, artists, etc. come here because
it's easier to get started. And housing is still affordable.
Love least: well, there's a certain "Rhode Island" ethos... you
either love it or hate it...
13. Please
describe your typical month in terms of work hours and days off.
When in the ED, as a 1st/2nd/3rd year, you'll work
20-22 shifts of 9 hours each (we do overlapping 9's). As a 4th
year you only do 19 shifts, and almost all of those are as a
teaching resident aka junior attending; a smattering of shifts
in the critical care rooms are thrown in.
We get 3 weeks of vacation a year (4 weeks as a 4th
year), plus an extra week at the end of your intern year, and
guaranteed 5 day break at either Xmas or New Year's.
14. How much time
do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
A lot. A lot a lot a lot. We're *very* social. I
couldn't have made it through residency without my excellent
friends from residency. We support each other both in and out
of the hospital. We regularly get together with each other, and
have even (gasp) made friends with residents in other
programs...
15. Do you have
any international experience?
Yes. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer before entering
medical school so this was very important to me. I will be
going to Kenya this spring as part of a joint EM/I.D. venture --
this is a relatively well-established program. We have funding
for it, too! Others have gone to SE Asia, India, etc. We do
have an int'l EM fellowship so there's that support, too. A
large percentage of our residents do overseas rotations during
the 4 years.
16. What are your
plans after residency?
To stay in academic medicine. Possibly (gasp) here --
I love it!
17. How prepared
do you feel?
Very.
18. Is there
anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
The attendings here are amazing. Nationally recognized
for their research, but very down to earth. They're lots of fun
and have really cool "extra-hospital" interests, ranging from
surfing to sailing to backpacking to writing novels.
19. Do you have
any advice for current applicants, or is there anything you wish
you'd known when you were applying?
Make sure you have at least 2 letters of recommendation
from E.M. attendings. Don't be afraid to cancel interviews
toward the end of the season. Choose your program based on
whether you feel like you "fit", plus whether you like the
town. Remember that the definition of the "best" residency is
the one where you learn the most and are the happiest. This is
different for different people. There is no US News & World
Reports ranking of residencies!! (Of course, that said, I think
my program is the best :) :).)
