1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
We have an
outstanding group of core and clinical faculty who demonstrate
great enthusiasm for teaching. They are readily available and
approachable during our ED shifts and they give excellent
lectures at our resident conferences.
2. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
We are
continually making small changes to our program based on
resident feedback in order to provide the best possible
experience. There are no current plans for any big changes.
3. Is there
anything you would change about your program if you could?
No. During my residency there have been things I’ve wanted to
change, and as a group we were able to make those changes,
including: Cutting our OB rotation down from one month to two
weeks, adding an extra ED month during intern year, and adding
another month of trauma during our second year.
4. How much are
you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs, etc.?
Not at all. We have great nursing and auxiliary staff so we are
able to concentrate on learning those skills pertinent to the
role of the physician. If we want more practice with nursing
skills, the nursing staff are always willing to help us.
5. Do you learn
mostly from attendings, other residents, or textbooks? Does this
vary when you do off-service rotations?
I think this varies from person to person based on individual
learning styles. However, while working in the ED most of the
teaching is done by the attendings. Most of the off-service
rotations tend to be more resident dependent.
A note about our educational curriculum: We have our EM
resident conference every Thursday from 8am to noon. We are
excused from clinical duties to attend these conferences without
exception. Conferences consist of reviewing the week’s reading
club material from Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine text, monthly
EKG discussions, and lectures from EM residents and faculty, as
well as invited speakers from other disciplines (surgery,
ophthalmology, cardiology, etc.). We have monthly quizzes
reviewing the month’s reading club assignments and lecture
material.
Once a month we have Journal Club at one of the EM
attending’s houses where we gather to have dinner, drinks, and
review 5-10 recent journal articles. There is a heavy emphasis
throughout residency on being able to understand and critically
evaluate clinical research.
Once a month we have a two hour Procedure Lab during
which we review and practice various procedures performed in EM
and also run mock codes.
6. How does EMed
rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Emergency Medicine is a strong player when it comes to hospital
politics. We have a very busy ED, and the hospital depends on
this as a gateway to admission of patients. We are
well-respected by the other departments. Emergency Medicine was
recently voted the best off-service rotation by the Pediatrics
residents.
7. What are the
perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks, conference
fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
We receive educational stipends during each year of our
residency. These may be used to buy books, PDAs, software, or
to attend conferences. During the first year most interns use
the money to buy new PDAs, the Tintinalli Emergency Medicine
text, and pocket reference books for off-service rotations.
During the second year, a portion of the stipend must be used to
attend a national conference prior to being reimbursed for other
items, such as Step 3 of the USMLE. In the third year we are
required to attend the annual ACEP conference.
We also have the following paid for: parking, meals (up
to $2000 per year), lab coats, EMRA and ACEP dues.
8. How do you
rate your rotations outside of the emergency department?
Our off-service rotations are generally well-organized and
educational.
9. What's the
best elective you've done?
I have not yet done any electives. In our third year we have
two months of electives and can choose to do any combination of
two week or one month long rotations. I will be doing 2 weeks
of each of the following: Cardiovascular Emergency Medicine (out
of state rotation at UVA), Ortho, Ophtho, and Ultrasound.
10. How much does
your program focus on research?
As with all programs, we have a research requirement, and you
get out of it what you put into it. It works well for both
those who are interested in pursuing further research and those
who are not as research-oriented. During our second year we are
required to put together a research proposal for an independent
research project. Whether or not we choose to do the project is
up to us. We have several faculty who are very involved in
research and who are great resources for those who wish to
pursue it further.
We also have a strong focus on critically appraising
the current literature and using online databases to help answer
clinical questions.
11. What do you
love and hate most about the city you're in?
The best thing about Grand Rapids is its proximity to a number of state parks and recreation areas
and is just a half-hour drive to the beaches of
Lake Michigan.
There is also plenty to do in terms of dining, nightlife, and
the arts. Downtown GR is full of restaurants, bars, museums and
theaters with several large arenas and convention centers which
draw big name music artists. There is currently a construction
boom downtown with the development of several new condominium
and apartment complexes.
Unfortunately there are no major league teams (NFL,
NHL, NBA, or MLB). However, the Whitecaps games (minor league
baseball) are a great attraction, and Detroit and Chicago are an
easy drive for weekend trips.
12. Please
describe your typical month in terms of work hours and days off.
While in the ED our interns work 21 8-hour shifts, while 2nd
and 3rd years work 19 8-hour shifts. People
typically stay one to one-and-a-half hours after their shift
ends. Interns also do one EMS ride-along per ED month.
Off service rotations are variable with some very easy
months, such as radiology and hand surgery, and some more
labor-intensive months like the ICUs and Trauma. We adhere
closely to the 80-hour work week rule and are not shy about
letting other services know if they are close to making us go
over.
We get three weeks of vacation per year plus a five day
winter break. We also get one week off for conferences during
our 2nd and 3rd years.
13. How much time
do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
Variable. I probably hang out with other residents at least
once a week on average.
14. Do you have
any international experience?
My only “international” experience was a one-month Infectious
Disease rotation in Puerto Rico during my senior year in medical
school. At our residency there are several attendings who do
yearly mission trips to Honduras, and some of our residents have
done this in place of going to a national conference.
15. What are your
plans after residency?
Practice in the Midwest or do a fellowship.
16. How prepared
do you feel?
I feel well-prepared for my level (just starting 3rd
year) and plan on moonlighting at area hospitals and with
Aeromed as a flight physician to gain more experience during my
last year.
17. Is there
anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
I am originally from
North Dakota
and went to medical school there. Students can feel free to
contact me with any questions:
Travis Lien, MD
tlien@medicine.nodak.edu
18. Do you have
any advice for current applicants, or is there anything you wish
you'd known when you were applying?
Read Iserson’s Getting Into a Residency and follow all of his
advice.
