1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
It’s new, the staff are young and energetic, and it’s in a
beautiful city. I do more procedures and trauma than residents
in big programs because we have more patients per resident at
any given time.
2. If not
answered above, what's the best aspect of your program?
Our staff- they’re young and they want to teach. We’re new, so
there’s usually only one resident in the ED, so we’re taught by
staff.
3. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
We’re getting a brand new ER in 12 months, and it’ll be gorgeous
and state of the art.
4.
Is there
anything you would change about your program if you could?
I like it a lot. There’s not really anything I would change: I’m
pretty happy. Our hours are good and off-service rotations are
good, and we get paid well for the cost of living.
5.
How much are you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs,
etc.?
Never.
6.
Do you learn mostly from attendings, other residents, or
textbooks? Does this vary when you do off-service rotations?
I learn mostly from
attendings because not a lot of residents are in the ER at any
one time. Thursday morning we have 5-hr lecture series. We also
have hands-on labs. When we’re off-service (in the ICUs), we
learn from fellows.
7.
How does EMed rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Now it’s really good.
It’s the highest rated department in the hospital, and with that
has come respect and power. Consultants get about 20 minutes,
then we call their boss. However, we know everyone, so we work
well together.
8.
What are the perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks,
conference fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
PDAs, Tintanelli, Rosen’s, multiple conferences and review
courses, any conference that you present at is completely paid
for, meal tickets for evenings, weekends, or overnight shifts.
9. How do you
rate your rotations outside of the emergency department?
They’re good. Our
senior year we do trauma, which is great. We do more ICU time
than a lot of programs. We only do a month of medicine at the
VA.
10.
What's the best elective you've done?
Flying aircare for 2 months.
11. How much does
your program focus on research?
For me, none. The ER
director has a huge lab, though, so if you want to do research,
you can.
12.
What do you love and hate most about the city you're in?
That’s why I came. I’m
from Madison, and I wanted to
stay in the Midwest. Iowa City is a lot like Madison: it’s
medium-sized, based on the university and hospital, revolves
around football and basketball, and only 3 hours from Chicago.
The only thing I don’t love is that it’s cold, and if you’re not
into the cold sports, you won’t like it.
13.
Please describe your typical month in terms of work hours and
days off.
Intern- 18-10s, 2nd
yr 19-10s, 3rd yr 17-10s
14.
How much time do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
A lot. All the
residents get along really well.
15.
Do you have any international experience?
I’m in the ARMY, so I do some traveling with the reserves, but
several other residents have gone to India and Haiti.
16. What are your
plans after residency?
Academics in Iowa or Madison, or at least somewhere in the
Midwest.
17.
How prepared do you feel?
I feel very prepared- I’ve been moonlighting a lot.
18.
Is there anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
Go where you want to live. You will work a lot, and when you’re
off, you want to be able to do what you enjoy. You’re going to
learn to be a good ER doc anywhere you go.
