1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
The biggest appeal for
me was the amount of pathology you see. Believe it or not, you
will see everything in
Louisiana! Most of the people we see in the ED are really sick. The next best
aspect of our program is our faculty. We have a fantastic core
of younger faculty who really take ownership over our training.
2.
Are there any major upcoming changes to your program?
We
recently instituted a more formalized US curriculum and
purchased a brand new US for the ED. Construction for a brand
new ED is set to start in the next 36 months.
3.
Is there anything you would change about your program if you
could?
We
do two months of surgery-Trauma one month and then a month of
general surgery wards. Probably one month of trauma with the
other surgery month changed to an ED month would be better (but
it looks like that will be changed for next year’s interns.)
4.
How much are you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs,
etc.?
None in the ED-rare on other services-only if you want to help
out. In traumas however, you are often primarily responsible
for central access.
5.
Do you learn mostly from attendings, other residents, or
textbooks? Does this vary when you do off-service rotations?
There is a lot of variation off service-usually mostly resident
teaching, but in the ED, you are always presenting to an
attending. The off-service interns present to an EM 3rd year
resident, but the ER interns still present to the ER attendings.
6.
How does EMed rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Fairly high-we have a very popular and well-respected chairman
who is a fantastic advocate for our program. Also both local
EMS directors are part of our faculty.
7.
What are the perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks,
conference fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
The best perk we get here at LSU is free food!! We get $250.00
worth of food each month. The cards work at the cafeteria, but
also at a deli with sandwiches and Starbucks coffee. You can
eat for free no matter which service you are on (as long as you
stay under 250.00 for the month.)
8.
How do you rate your rotations outside of the emergency
department?
Always variable-I asked the upper levels and they are hit and
miss, but our PICU experience is awesome and all of the services
(trauma, medicine, ortho) are very busy so you get very
comfortable quickly.
9.
What's the best elective you've done?
I
haven’t done them all-but PICU seems to be the hands down
favorite, followed by the EMS month (people like to fly on the helicopter…)
10.
How much does your program focus on research?
Not necessarily overkill, emphasis is on completing your
project, but there are a myriad of opportunities.
11.
What do you love and hate most about the city you're in?
Shreveport…best: Low cost of living-check seems to go farther.
Also-no bad traffic-can get anywhere in 20 minutes are less.
Not bad for a metro area of 400,000.
12.
Please describe your typical month in terms of work hours and
days off.
Depends on the service, but always 1 day off in 7. Hours vary
by service with surgery always pushing you to your 80 hour
maximum.
13.
How much time do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
A
lot, plenty of golf and outdoor stuff-it is Louisiana!!!
14.
Do you have any international experience?
I
have taken a lot of mission trips primarily to Latin America.
15.
What are your plans after residency?
Probably private ED while pursuing a disaster medicine board
certification.
16.
How prepared do you feel?
I
will have to let you know-but the third years seem very
confident as they start this year.
17.
Do you have any advice for current applicants, or is there
anything you wish you'd known when you were applying?
Simply the same advice most people would tell you-come spend a
little time here to see if this area and charity-type hospital
system is for you.
