1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
This was one of the few
programs that had active Tactical Medicine, DMAT, International
Medicine, and Event Medicine. It also has a strong EMS presence.
2. Are there any major upcoming changes to your program?
No major changes anticipated,
although the Residency Director just changed this month (July
2006).
3. Is there anything you would change about your program if
you could?
We currently have 2 electives
months, but if it were possible, I would like more so that I
could gain more experience with the Tactical
Medicine, DMAT, and International Medicine.
4. How much are you responsible for blood draws, putting in
IVs, etc.?
As much or as little as I
want.
5. Do you learn mostly from attendings, other residents, or
textbooks? Does this vary when you do off-service rotations?
You learn from attendings,
residents, and textbooks. I cannot address off-service rotations
since I have not done any, yet.
6. How does EMed rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Pretty high.
7. What are the perks that your school provides (PDAs,
textbooks, conference fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
We receive a copy of Rosens
and in our third year we receive conference fees (I believe up
to $1,500) if we are presenting. Additionally, we are reimbursed
for health insurance premiums at the rate of a single person in
one of the plans. Additionally, if we have medical services
performed within the Medical College of Georgia system, we are
reimbursed for any fees/expenses not covered by the insurance
program (e.g deductibles, etc.). Off service rotations we
receive funding for food.
8. How do you rate your rotations outside of the emergency
department?
Unable to address this as I
have not done any off service rotations, yet.
9. What's the best elective you've done?
Unable to address since we do
not get an elective month until PGY2.
10. How much does your program focus on research?
You can get as much or little
as you want. If you want more, you talk to folks to tap into the
research that may be going on.
11. What do you love and hate most about the city you're in?
I love the cost of living and
the outdoor activities/sites that are
available in the area. I really don't hate anything about this
area.
12. Please describe your typical month in terms of work
hours and days off.
Our shifts in the ED are 9
hour shifts. We work more in the intern year (approx. 22-23
shifts/month), and fewer as a senior (approx. shifts/month).
13. How much time do you spend off-duty with the other
residents?
A decent amount. The PGY1
group gets along well, and we make time each month to get
together. Some people in the PGY1 group get together more often.
14. Do you have any international experience?
Not yet. This is something I
am hoping to get involved in as an
elective.
15. What are your plans after residency?
I would like to do a
fellowship in Special Operations (ie tactical
medicine, Disaster medicine), then into academic medicine.
16. How prepared do you feel?
I'm getting a good exposure to
lots of different pathology, so by the time I'm a senior I
anticipate I will feel very prepared.
17. Is there anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't
asked?
The residents in the program
are very friendly and easy to get along with. Also, the
ancillary staff is tremendous in their support and
willingness to help out.
18. Do you have any advice for current applicants, or is
there anything you wish you'd known when you were applying?
Our program has a very strong
ancillary staff who is very willing to help out. Definitely
inquire about this as you are going through the application
process. Also, I would suggest inquiring about the length of the
shifts. We work 9 hour shifts which means that we have some time
to read (either on cases we've seen or to keep up with our
textbook reading). Longer shifts can detract from your ability
to learn in this fashion.
If people have questions about
the program, I would be happy to communicate with them about
them.
