1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
Our program stands out because
we are a family-oriented, resident friendly program - our
directors are intent on well being of the whole resident, both
in academic achievement and personal life commitments.
2.
If not answered above, what's the best aspect of your program?
The staff, the directors, the
attitude of the program
3.
Are there any major upcoming changes to your program?
New revisions for an enlarged
ED physical environment.
4.
Is there anything you would change about your program if you
could?
Continual improvement on
teaching during clinical shifts- this is difficult in any
academic environment given busy census demands on any given day
5.
How much are you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs,
etc.?
At our main institution (Jefferson Hospital),
residents rarely draw blood or place IVs. At Methodist
Hospital (our sister institution), residents play more of an active role in
these areas of clinical practice.
6.
Do you learn mostly from attendings, other residents, or
textbooks? Does this vary when you do off-service rotations?
We learn
from a variety of sources, all the above. Off service rotations
may be accompanied with individual course syllabi. We emphasize
a broad range of educational tools and resources from attendings
and live hands-on experience to lectures, to giving lectures to
the resident body at weekly conference to teaching medical
students in the ED.
7. How does EMed
rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
We are an independent
department of the hospital, not under the wing of any other
department. We are a respected institution.
8.
What are the perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks,
conference fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
We have a very generous
educational stipend for tools such as PDAs, computers, and
textbooks. There is a separate fund for educational conferences
for each resident.
9.
How do you rate your rotations outside of the emergency
department?
Each off service rotation
brings a unique aspect to the practice of emergency medicine for
each resident. Many of our outside rotations are unit-based,
critical care experience oriented.
10. What's the best elective you've done?
Trauma surgery- great
procedures, horribly long calls, but very rewarding.
11. How much does your program focus on research?
Our
program offers broad and readily available opportunities in both
clinical and basic science research. Currently this year, we
have an EMF grant recipient. Other regions of scholarly
activity include writing textbook chapters, peer review of
journals, and academic periodical publication.
12. What do you
love and hate most about the city you're in?
Philadelphia is a wonderful
city rich in cuisine, sports, the arts, atmosphere, and
history. It would be a shame not to mention our much imitated
but never reproduced elsewhere cheesesteaks. Philadelphia is
humid, and the summers can be brutal. Our sporting teams,
though loved dearly by most everyone here, start strong each
season, but haven't had as much luck as in years past.
13. Please describe your typical month in terms of work hours
and days off.
Interns: 17-20 shifts a month,
12 hour shifts
PGYII: 19-20 shifts a month, 12, 10, and 9 hour shifts
PGYIII: 16-20 shifts a month, 12, 10, and 8 hour shifts
14. How much time do you spend off-duty with the other
residents?
Approximately 2-3 times a week.
15. Do you have any
international experience?
Among the places our residents
have done rotations away are Japan, Guatemala, Peru, and other
regions of South America.
16. What are your plans after residency?
Most of the residents go on to
community hospital practice; 10-25% go to academic centers or
pursue fellowships.
17. How prepared do you feel?
I feel well prepared from the
wide range of pathology and situations I see in the urban and
community settings I have had the opportunity through the
residency to experience.
18. Is there anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't
asked?
We have distinguished members
of our residency classes in every arena imaginable. Diversity
at Jefferson is one of our strongest attributes that binds us
together. Our residents' friendliness and family atmosphere is
difficult to express over paper, and critically important day by
day in person.
19. Do you have any advice for current applicants, or is there
anything you wish you'd known when you were applying?
At all the interviews you
pursue, get an accurate feel from the residents themselves
whether they are truly happy in their program. This is critical
to ascertain.
