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EAC23
Registered User
Posts: 1
(4/10/01 8:47:28 pm)
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North Carolina
I am currently a third year student very much interested in pursuing an ortho residency. For various
reasons I am focusing on North Carolina. I am interested in hearing peoples opinions of the NC programs
(Duke, UNC etc..) in terms of quality of education, workload, resident morale, competitiveness or any
other pertinent comments people have to offer. Thanks in advance for all replies.
Techno
Registered User
Posts: 11
(4/11/01 10:20:24 am)
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North Carolina
Duke does a great job of selling its program during interviews, but I didn't buy it. It's still a malignant
program despite what the residents try to tell you, and you also get to wear white pants as an intern.
They rank you high if you tell them "you're my No. 1 program" following interviews. Lots of gamesmanship
there. BUT, Duke still has a stellar academic reputation.
UNC is an under-rated program that's strong on research. The current chair at UNC used to be Duke
faculty. Solid overall program, tough schedule, good training... but a bit of an inferiority complex being
so close to Duke and all. There's really no need for the complex since the program is excellent. Following
interviews, the residency director will send letters to its top applicants letting them know that they are
going to be ranked highly.
Don't forget the Carolinas Medical Center. Almost impossible to get into (they have several former
professional sports players for residents), but great call schedule, great training, and INCREDIBLE
PERKS. This is a community training program that's as high-powered as any academic program. These
guys treat their residents right. Do a sub-internship to be considered strongly here, but make sure you
are star quality; otherwise, the sub-I won't really matter.
EAC23
Registered User
Posts: 2
(4/11/01 1:22:49 pm)
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Re: North Carolina
Any insights into the Wake Forest program?
Techno
Registered User
Posts: 12
(4/11/01 3:15:57 pm)
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North Carolina
Don't know much about Wake Forest. Didn't apply, didn't interview. I believe that Wake Forest has had
to fill its 1 (or is it 2?) spot in the scramble for the past two years. I could be wrong about this, but too
lazy to check.
crazy joe davola
Registered User
Posts: 25
(4/11/01 11:17:22 pm)
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Wake and its unfilled spot
Wake Forest has filled its 7-year research spot in the scramble for at least the last two years.
I will tell you that they seemed very disorganized and somewhat unprofessional when I tried to schedule
a rotation there (in February). There are no official waiting lists for rotation spots. If they have no room
for you, any spots that open up are apparently first come, first served.
Once there, however, I think most guys had good things to say and ranked it highly.
TR1
Registered User
Posts: 14
(4/12/01 5:54:32 am)
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Duke
I did a month at Duke, and can't say enough good things about the program. See my post within the
last month regarding southeast programs. They do try to "sell" the program during the interview, much
like the other top programs do. Contrary to popular opinion, the program is not nearly as malignant as
some would like to think. They enforce a maximum 80 hour/week schedule (which amounts to going
home before noon post call) and have the most vacation time out of any program I looked at (5 weeks).
And, also contrary to many opinions, the graduates there are technically sound in the OR. The only
potential "catch" is that you spend virtually all of your 4th year far away from Duke (Asheville NC, Fort
Bragg NC, Greeneville SC). But these are apparently great operative opportunities.
hurricane26
Registered User
Posts: 10
(4/12/01 11:57:05 am)
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DUKE
TR1, where did you wind up matching?
TR1
Registered User
Posts: 15
(4/14/01 4:03:31 pm)
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Match
Duke.
