I am writing to let everyone know an update in regards to the Fort Wayne program. I am currently a 4th year for everyone's perspective.
As some of you might know our program was under attack by the Residency Review Committee unjustly (in our/my opinion) for the last 2-3 years. The committee recommended closure of our program by 6/2007. We recently appealed the decision this past July 2006. We just found out today that the Appeals committee and ACGME reversed the decision. We have been placed on probation (as we expected) and up for rereview sometime in the future (likely next year). The reasoning for the original "death sentence" was based on subjective views of our program not objective findings.
Through all this tragedy we managed to match 2 interns (after knowing that we had been "withdrawn") despite the "death sentence". We are looking forward to putting this all behind us. We are looking forward to finally recruiting again without an ugly cloud over our head.
If you read
adaman's post regarding Hamot in Erie, PA it is nearly a mirror image of our program. We have 2 residents a year (though we are very likely going to apply for another). We have around 30 volunteer faculty that are great teachers and eager to have residents. We have multiple staff fellowship trained in every subspecialty except tumor. Our one peds guy is semiretired. Early operative experience is abundant depending on staff comfort level. We do have part of our peds rotation in Indianapolis at St Vincents children hospital with former IU Riley Staff (Didelot/kayes/bellflower). This occurs during our 4th year. There is talk of adding a tumor rotation in the future in Indy as well. We are here to learn. We are not used as mere labor. This place could function without us (though probably not as well!) We are treated like junior staff though expected to learn and be self motivated. We do well every year on OITE. We get didactics every thursday. We are unique in that we have an entire Thursday every week devoted to didactics with fracture conference, staff lectures, resident lectures, MRI conferences, cadaver dissection, OITE review, etc. That day is free of clinical responsbility other than the call person starting at 5 pm. We are strong in sports, joints, and spine. Our chiefs (prior to the 80 hour rule) averaged over 2500 cases. I am on stride to reach around 2200-2400 cases. There is plenty of clinical research for those interested (especially spine). We are not an academic mecca so this is not a place to come to put out multiple, multiple research projects. We have very liberal abilities to go to conferences. This program puts out residents who are more than ready to take care of patients after their chief year. Most do fellowships for job placements reasons.
We all spend time together and hang out outside of "work". Most of us our married. A few with kids. Benefits here abound.
I interviewed at multiple academic and community programs. I felt i woud fit best at a community program. I felt that i would be happy at any of the community programs i interviewd at. They all seem to be similiar. Those were Ft Wayne, Akron General, Grand Rapids, St Mary's San Francisco, Orlando, and Beaumont. I know that Akron Summa, Kalamazoo, Flint, Mount Carmel, and Erie all are very similiar to those above from what i have heard.
Please don't hesistate to contact me with any questions. I would be happy to answer anyone questions regarding this whole process and our future. Email [url=mailto]
[email protected][/url].
ATCnMD
