Info on Phoenix Banner Good Samaritan Program?

I interviewed there last year.

The program director is a stand up guy who is really committed to getting a quality program together. He is really open to feedback and I feel as though while this program is growing, a lot of changes will happen based on the next group of residents.

The variety of hospitals that you rotate through are top notch in AZ. Phoenix Children's, Mayo - Scottsdale, Banner Good Samaritan, etc. The attendings all seem motivated to teaching residents.

The Banner Good Samaritan GME has some stellar residencies in Phoenix and I can't imagine they'd oversee a poor program.

Anyway, a new program is not for everyone but I'm sure this one will be around for a long time and I think it'll be a top notch community program with quality research too.

CP

i too want to apply there because the city is beautiful and i like community progams.

I am one of residents at the Banner program, so maybe i can give a little info on the program. I agree with the above post about our chairman being a standup kind of guy. He has a very limited clinical practice, so almost all of his time and focus is directed at the residency program. He is pushing really hard right now for the program to have 4 spots in the upcoming match. The program is designed for 4 residents a year.
All subspecialties are covered within the program, so you will not have to travel outside of phoenix for any rotations. Tumor, Foot and Ankle and Joints are primarily done at Mayo-Scottsdale, with some overlap at Good Samaritan. Trauma and Spine are at Good Sam. Sports is with the group for the phoenix Suns. Pediatrics is at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. You rotate through all services as a junior resident and then again as a senior. We also have a general orthopaedic rotation where you get a taste of everything. There are so many attendings involved with the residency that even when the program is full with 4/year, you should never be double scrubbed with another resident. Most of the call for the residency will be from home with the exception of some truama call.
All people involved are extremely excited about the program. Banner has invested a lot of money in to the program. We have a dedicated skills lab that contains or will soon contain an arthroscopy lab, anatomy disscetion table and combined with the gen surg program a surgical skills lab. Benefits are great for residents as well. Its hot in the summer, but i won't be complaining come december. We also have a 3 month dedicated research block in the 2nd year, but you take some home call to continue your skills development. You get the majority of books you will need paid for by the residency.They also send you to a conference a year, plus anywhere you present some research.
So far, I dont have any complaints. Its a new program and it obviously isn't a big name, but it will be hard to match th surgical caseload we will get in our residency. This is the only residency program in the 5th largest city in the US, so there will be plenty of job opportunities after as well. Hope this helps.

My question for earmuffs is what is it like not having senior residents as part of the program yet, is there a heavier burden on call or how will the program change as those senior PGY4 and 5 years are filled up?

The upside to not having seniors is that throughout the residency, I will always be the first assist or primary surgeon on every case. That being said, the first two classes will not have the benefit of senior residents experience. Being part of new program obviously isn't for everyone. Like every program, there will be strengths and weaknesses of a new program. Operative experience will obviously be a huge plus for us. Our didactic schedule is similar to most programs with OITE review, journal club, anatomy dissections (which are fantastic, as our program director takes us through the entire dissection in great detail), specialty conferences and grand rounds. As far as call goes, the majority of the residency will be home call. As the program fills, the home call will obviously be less spead out. There will also eventually be some in house trauma call. Right now, attendings cover when we aren't on service.
I think the most important thing aside from just getting in is to find a program that fits your personality.