Penn St @ Hershey Program

I interviewed there...i assume you did as well, so you would know as much as i do. My opinion is that it is a solid program, all subs covered (if i remember correctly, residents would say spine would be the weaker service, but none complained about it). Great facilities, and residents seemed happy (good lifestyle). I guess it's whether you like Hershey, Pa. I don't think the program has many negatives. Also heard that the Chair is a great guy. Probably stuff you already know, but it seems no one is really posting on this board lately so i thought i'd give you my opinion...

Just to add my 2 cents... great chair, great director, good faculty, average to below average group of residents (as ortho goes anyway...couple of real question marks in amongst a group of otherwise great residents), and outstanding facilities. Only real complaint is that there is very little orthopedic experience as intern (only one month first year) and very little operative experience as junior resident. Chiefs seem to be very confident, however, and tend to get great fellowships. I could be way off the mark, but these are just the impressions that I got.

Not sure if anyone still watching this thread, but.
I am an intern at another Ortho program that went to Med school at Penn State.

I think its a pretty great program. Great faculty who are doing alot of really good stuff. I don't completely agree about the Juniors OR experience, I'd say it's average but not poor. The chair is great and very resident friendly. They've just added some new faculty and now don't have any weak areas. I interviewed at close to 20 programs last year and would say it was in the top 2 or 3 if you ignore location.

Hershey is a little different. It is a very nice, friendly, safe town. Harrisburg has some nightlife, restaurants, etc but not terrific. Overall, great place for a family, definitely below average for swinging bacherlor(ette)s. Still, the residents in ortho and throughout the hospital end up being close and they party together.

Happy to respond to any specific questions.