What about the program not having any money and getting taken over by rice? Could you comment on that one please?

That's a great question!!!

Baylor as a whole does have financial issues right now, as does almost every academic institution in the nation (I think Harvard has lost almost half their endowment, of course they had like 100 billion). The difference is we do not have a state funded school or other undergraduate program to bear some of the financial burden. So that's where the merger with Rice comes in. Baylor and Rice have been in talks for a long time, and it would be a huge benefits to both if we merged (Rice has around a 4 billion $$ endowement). We will be no means be "taken over" in ortho. They want a med school, and have lots of research people that we could work with. There has already been a long standing collaborative relationship between Rice engineering and biomechanics department and Baylor ortho.

So yes the college as a whole needs money. But does this really affect your orthopedic training. I don't think so. It is really an administrative issue and I have not seen any changes. The main possible $$ issue I would be worried about if I was applying, is research. With that being said, Baylor has received the largest amount of NIH funding for any medical institution in Texas (including UTSW or MD Anderson) again in 2010. Our ortho department has huge grants especially through department of defense, and we have more research opportunities than I know what to do with. If you have an idea, it will get funded. If you want to jump onto research that is already going, that's easy too. I'm my opinion we are definitely the most research oriented and academic program in Texas.

Hope this helps, and if you have any other question, feel free to ask.

Thanks for the reply.

Could you comment on the rumors about multiple residents being let go recently?

With interviews two days away, I decided to check orthogate as well only to find this thread...

I am a resident at Baylor as well and will be finishing this year. I also do not want anyone matching at Baylor who would be unhappy and thus unproductive here.

That's what it boiled down to with those two residents who left as interns last year. They were not "let go" or "isolated" or "weeded out" in any manner. Frankly, they decided to leave of their own accord and it came as a surprise to everyone.

Both interns who left went into Anesthesia residency. I'm no psychologist/psychiatrist but I would think that if they were unhappy with our program but still had a desire to be an orthopedist, they would try switching using another forum on orthogate.

The truth is, they had decided that orthopedics as a discipline was not for them. Just to add to baylorortho's statement above, you do operate a lot and you do work hard here and these two decided that it was just not for them. I am glad they figured it out that early in their career but of course regret that two other people did not match that year because of them.

Quick question. After the baylor-rice merger, do you guys not go to methodist at all? That was like a 1,500 bed hospital, so what has filled its place to keep up your experience?

I'm currently an MS4 at Baylor but since asrinivasan is livin' it up as a joints fellow and I don't know if baylorortho is still hanging around orthogate, I'll try to answer this one.

The Baylor- Rice merger didn't happen. Talks fell through earlier this year and Baylor's financially independent.

As for not rotating through Methodist, that may or may not change in the near future, depending on what faculty you ask. Regardless, operating experience is certainly not lacking at Baylor. We still have Ben Taub General Hospital (county Level I, 650 beds), the VA (357 beds, gets referrals from other VAs all over the South and Midwest), Texas Children's (639 beds Level I status pending), also gets referrals from all over the South), and the residents work with private attendings. Especially at BTGH, the residents operate their pants off (24/7 if you're at the Taub)...ask anyone who's rotated here and you'll get the response that this is an 'operative' program i.e. this place is busy. I've only rotated at two other programs, but I can't imagine anywhere where the residents operate more than they do here.

Hope this helps. PM me if you have other Qs about Baylor and I'll answer them or send them on to someone else who can. See you on the interview trail!

I have a question. How strong is your academic part of the program?
You mentioned that you operate a ton, but does this keep residents from learning? What is your structured teaching schedule looks like? And do you think it could have been better?
Anything at Baylor that you can think of that might need a little improvement?
Thank you.

I am a current 4th year resident at BCM. Here are some answers to some of the above questions. Keep in mind that the Texas Medical Center is always swirling with rumors. It is difficult to discern the truth, even for those of us who are deeply involved here.

Baylor-Methodist-Rice: There was never supposed to be a triumvirate. It was rumored that if Rice and Baylor came together that Methodist would want to form an official union as well. Rice-Baylor is not happening, at least for now. Baylor's financial sheet has improved considerably, and it has managed to fulfill its debt responsibilities while still maintaining an A- bond rating. As Baylor's debt was a chief contributor to the failure of the Rice-Baylor merger, it is likely that, under the right economic waves, this merger could be considered again in the future. However, not likely in the near future (as in next five years). Baylor's financial stability seems better now than a year ago, and progress is good.

Baylor-Methodist: Although not officially associated with Methodist, we rotate at least 2 days a week at methodist on the following services: Spine, Foot & Ankle, Sports, and Joints. We go there on Hand occasionally as well, and still cover call there. That being said, Methodist has previously tried and failed to get its own orthopedic residency (it was lacking trauma and peds). I have no idea if they are still trying to do this. It is likely that, if this occurred, it would lead to changes in how our programs work. This is not likely to come to fruition in the immediate future (again, next 5 years). If Methodist were to get its own residency, there are plenty of other options for our private rotations in the medical center. Case in point, UTMB has sent several residents to the TMC for the last couple of years since hurricaine Ike. The TMC absorbed these extras easily, and it has NOT affected our program. As it currently stands, we have a fairly strong relationship with Methodist, and from what I can tell, both Baylor and Methodist Orthopedics would like to keep it this way.

As for work load: The operative experience is excellent. I completed the ACGME requirements for graduation (minus the spine b/c I haven't done it yet) just a couple of months into my 4th year. I have almost 2 years of heavy operating left. While our didactics are certainly not as strong as other programs, I prefer it the way it is. I chose Baylor b/c I didn't want to spend a ton of time in the classroom: I learn by doing, and if I were to rely upon reading alone for my orthopedic education b/c I didn't get to operate as much I just wouldn't learn it as well. I read about my cases, and then I go do them, but that's how I learn best. You have to choose a program that best fits the way that you learn best, and only you know that. That being said, we have a couple hours of lecture and grand rounds every week. Every subspecialty has between 1-3 additional conferences/lectures a week. We have anatomy lab for several months every year, and we have the opportunity to participate in the anatomy training of the med students. When it comes down to it, we have didactics more days than not, and that's enough for me.

Hope that that answers a few of the questions. If you have any more, please ask away.