Indiana U

don't know much about the program except that it has outstanding hand surgery. I matched last year, indiana did not offer me an interview (235, AOA with all honors clinical years at top 20 medschool, three great ortho letters, no research). Hope that gives you some insight into competitiveness.

Actually, podtobe, what you are referring to is the Indiana Hand Center, which is one of the most outstanding Hand fellowships in the country, yet unaffilliated with Indiana University Medical Center.

I did an away rotation at IU last year. I had high hopes, and they were pretty much smashed to bits. This program is in a state of dissarray. The residents currently in the program are an awesome group of guys, who, when they matched at IU, matched into a program that was straight-up workmanlike with little, if any, research pressures. It was basically "do 2000 cases, run Wishard County Hospital as a chief, don't worry about research" That was what they all expected and it was awesome.....until....

...they brought in Steve Trippell as the new chairman. He is a big outcomes studies, joint guy from Harvard. He is trying to convert IU into "Harvard, Indiana campus". Let me tell you what...the residents don't like it one bit.

The departmental chemistry seems gone, faculty are leaving for private practice in droves, and the residents (at least the pre-Trippel ones) are unhappy.

Certainly, in a couple of years, this may settle down a bit, but right now, it just seems pretty unstable.

As for the other factors, its a great place: Indianapolis is a great city to live in...tons to do, with affordable cost of living. IUMC is a fantastic facility with IU Hospital, Wishard Memorial, VAMC, Riley Hospital for Children, and Methodist Hospital all close in downtown Indianapolis (which is a clean, beautiful downtown). These are the reasons I rotated there, only to be disappointed by the actual department.

Maybe things have changed in a year, but I would keep my eyes and ears open.

Hope this helps.
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h well:

actually, while not affiliated directly, residents at IU can do a rotation at indiana hand. i specifically inquired about this last year when i was there. i do believe that it has to be part of your elective time though.

in the long run, trippel will make the place great, but this may not be for a few years (until all have been selected by him). just my $0.02.

i'm a fourth year from Indiana School of Medicine matching in ortho this year and had to jump on to defend my home program. there is some truth to all that has been said in this link, but let me help dispel some rumors. the new chairman is research driven and is trying to recruit like minded residents. yes this seems to have adversely affected the comraderie of the program, but overall the crew of residents is tight. on a whole most of the current staff and residents are clinically oriented guys with little interest in research. Dr. Trippel is trying to change this and has brought in new staff - to fill holes in spine and trauma and new peds chief - but is also ameliorating the current staff and will keep them around.
one of the strengths of the program is its ties with the community programs in indianapolis. residents rotate at indiana hand, methodist sports medicine, and methodist trauma - all strong fellowship programs and great experiences. the university will never be the premier place in indianapolis (except joints and peds) because of the strength of the community ortho groups, but by having residents rotate with these groups they get a great experience and make strong connections.
there was a student who rotated here this year who was not offered an interview. straight madness if you ask me. never met the guy but heard from staff and residents who worked with him that he was a solid guy. the whole match process here is controlled by the chairman and he is looking for research driven-non-Indiana candidates. sucks for me but may be good for you... I doubt I'd recommend doing an away month here - based on what happened to the student this year, and the fact that there is not one good service to do for the whole month that would give you continuity with staff and residents.
hope this helps all those considering indiana - definitely check it out. great med center, solid city, buy house as resident, operate a ton, etc....