Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Dr Matthews is a great PD/chair. He cares about his residents and their education. The faculty is also great at what they do and love to teach. They are a great group. The faculty at the hospital was the nicest that I have experienced. Everyone was happy to be there and made it a positive experience.
Drs Murthi and Stein left Maryland a few years back and are incredible Shoulder/ Elbow surgeons. The Hand surgeons at Union are worldclass and the hospital recently built a helipad only for NorthEast hand traumas. Dr Brumback is an amazing teacher and mentor, though you will get yelled at by him at least once every 10 mins.
Didactics / Teaching
The day starts at ~6:15am with bone board where the residents present the consults from the day before/overnight and get grilled on their management decisions by the chief resident. After that there is quick (30 min) rounding followed by 1-1.5 hrs of attending run lectures or OITE review.
On Tuesday nights there is didactics for all residents (intern - PGY6) that includes saw bone workshops, lectures, more OITE training, etc. These were well organized and helpful.
The attendings all love to teach in the OR and are used to having residents. Because it is a small, community hospital you quickly get to know the attendings and can earn their respect and more scalpel time.
Operating Experience
Residents get a lot of OR time and attendings are great teachers. Residents are never double-scrubbed unless the PGY2 is doing a case with the PGY6. There are fellows but they either walk the resident through the case or are in another OR.
Residents go to Hopkins for Peds (x2) and Tumor and to Shock Trauma for trauma. This is a highlight of the program and increases the residents comfort in the OR.
The PGY6 yr is 1/2 Chief, 1/4 Sports, 1/4 Joints. You run your own clinic and book your own cases. There are attendings to help you if you get stuck, but you can do as much as you feel comfortable. Of all of my aways, these residents were the most comfortable with a scalpel at all levels (PGY2-6).
Clinic Experience
Resident clinic is a good way to build autonomy with your decision making and patient management. Attending clinics differ from service to service. Some are better than others, but they are overall a good experience.
Union docs are the team physicians for the Ravens, so there is a chance that you can go to games if you get in good with the attendings on Sports. This doesn't seem to happen often and is usually only reserved for fellows but it is a possibility.
Research Opportunities
During your PGY4 year you have 6 months of research. There is a great biomechanics lab that you can use to turn out some great research. The opportunities are endless.
Residents
Great group of residents. They all get along well and hang out outside of the hospital. Cool people.
Lifestyle
Because it is two residents a year, PGY2 year is a little call heavy but call at Union is not that horrible. After that life isn't too bad. Most days we were out by 5pm. Being that it is a community hospital, the focus is on patient care and getting out of the hospital and home to family. Many residents have kids and seem to enjoy their residency. Definitely a plus of this program.
Location / Housing
Located close by the Johns Hopkins undergraduate campus in the northern part of Baltimore (Charles Village). It is a safer area of the city and close to some nice housing locations, however it is further from the bar scene.
People live inside and outside of the city. Baltimore is very liveable but there is alos nice suburbs 20 mins away from the hospital. Charles Village, Caton, Fed Hill, Butchers Hill, Catonsville, Ellicott City are all places where residents live.
Limitations
Not many. Community people less focused on research. 6 years versus 5. Didactics are not as strong as at other programs but you get more outside of the hospital time for self-study than at other programs. Spine is a little weak.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
This program incorporates the best of Baltimore in its program going to Hopkins for Peds/Tumor and Shock for trauma while housing excellent Hand, Sports, Foot and Ankle, Shoulder/Elbow, Spine, etc.
Residents get a lot of OR time and seem very confident. I really enjoyed my time here and think that it is very under-rated and should be on everyone's radar especially if you are willing to put up with Baltimore for 6 years.
