Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Program works with a mix of faculty physicians and numerous private physicians throughout the area. All are extrememly willing to teach and help residents with training. You learn many different techniques to the same procedure when getting the chance to operate with such a variety. All faculty seem to enjoy the residents and all somehow find a way to teach without incessant pimping, scut work, or degrading residents. Friendliest staff I've ever worked with.
Didactics / Teaching
Morning conferences 2 days a week. Afternoon conferences 2 days a week. OITE reviews. Peer lead reviews. Visiting professors. Grand Rounds. Journal club hosted at nice restaraunts with free dinner.
Operating Experience
A lot of autonomy. Perfect balance between autonomy and guidance. Hands on working with surgeons and most will let you do a majority of the case once you prove you are ready.
Clinic Experience
Each resident is assigned to various clinics throughout the week with one attending per clinic. The clinics are extremely well organized and run smoothly. Great ancillary staff. Great facilities as well.
Research Opportunities
Research is not the strong point of the program unless you want it to be. There are residents with numerous publications and presentations. If you want to get involved, there are always physicians to work with and resources are plentiful. It must be self driven and you get what you put into it. On the other hand, if you are not into research, then it would fit as the requirements are not heavy.
Residents
Great group. 12 guys and 1 girl. Close group all willing to hang out outside of work. Most are married, some are not.
Lifestyle
Best lifestyle of any program I saw. Home call all 5 years. Home or no call on most off service rotations. Everyone at work and in the community is extremely friendly. Great family atmosphere. Wives/sig others of residents get together and the progam, "Med Mates", actually gives money for their group to host parties, go out, babysit, buy pumpkins and christmas trees.
Location / Housing
Small town with lots to offer. Young professionals a plenty. Nice, quaint, extemely friendly. I was skeptical at first but now love the town, I would prefer to be here over most anywhere else I interviewed. 2 hours from chicgo, 2.5 from detroit. Amtrak going between the two for fairly cheap.
Limitations
There are very few limitations, and certainly no deficiencies, that I have experienced.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Great program. Hidden gem. Strongly encourage anyone to apply. I consider myself lucky to have matched here.
