Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
There is no question that the staff at the Mayo clinic are outstanding, with many being recognized at top names in their respective fields. Dr. Berry, the chair, was very personable when I met him and he came across as a guy who really cares about his residents education.
Didactics / Teaching
While on service, I felt that the residents were given outstanding didactics. As PGY-2s they spend six months on a basic science curriculum, where they are still on services but their afternoons are protected for various lectures, skill labs, anatomy labs and studying. I thought that this was a great way to make the transition from an intern to a more prepared orthopaedic resident.
Operating Experience
Their strengths are joints, hand, and spine. Their "weakness" is trauma. While their weakness really is trauma, I think it is only a relative weakness (because their other areas are so strong). While on service my trauma team had more than enough OR time, in fact we had a call day that we spent 20 straight hours operating. Not only this, but the PGY-2s were getting to perform some of the key parts of various operations (which discredits some of the rumors out there that you don't operate until late in residency.) I also spent time on a joints service and had a similar experience, with the junior residents being very hands on. Lastly, the rumor that fellows steal cases is 100% not true. The fellows are generally not on service with residents at all, but if they are they are with junior residents so there isn't much overlap on the things they would and could be doing anyway.
Clinic Experience
Well it is called the Mayo CLINIC. In all seriousness, in my opinion clinic is clinic, it is the same nearly everywhere.
Research Opportunities
Everyone knows that there is plenty of opportunity to do projects that find their way into JBJS and the likes. The staff there are very open to resident help in their projects. On the flip side (and just at important in my opinion), some of the residents I talked to told me they were not planning on doing any research and they were not being pressure to doing it either.
Residents
They were a good group of people that seemed to go out of their way to make sure I knew what was going on. Even residents from other services would give me a hand when I was a little lost. That being said, you do get a little feeling that the group is more the studying type than the wild partying type, not to say they don't have a good time (I went to several parties with residents while I was there and had a great time) but that is just the feeling I got.
Lifestyle
They certainly adhere to the 80 hour work work week and I though their call schedule was very resonable.
Location / Housing
It is Rochester, MN. That being said, I think it is a great town to raise a family if you are a married resident. Housing is affordable and the education system is great. But there is no question that if you are a single resident looking for a great night life, this is not your ideal program.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
I definately had a great time while at the Mayo Clinic and plan on ranking it very high, if not number 1. I though many of the myths about the program (don't operate until PGY-3s or 4s, no trauma, too many fellows) were just not true at all. I think that there is little question that this is an elite top-tier program.
