Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Some people are concerned about the loss of the chairman, but the program is very stable and Dr Barry Gainor is wonderful as the program director (he has been here for 20 years). Dr Sonny Bal is the interim chair and has been on faculty for a number of years as well. Not overflowing with big names if that is what you care about, but a large group of faculty with great experience and an interest in getting you the same experience.
Didactics / Teaching
Morning conferences are 1 hour, 4 days a week, both resident and attending run. Also have various specialty conferences depending on what service. Sawbones lab every 1-2 months.
Operating Experience
Rare to get in as an intern, really depends on what month you do your rotation. As a 2 on trauma you spend most of the time doing consult work, but on other rotations you are the only resident scrubbed.
Clinic Experience
Plenty of clinic work, really depends on the rotation. If you are on a service with multiple attendings you get more OR time.
Research Opportunities
May be harder to get any basic science done outside of the research year, but certainly possible. There are a multitude of opportunities for clinical research in almost any specialty. There are also resources available for help with publications (putting paper into a publishable format) and grants.
Residents
Great group, very easy going. Lots of residents with families. Not many females in the program but still very female friendly. Play on softball and basketball teams.
Lifestyle
Great. Call schedule q5-6 and you may end up with one weekend a month. No weekend duties unless you are on call (or back-up call). Long days on trauma, spine.
Location / Housing
Columbia is a college town, very affordable. You can live in a nice house/apartment within minutes from town, or even have a little land within a 20 minute drive. Its definitely not big city, no major airport, but the college aspect brings in a lot of culture and diversity. Lots of outdoor activities, hiking and biking trails, fishing, etc.
Limitations
No tumor experience, though they are trying to recruit one. Peds is not high volume (no freestanding children's hospital) so you spend a lot of time in clinic.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Rotation is good and getting better. The attendings are great to work with, very approachable. Columbia is a great little city if you can get over the fact that it is in the Midwest.
