Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
The faculty at Columbia know all of the residents. With the tight bond comes trust and with trust comes opportunities in the OR, so by the time you have earned your stripes as a PGY 3 or 4 you are ready to really get your hands dirty. The chairman, Dr. Levine, is unflagging in his support of residents. His energy sets the tone for the whole department, and you have a group that works hard and supports one another.
Didactics / Teaching
Weekly conferences by subspecialty. Weekly didactic lectures for all residents. Be ready to get roasted in sports indication conference.
Operating Experience
The knock on this program is that you don't get to operate early on. The response to this criticism is that: perhaps this is true and there are interns out there flying through nails and whatnot. However, by the time Columbia residents are in fellowship and working as attendings their operative ability is second to none.
Clinic Experience
The medicaid/medicare clinic allows for superior resident autonomy, but it's not for the faint of heart, as it can be busy and your Spanish will get very good.
Research Opportunities
Some of the best in the country. Columbia is a publishing powerhouse.
Residents
The residents at Columbia were my favorite ones that I met during rotation and interview season, hands down. The group is energetic, fun, funny, and know how to get to work.
Lifestyle
It's New York City...on your days off you can see Picassos or an Opera, or head to Brooklyn for a delicious hipster meal. I'm an outdoorsy person and I'm happy that I can drive 2 hours to be in the Catskills or fly nonstop almost anywhere (e.g. Jackson Wyoming).
Location / Housing
Washington Heights isn't the best neighborhood to live in especially if you have kids, but it is extremely affordable for Manhattan. The general idea is that if you have a family you will probably live somewhere with a 20-30 minute commute. If you are single or living with one significant other then Washington Heights is a great option.
Limitations
Early operative exposure probably lacking (hopefully with all the feedback they get on this issue it will change), unionized nurses who at times are looking toward the end of their shifts more than patient care
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
This rotation is awesome - you learn a lot, meet great people, and get to know a great part of the country in New York City.
