Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
40+ (and growing), the staff that I interacted with during my rotation were enthusiastic to teach, laid back, and big names in the field (Beaty, Azar, Canale, Perez, etc). There are also many young staff who bring energy and fresh ideas to the program per the residents (Kelly, Throckmorton, Richardson).
Didactics / Teaching
Conference is twice weekly and every conference has at least one lecture that is led by staff. There is good turnout at these conferences and beer is served.
Operating Experience
Second to none. These guys get handed the knife early and there is an appropriate amount of autonomy given, especially while on trauma. You would leave here comfortable with ANY trauma you would ever see in the community... and then some. Great place for someone interested in a trauma fellowship, or if you just wanted to be comfortable with trauma in private practice.
Clinic Experience
I went to very little clinic during my rotation, but the one-on-one nature of the private rotations made clinic seem more educational. Also, the Clinic's facilities were plush.
Research Opportunities
As much as you want it to be. There is a consortium of biomedical/biomechanical research going on between the Campbell Clinic Foundation, InMotion, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Memphis. Lots to do if interested, but didn't feel like they pressured residents into projects they didn't want.
Residents
A real strength of the program. Obviously a boys-club feel, but they were very welcoming to the girl whose rotation overlapped with mine. These guys are hard-working but know how to have a good time away from the hospital.
Lifestyle
Great balance between the private rotations, where you have a relatively light schedule with lots of free weekends, and trauma, where the volume is so enormous that you work really hard but get rewarded in the unmatched operative experience.
Location / Housing
Coming as an outsider, Memphis is very nice in the right areas and I actually liked it a lot more than people said I would. I think the rep is overplayed. You do have to be wise about where you live, but there are plenty of nice areas. COL is very low and most residents own nice homes in very safe parts of town. Traffic is minimal in the city from what I saw.
Limitations
I would say the only weakness I saw was the number of clinical sites, but when you rotate on the private services you have plenty of time to drive. Memphis is a weakness for some, but see above.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
When you are figuring out what you want in residency I think its important to find a place that is a good place to be a resident. There were lots of other big name places that would be great to be fellow or staff, and truthfully at some the other big name places the emphasis really is on the fellows. <br />
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Bottom line, this is a big name place that offers balance, an enormous operative experience, and unmatched camaraderie amongst the residents.
