zrf80
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Hello everyone. Hope everything is going ok with interview season. As you guys are well aware, I have been reading and getting advice from this forum for many years. I first found you guys during my Step 1 prep, and have been an avid reader since. So as my friends and future colleagues, please give me your honest opinion on what I should do. This past week, I was offered 4 prematch spots......2 in e-mail, 2 by word of mouth. Now I know word of mouth doesnt mean anything until its written, but I will take it as an offer until further notice. Please tell me which would be a good program to join.
1) Our Lady of Mercy (Bronx, NY)
the GOODS: few fellowships in program, diverse patient population, successful boards rates, good training.
the BADS: fellowships dont usually go to inhouse residents, lacks comraderie between residents, bad neighborhood, seems like a "everyone for themself" attitude.
2) Lutheran Medical Center (Brooklyn, NY)
the GOODS: residents love program, great comraderie, excellent faculty/resident relationship, great patient diversity, PD does everything to help you achieve fellowship including off site electives, good benefits + salary, no scutwork, great training, help in job placement after grad.
the BADS: no inhouse fellowship and residents said forget GI or Cardio; everything else is possible but again COMMUNITY PROGRAM so fellowships not easy to acquire, bad location, low key program, no parking
3) Danbury Hospital (Danbury, CT)
the GOODS: rich community, affiliation with Yale, state of the art facility with everything you can imagine, good residents (IMGs), good training, laid back program, no SCUTWORK, free housing.
the BADS: training good for "bread and butter" cases not too diverse pt. population, a little "too" laid back, no fellowship opportunities (Community program).
4) Monmouth Medical Center (Monmouth, NJ)
the GOODS: beautiful residential area (resort town), clean hospital, good training, nice faculty, great comraderie, no scutwork, part of Saint Barnabas Health System, laid back, good teaching.
the BADS: a little too "laid back", no patient diversity, no fellowships (PD will help though to search for one), salary is poor, benefits not too hot, expensive area to live in.
Other IVs that I have attended or yet to attend:
St.Barnabas Medical in New Jersey (IM)
Forest Hills Hospital- NSLIJ (IM)
St. Raphael Hospital of Connecticut(IM)
Brooklyn Hospital (IM)
Brookdale Univ. Hosp. (IM)
Maryland General Hospital (IM)
Mount Sinai Elmhurst (IM)
Temple University (FP)
UMDNJ (FP)
Northshore LIJ Univ. Hospital (FP)
NYMC (FP)
I am more inclined towards IM, hence why Im not too thrilled about the Univ. IVs for Family Practice. And as of now, I am interested in Hospitalist or Primary Care, hence no urgency for Univ. program in IM.
Should I take my chances and join one of these program ? Personally, I have been most impressed with Lutheran. The program stands out to me most (although I only IV there today), and seems like most educational and resident oriented.
Please advise, fellow friends. Im pouring my heart to you...............
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| eida
Forum Senior
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Based on what u have written, I would say Lutheran.
As long as what u saw is actually what happens coz everyone tries to "sell" their program, especially to good candidates like u.
It also depends on how much time u have to give an answer. If you have time and resources, you may want to attend more interviews.
If u have to respond immediately as I presume is the usual, I suggest u grab one immediately. It's tough this year and you are actually living in luxury.
All the best!
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
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Accept Lutheran
Congrats
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| zenamalik
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Congratulations zrf80.
Its really quiet an achievement getting 4 prematches. I guess Lutheran wins by far.
Can you please detail your credentials which got you these offers.
By the way, are you a carribean grad who is originally from USA?
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| warwick
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congrats zrf80! go for Lutheran...man, you're lucky! ...
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| zrf80
Forum Elite
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Thanks guys. My creds are 81/90/passed. I worked as a medical assistant for 2 years, and am currently doing observership. Carribean grad: 2004.
My only hesitation is that Lutheran is a community program, and to go there pretty much means Im flushing fellowship opportunities down the toilet. Although I have no plans to specialize.......that is subject to change (as you all are aware).
My heart tells me to take it, though. I love their program philosophy, and I dont want to take a risk in Match and end up somewhere I didnt want to go. Lutheran may not be my top choice, but after reviewing my IVs, it would have definitely been in my top 5. And thats not bad.........
Should I do it, despite the fellowship implications ?
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| prueba
Forum Guru
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Hey! It sounds like it would be a great idea to take it!...It seems you like it a lot, and that's extremely important. If you are interested in a fellowship or probable field, it would be a good idea to start working on research right away... (just in case)
Congratulations!
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| arlete
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Congratulations!
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| CocaCola
Forum Guru
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Hey zrf80
its seems to me you really like lutheran... i have been there and also think its a great program... take it!!!
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| jazmil
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Congrats! If your heart tells you to take it, then take it.
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| qnisha
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hi , Its easy to decide if u know the program falls in your top5...statistically ppl match in the 3rd to 7th choice in their ROL mostly (ive heard)so think about all that before u decide.
I interviewed at Lutheran and liked it...could you tell me how and when the prematch was offered to u???? thanks and ofcourse congrats.
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| dr_gladiator
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
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congrates zrf80.. its a big achievement to get 4 prematches.. i have no idea about the program. but sign the one that your heart says.. good luck..
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| muna
Forum Senior
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CONGRATULATION!!! CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME, HOW YOU PREPARE FOR INTERVIEW.
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| anastasiathebom
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i was also interviewed and offered prematch at lutheran, but i didnt take it, becos, the program sounds so desperate saying u have to tell them right now and doesnt give enuff time to decide. not a very good program from what i heard from the residents, too much work, no research ,no fellowships, no good electives.. just like slaves working more than 80 hrs a day. if there r better interviews, dont take it. my two cents.
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| anastasiathebom
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also that area of brooklyn is very bad, i dont know if u went around that area, but its very unsafe and u will have to find housing somewhere else. and its not safe for females to walk alone in that area.
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| zrf80
Forum Elite
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^^^ Ha-ha. Anasathasia, seems like you had a rough day at Lutheran. My experience was quite different from yours.
1) All the residents I spoke to loved Lutheran. The comraderie is excellent, and everyone supports each other. They are honest, and told me that if you're definitely geared towards a specific fellowship, dont come here. Last year, 11 of the 21 grads attained fellowships, and one spot goes to GI EVERY YEAR because of affiliation with SUNY downstate. Plus, 2 spots go for Hem/Onc because of other affiliation. So fellowship is not easy, but quite possible,
2) The faculy, especially the PD and associate PD, will help you any way possible to acquire fellowships. Yes, they are hard....but as PD told me (and confirmed by residents), they will set up any electives and research for you to get experience in the necessary field. According to residents, PD has many connections (grad from NYU S. of Medicine)....so it works in your favor.
3) Neighborhood is unsafe, I agree. But it is best hospital in Brooklyn, as voted by some commitee. PLUS, they have SILVER HEART award for tops in Stroke Center, and excellent Trauma center. Im willing to part ways from neighborhood in order for quality education, and it seems that Lutheran makes an effort to teach its residents.
I dont know what went wrong in your interview, but I felt overall comfortable on my day there. I havent commited yet; Im still weighing my options as I continue to interview. Like I said in another thread, I guess it depends on your perspective. My firend decided she didnt want Lutheran, and one of the reasons was as you cited: bad neighborhood. Tome, thats not a pre-requisite, as I plan to leave NY after my training. But as long as the training is QUALITY, Im all for it.
Lets see what God has in store for me..............
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| CocaCola
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i have been to lutheran and its exactly as zrf80 decscribed...
there were opportunities to meet with quite a few residents from pgy1 to pgy3 and everyone was pretty happy with the program... and i heard from the residents that the 80hr rule is enforced!
if you are looking for hospitals in NY guys most are in 'unsafe' neighborhoods... but this is what gives the diverse pathos you see... so i think thats a weak excuse at best...
zrf80 good luck with your residency... if you pick that hospital, i think you will have made a good choice!
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There is one thing we can do, and the happiest people are those who can do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can give all our attention to the opportunity before us!!!
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| drfax
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hi
what IV means ?
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| CocaCola
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drfax wrote:
hi
what IV means ?
interview
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There is one thing we can do, and the happiest people are those who can do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can give all our attention to the opportunity before us!!!
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| zrf80
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Thank you friends for your kind words. Im sure as we are all aware.....there is no such thing as the "perfect" program. Yes, we all have dreams about our top program, and we want to get in. But even that "dream" program forces you to give and take.
Lutheran, no doubt, is a dream program for me in terms of educational philosophy. The drawbacks are the location and the risk of losing fellowship opportunities. Since I am not in the mindset to do any fellowships as of now, this does not bother me so. But Id hate to kick myself in the head later on if I find a little niche in a subspecialty field.
My dilemma: do I take my chances and join a program that I know I will enjoy, or do I take my chance in the Match for a program that will increase my chance for fellowship ?
Any input is welcome, as we have all gone through the processes of becoming a doctor. In many ways, your advice is MORE IMPORTANT to me than the advice I get from family and friends, cause they do not know the "hell" we've gone through to get to this point.
I thank all my brothers and sisters that have supported.
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| zrf80
Forum Elite
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qnisha - prematch was offered after IVs. Program Coordinator told me to stay after tour of hospital. Went into office of PD; he told me he enjoyed our "chat", and the chairman did as well. They felt I was perfect for the program, and offered me prematch. But didnt give me too much time to think about it....but then again, which program does ?
muna - just follow one simple rule: honesty is the best policy. I never lie in my interviews. I always stick with the truth, and because of that....I havent been phased by one question. I'll give you an example. 2 days ago, I was in IV at NSLIJ-Glen Cove Hospital program (btw, great program for FP), and a faculty member asked me: "If I gave you a canvas, and asked you to paint a picture, what would you paint and why ?" I thought for a few seconds, and replied that I would paint an open field overlooking the ocean. And the faculty member asked: "Why ?" And I said that no matter how hard you work or how much you persevere, it is important in life to find time and reflect on yourself. Life is too short to worry too much and burn out. And although medicine requires a lot from us as physicians, it is an absolute MUST that we find time to enjoy our lives and reflect on our achievements/failures. It is the only way we will succeed in this field, because as we're all aware, you can NEVER conquer the field of medicine. Faculty member told me if was one of the best answers he's ever heard..........
Be honest, and you will be successful in your IVs. Oh, and I also used Iserson's...........hahahahahaahahahahaahahaha........
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| dr gr8
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why are you asking others to decide for you? you have the prematch offers and you should be deciding. i dont think anyone will give you honest advice. one program can be good for me but bad for you and vice versa. there are multiple factors that go into making a program good or bad and probably more than half of them are personal choices that a candidate makes. therefore, i will advise you to think on your own about this one and come up with the program that YOU think best fits you. dont go by what some website/book rates them at. go with what you felt on interview day and if you do that, believe me, you will be making a good choice.
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| muna
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Thank you sooooooooooooo much,You are a great person.
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| zrf80
Forum Elite
Topics: 40
Posts: 236
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Last week folks. Any more advice ? 
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| doc1981
Forum Senior
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Dude everyone is gonna give their own opinions... you probably have a dozen more opinions outside this forum as well. Now, it's time for you to make the decision. From the sound of your post, you sound very enthusiastic for Lutheran. If fellowship isn't really your goal then go for it. One more factor that's important is the whole visa issue - if you're a citizen/green card then you'll get more than one chance to apply for a fellowship. However, if you're applying for a J1 then you get one shot at fellowship. In the end you've gotta ask YOURSELF one question - Will I be happy professionally in this program?
I know it's a tough decision but it looks like this program is in your top 3... Go for it! I wish you all the best and hope you make the right decision - whether it's accepting the prematch or going along with Match.
Good luck!
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