Texas Residency Programs

[hopefultexan]

I'm wondering if anyone out there can comment on the residency programs in Texas? I'm in the process of looking at away electives and would love to come back to Texas for residency. Unfortunately, the information regarding the Texas programs is lacking on Orthogate and I'm a little lost into which programs I should apply to. I'm specifically interested in: UTSW, UTH, Baylor, and UTSA.

So anyone who interviewed, rotated, or has any info regarding these programs, if you wouldn't mind helping me out, I'd much appreciate it. Thanks.

[hapless hack]

check your PM

[orthoguy123]

I didn't interview at all the programs you mentioned, but I did interview at Baylor. Here is my review from the review thread:

Baylor - I feel this program is very similar to Pitt (very "blue collar", work hard, get the job done type place) - these are the best two operative experiences on my rank list. The residents work hard, but become fantastic surgeons (I really believe this is one of the best "academic" operative experiences in the country). They have a good group of residents, who like to work hard and play hard. The PD is a great guy and really easy to chat with. They have good fellowship placement - especially in hand and spine. The facilities are awesome within the Texas Medical Center - Baylor Clinic, HUGE VA (second biggest government building behind the Pentagon), Ben Taub, Texas Children's, MD Anderson, Methodist, and a Shriner's. In regards to the VA hospital - new building, lots of operating and tons of autonomy. Ben Taub is a busy county hospital and much of your trauma experience is spent here. It's an academic program with many research opportunities, but the time required to produce the research is not always available (no set research time). They were trying to find a chairman a few years ago, but currently have an interim chair that has stabilized that situation.

Hope this helps!

[hopefultexan]

check your PM

PM'ed you back...

[hopefultexan]

I didn't interview at all the programs you mentioned, but I did interview at Baylor. Here is my review from the review thread:

Baylor - I feel this program is very similar to Pitt (very "blue collar", work hard, get the job done type place) - these are the best two operative experiences on my rank list. The residents work hard, but become fantastic surgeons (I really believe this is one of the best "academic" operative experiences in the country). They have a good group of residents, who like to work hard and play hard. The PD is a great guy and really easy to chat with. They have good fellowship placement - especially in hand and spine. The facilities are awesome within the Texas Medical Center - Baylor Clinic, HUGE VA (second biggest government building behind the Pentagon), Ben Taub, Texas Children's, MD Anderson, Methodist, and a Shriner's. In regards to the VA hospital - new building, lots of operating and tons of autonomy. Ben Taub is a busy county hospital and much of your trauma experience is spent here. It's an academic program with many research opportunities, but the time required to produce the research is not always available (no set research time). They were trying to find a chairman a few years ago, but currently have an interim chair that has stabilized that situation.

Hope this helps!

Thank you

[gk1]

pm'd you tex...

[hopefultexan]

pm'd you tex...

Nothing there...

[gk1]

resent the PM tex...

[hopefultexan]

Thanks to everyone who has contacted me and replied to the thread. Anyone else care to share their experiences?

[Big Ed]

What's with all the PM's? Tex, you care to post the info you've received (minus identifying information if that is somehow a concern)?

[hopefultexan]

The information I have received has been pretty skewed towards UTSW and Baylor (esp Baylor). Thus, much of my information is skewed appropriately.

Anonymous information I have gathered over the past week:

UTSW: From interviewers and rotators - good program, they really liked it. Some new changes going on within the department which people are viewing as improvements. A trauma heavy program. Dallas is a fun city.

Baylor: Match many of their rotators, average board scores of the residents are upper 240s to lower 250s. Sports experience isn't that strong, but the rest of the subspecialties are top notch. Residents will work hard here, operate a lot with tons of autonomy, and be responsible for much of the patient care and operative planning. Residents get an amazing Trauma and Peds experience, and Spine and Hand are also very strong. Many of the spine faculty hold positions on national committees. Don't do Tumor until you are a PGY5, so it is too late for fellowships if you decide you want to do that. Dr.Reitman (interim chair) has done a great job and the program has improved since he took over. Research is becoming more available and there is plenty of time during the third year to work on research. Facilities are awesome.

UTSA: Heard it is a decent program, but I don't have any details.

UTH: Prefer TX folks. Less research opportunities than Baylor. Decent program overall.

[hopefultexan]

check your PM

check your PM

[hopefultexan]

check your PM

And...again.

[texas]

I'm a current resident at UT Southwestern/Parkland. I'll sum up the program briefly and if you have any other specific questions just post and I'll answer them.

Parkland: large trauma referral center (all of north Texas, west Texas, southern Oklahoma). Unlike Houston with a large medical center, almost all trauma feeds into Parkland. Entire new Parkland hospital under construction currently, will be up and running 2015. Largest hospital construction project in country. County hospital for all of Dallas.

UT Southwestern University Hospital: Private hospital affiliated with the University. Great sports experience, total joints. Large joint revision referral center because of Dr. Huo. New hospital under construction, operational in 2016. Large new outpatient surgery center in process of being turned into outpatient orthopaedic surgery center.

Zale-Lipshy University Hospital: another University private hospital. Great hospital, private spine experience.

VA North Texas: similar to VA experience at most other places. Autonomy in the OR, clinics filled with patients awaiting surgery.

Texas Scottish Rite: you work like a fellow for 6 months at one of the top pediatric orthopaedic hospitals in the country, tons of pediatric deformity, spine, hand

Children's Medical Center: work with same faculty as TSRH, pediatric trauma/infection, pediatric sports at new surgery center in North Dallas

Norwich, UK: 3 months spent in England during your 5th year. About 2 hours outside of London. Operate and take call like an attending during the week, time for travel on weekends. Apartment and car covered by program.

Other hospitals: we work at other hospitals throughout Dallas later in the residency with program alumni. Private experiences toward the end of residency to operate and learn about working outside an academic facility.

Administration: recent chair change to Starr - a graduate of UTSW medical school, UTSW residency, UTSW trauma fellowship. Knows and loves the residency and Parkland. One of us. Well-published, respected, great mentor and surgeon. Program director Gill is spine, great resident advocate.

Overall Pros: residents are all close - there are 30 of us and we all know everyone else's entire families. We eat dinner together with faculty multiple times a week. No odd ball residents that are unhappy or don't fit in. We start operating early, we have great autonomy in the OR, strong mentors, a large trauma database for research, clinical research easy for all subspecialties, basic science lab with tons of projects ongoing

Honestly I don't think you can go wrong training at any of the hospitals in Texas, but I do think our program is the best the state has to offer.

[hopefultexan]

I'm a current resident at UT Southwestern/Parkland. I'll sum up the program briefly and if you have any other specific questions just post and I'll answer them.

Parkland: large trauma referral center (all of north Texas, west Texas, southern Oklahoma). Unlike Houston with a large medical center, almost all trauma feeds into Parkland. Entire new Parkland hospital under construction currently, will be up and running 2015. Largest hospital construction project in country. County hospital for all of Dallas.

UT Southwestern University Hospital: Private hospital affiliated with the University. Great sports experience, total joints. Large joint revision referral center because of Dr. Huo. New hospital under construction, operational in 2016. Large new outpatient surgery center in process of being turned into outpatient orthopaedic surgery center.

Zale-Lipshy University Hospital: another University private hospital. Great hospital, private spine experience.

VA North Texas: similar to VA experience at most other places. Autonomy in the OR, clinics filled with patients awaiting surgery.

Texas Scottish Rite: you work like a fellow for 6 months at one of the top pediatric orthopaedic hospitals in the country, tons of pediatric deformity, spine, hand

Children's Medical Center: work with same faculty as TSRH, pediatric trauma/infection, pediatric sports at new surgery center in North Dallas

Norwich, UK: 3 months spent in England during your 5th year. About 2 hours outside of London. Operate and take call like an attending during the week, time for travel on weekends. Apartment and car covered by program.

Other hospitals: we work at other hospitals throughout Dallas later in the residency with program alumni. Private experiences toward the end of residency to operate and learn about working outside an academic facility.

Administration: recent chair change to Starr - a graduate of UTSW medical school, UTSW residency, UTSW trauma fellowship. Knows and loves the residency and Parkland. One of us. Well-published, respected, great mentor and surgeon. Program director Gill is spine, great resident advocate.

Overall Pros: residents are all close - there are 30 of us and we all know everyone else's entire families. We eat dinner together with faculty multiple times a week. No odd ball residents that are unhappy or don't fit in. We start operating early, we have great autonomy in the OR, strong mentors, a large trauma database for research, clinical research easy for all subspecialties, basic science lab with tons of projects ongoing

Honestly I don't think you can go wrong training at any of the hospitals in Texas, but I do think our program is the best the state has to offer.

Thanks!