I rotated there last year. I'm not going there for residency, but can give you the away rotator's perspective:
- 5 year program, 1 year "ortho-focused" gen surg internship
- Superb Academic program, I got the impression that residency grads could write their own ticket in terms of fellowships and follow-on academic career
- Well-rounded program, exceptionally strong in sports and foot/ankle
- If they have a weakness, it is trauma. Relative many other programs, trauma is less emphasized, the residents didn't seem as proficient in the OR as in other programs
- Lots of fellows around, which has plusses and minuses
- Dr. Nunnaly is the chairman--a very well known foot/ankle specialist. Away rotators spend a week with him. Know your anatomy if you rotate there!
- Very formal program in terms of dress codes, interaction with attendings, etc. For example, you have to where white pants as an intern. I'd heard Duke has a rep for being "malignant". I didn't find it to be so.
- Recently changed their intern year
- Lots of very good didactic sessions: Saturday AM ground rounds-required attendance--very good sessions.
- Durham and the Research Triangle is a great place! Lots to do and a happenin' college town environment. Cost of living is pretty low compared to big cities.
Hope this helps.
