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- University of Iowa
University of Iowa
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Program Information
Residents per class
5
University of Iowa Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program
User reviews
3 reviews
Overall rating
8.9
Staff Surgeons
8.3(3)
Didactics/Teaching
9.3(3)
Operating Experience
8.0(3)
Clinical Experience
8.7(3)
Research
9.3(3)
Residents
9.3(3)
Lifestyle
9.0(3)
Location
9.0(3)
Overall Experience
9.0(3)
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U Iowa
Overall rating
9.3
Staff Surgeons
9.0
Didactics/Teaching
8.0
Operating Experience
10.0
Clinical Experience
9.0
Research
9.0
Residents
10.0
Lifestyle
9.0
Location
10.0
Overall Experience
10.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Iowa is a deep well-rounded program. Each division within the department has multiple faculty spanning many different areas of interest. The chairman, Dr. Marsh, and program director, Dr. Karam, are very approachable. They are heavily invested in the program and would do anything to see it succeeded. Within each division (hand, sports, peds, etc) there is at least a faculty member or 2 that are very into resident's within that specialty. It allows all the residents to have a great contact person in every specialty.
Didactics / Teaching
Conferences are Monday Wednesday Friday for everyone and provide a two-year rotating curriculum. There are weekly subspecialty conferences on each service that are attended only by the residents on those services. Conferences are not malicious but residents are routinely asked questions and expect to be prepared for conference.
Operating Experience
Great operative experience. There is plenty of volume to go around and constantly surfaces that are looking for extra people in the OR.Like many other programs, call cases are largely done by the residents with staff only supervising. Specialty post specific cases have a graduated level of responsibility within the case, however, the residents are routinely doing the cases.
Clinic Experience
Clinic is as you would expect from clinic. It is largely under one roof and very close to the resident room which makes bouncing back and forth from clinic to other activities very easily. Many staff members are very invested in teaching in clinic and actually have reduced their clinic sizes to be able to teach more appropriately.
Research Opportunities
Basically unlimited. There are numerous faculty members who are eager for projects. Finding appears to be always attainable and I have yet to hear anybody who has had difficulty doing a project they were passionate about. Multiple residents per class are getting double-digit numbers of publications prior to application season but it should be understood that these are motivated resident's not projects that were spoonfed.
Residents
Hands down best part of the program. The residents work together, play together, and support each other. I did not experience anywhere else with a closer group of residence or people that seem to be more happy to work together. Within each class, there are activities commonly and friendships run deep. Residents cover for each other for family issues, vacations, and personal needs.
Lifestyle
This is a busy program with long work hours. When you are not working, life is good and residents seem to enjoy themselves. The work is not malicious and most people do not seem to hate what they do. There seems to be a good balance between family life and work. This is not the place to come and plan on coasting for 5 years.
Location / Housing
Iowa city is a small place. A person should not come to Iowa city expecting to have the night life and activities of a big city like Chicago, however, if a safe place to live with out the stress of a big city is high on an applicants interest list then this would be a great place to check out. Most residents are able to buy homes. There is plenty of rental property available as well. Biking is very popular here and many residents bike to work on page trails or just bike for entertainment. There are 2 nearby lakes that offer recreation on the water.
Limitations
The program is growing quickly. They have added multiple staff members in most divisions recently and has led to a busy environment. The residents he is adapting to this and it seems to offer more opportunities, however, there are some growing pains associated with increasing volume.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
The program is well-balanced. The resident's love it here. It is a great community to live in. I highly recommend you check out the University of Iowa.
Qualification
I am a current resident of this program.
Date of Rotation
3/5/2018
KK
Kyle Kesler
Top 500 Reviewer
U Iowa
(Updated: October 23, 2007)
Overall rating
9.2
Staff Surgeons
9.0
Didactics/Teaching
10.0
Operating Experience
8.0
Clinical Experience
9.0
Research
9.0
Residents
10.0
Lifestyle
10.0
Location
9.0
Overall Experience
9.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Outstanding chairman - as nice as they come. Smart person and very well respected within the Orthopedics community.<br />
Faculty are overall very good. Many have big national reputations and are leaders in their fields. Hard to beat recommendations that come from this group of faculty.
Faculty are overall very good. Many have big national reputations and are leaders in their fields. Hard to beat recommendations that come from this group of faculty.
Didactics / Teaching
Very organized. Overall very good didactic program that basically repeats (with current updates) every 2 years.
Operating Experience
Good experience overall, but really improves later in residency. Lots of direction early. Lots of independence in the OR later in residency.
Clinic Experience
Good variety of patients. Not much that is just bread and butter Ortho - lots of complicated patients in all clinics. One negative is Residents do a fair amount of paperwork that probably doesn't go on at many other places - not the most scut, but not the least either.
Research Opportunities
Numerous. Academic powerhouse. NIH funding on the rise.
Residents
Great group overall. A little bit family-oriented for some people's taste, but doesn't have to be. Town is great for single people with grad students, etc. in area. Lots of good looking nurses in the PICU and Surgical ICU.
Lifestyle
see above...
Location / Housing
Location not for everyone - cold in the winter. Extremely convenient living environment - affordable and easy to navigate town. Only cover one hospital (or the VA, which is across the street), so couldn't be easier to live here.
Limitations
The program director has been very receptive to the needs of the program, as you can see above. In one year, we have addressed many of the shortcomings noted in the previous review. While this program, like all, has areas that can be improved, it is obvious that the administration behind the University of Florida program is committed to addressing those deficiencies quickly.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Outstanding experience. Has its negatives, like any place, but great place overall.
Qualification
I am a current resident of this program.
Date of Rotation
2008 Ongoing...
ML
Matt Lavery
Top 500 Reviewer
Iowa Rotation
(Updated: October 23, 2007)
Overall rating
8.1
Staff Surgeons
7.0
Didactics/Teaching
10.0
Operating Experience
6.0
Clinical Experience
8.0
Research
10.0
Residents
8.0
Lifestyle
8.0
Location
8.0
Overall Experience
8.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Faculty are quite knowledgable, and are generally leaders in their field. Sometimes this did not appear to translate to a great interaction with residents/students, but overall quite good.
Didactics / Teaching
Incredibly organized didactics at this institution. Conferences can be intense even as med students, but is a great learning experience.
Operating Experience
Operative experience can be limited. There are cases that residents are double scrubbed on so obviously students can end up feeling a little off to the side. Did not feel that the residents skill set in the operating room matched up with other programs I saw.
Clinic Experience
Lots of clinic to go around. I was in clinic at least 3 days per week on the rotation. Med students at that time were not dictating. Unsure if that has changed. Pretty standard--see the patient, present the story and a possible plan. This is the best opportunity to let some of the staff know if you are bright or just a pretender.
Research Opportunities
There is no doubt that this place is an academic juggernaut. If you have the inkling to do research, there are plenty of opportunities.
Residents
Mixed bag. Had a group of residents that were really cool, but there was also a bit of a nerdy feel. Many of the juniors are good folk.
Lifestyle
Can't be beat. THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR RESIDENTS.
Location / Housing
Vastly underrated location. College town with affordable housing. Nightlife downtown (when not on call) is quite fun. Excellent place to raise a family.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Great program. Really have to work to make a name for yourself on the rotation. Excellent academic center, but be very careful of the fit. It is not for everyone.
Qualification
I rotated as a medical student at this program
H
HawkIrish
Top 50 Reviewer
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