Hi everyone. I'm a 2nd year at UTMB.
I'm a pessimist at heart...so I don't want to dishearten any of you. So, just take my comments with whatever grain of salt you need to. But, I have to say, I'm very, very concerned about where UTMB is headed. I've printed out transfer papers, but I have by no means decided if I'll actually attempt to transfer. It would make me sad to leave this place. I'm just worried about my education here--I think they'll have to semi-recover (even if it looks different) eventually. My issue is that my class is the "clinical guinea pig class" now---they have to figure out what to do with us for 3rd and 4th year, and whatever tracks they come up with will be very different than what they've done before. I don't really like being a guinea pig. I'm going to talk to some neutral-party mentors, who don't have a vested interest in whether I stay/go, and see what their thoughts are.
I love(d) UTMB. Seriously. It's a great school. The people are simply unbelievable. Yeah, you get your weird students, and professors, but mostly people are at least professional, and usually really nice to be around--friendly, helpful--I LOVE that about here. I think it's a bit rare in big institutions. I think I've only had 1 Dr.-House-style attending (and he is classic, stereotypical House-like)...but, that's still pretty good, I'd say. I honestly think it has been the best kept secret in medical education. I chose UTMB over many other Texas schools. (As an aside, I actually chose it FOR the PBL, and board scores, and the niceness of folks, and especially the global health program. PBL teaches you to think/process things like a physician--if you've ever been to a med conference and listened to Continuing Med Ed classes, and also morning rounds, etc--they present things in the same way as in PBL. It teaches you kind of the language and nuances of how cases are presented and hopefully has you go thru it in a medically logical way. Yeah, it can be irritating. I have never had an MD (only PhDs) as facilitators. Sometimes your classmates interrupt each other, or try to one-up each other. That's life though. Since the goal is to be professional (and you're graded on that as well), it doesn't help to talk over someone anyway. And, they never usually grade you below the "expected" amount (which is a 4 out of 5)--everyone get's fours, and sometimes fives, but I've never ever gotten a 3. Kind of a participation grade.
Anyway, regarding the school...I think what's got me the most hung up right now is this: the layoffs. They've fired some of the best teachers we've had: one of the anatomy course directors, the neuro course director, and I believe the course director for pulm and cardiovascular. They've also fired (so I've heard) the secretary for global health--who essentially runs the entire program. I hope they rehire her or something. That program would probably be in trouble with out her. Scary. They've fired some of the hands down best prof/attendings/teachers we have, (in addition to those that I just mentioned). I know during any mass layoff morale is low, but it's tough to see where this is all going to end up. The fact that we just lost/are losing Level one trauma status at John Sealy is upsetting too--right after being classified as one of the best in the country--although admittedly losing the Level 1 status likely wouldn't have too much of a bearing on us training as students.
Part of my issue is that I deliberately chose a school where I would not have to have a heck of a lot of driving/forced split campus (unless I chose Austin), and when they say "greater Galveston Area"--that really means a LOT of driving, to tiny little clinics and other hospitals. (Think of how silly the term "greater Galveston area is"--does that mean up to south Houston, all the way out to the tiny little bitty cities way, way off of 45? Not cool to commute to Beaumont for training. At the very least, it'll mean a lot of separation from my husband, even if they provide housing at the farther away places. Not cool at all. My idea of fun is not working 12 hours, and having an hour an a half one way commute. At the very least I guess it means I'll be moving to the mainland next year.
That said, for the incoming class...UTMB is a lovely place. If they can pull thru this, I'll be so happy.
As far as housing, it's a bit scarce now, but hopefully will be much better by the time you all are looking. Getting better all the time. Flooded places are repairing, and it's improving. Just make sure you ask some mighty careful questions about WHAT repairs they did regarding mold after the storm. (I've run into issues with that with our housing....) If they've done what they're supposed to do (taken out drywall, taken out cabinets, scrubbed things, aired it out, you should be golden). You might try craigslist (Galveston and Houston both--just search for Galveston if you look on the Houston site). Some parts of the city still look ghostly, but hopefully you'll have more options by the time you get here with housing. Usually they have some cute stuff. I would not call things back to normal yet at ALL as far as shops/restaurants, etc. Will be sometime, though.
I HOPE UTMB will recover. Seriously...if they can--you'll wish you had come here!! If they don't...well....I guess we'll all question why we came here! But, I hope they do recover. Even if I transfer, I'll always feel like it was "my" med school. It is a wonderful place. Plus...Ike threw all the pollution gunk onto the island, so the sea is much bluer now! =)
