I saw a lot of different programs this fall. Some quick thoughts on a number of them
:
3 strongest programs without a question:
Hopkins:
-- Amazing reputation. Generally considered a top, if not the top program. Strong EP, with great EP research. Hugh Calkins is the new president of heart rhythm.
-- People at the program seemed genuine. Impressive PD, has a great sense of humor and does this routine where he introduces every applicant by memory.
-- Very heavy on research (no surprise).
-- Only obvious weakness I can see is that they don't pay anything, NIH minimum.
-- ?Level 2 training opportunities.
Columbia:
-- Strongest NYC program. They allow applicants to get level 2 training in two fields.
-- Tons of NIH funding. Great opportunities for research.
-- PD seems a bit awkward, but I think he is genuinely invested in the fellows.
-- Really strong in cath and heart failure, weak in EP
-- Met a lot of really nice people, but also some outright snobs. One interviewer told me the only place to train and have an academic career is Columbia. Nevermind that two of my interviewers (including the PD) trained at Sinai, or that she did her training at the university of random. Found it very off-putting in an otherwise amazing program. (Hopkins people could have been just as arrogant, but they just came across as nice people. I think that speaks to a better culture in baltimore, but it is a small sample size).
Duke:
-- Solid all around: great clinical training and fantastic research
-- DCRI houses the data for many clinical trials, and arguably does the most prolific outcomes research in the country
-- People down to earth, friendly
-- Only weakness is Durham
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Excellent programs that are well-respected in the cardiology community, but not well-known by IM residents:
Tufts:
-- Mark Estes is former head of Heart Rhythm and leads a very strong EP group (though they don't do a lot of VT ablations)
-- HF is very very strong
-- Really good teaching at this program. Superficially, from an applicant view, it seemed like they had the best report, best focus on education.
-- culture at the program seemed strong
U. Rochester:
-- Art Moss is the big name at this institution. He leads all the MADIT-trials and is the world expert in sudden cardiac death.
-- Great culture, very happy fellows
-- Really strong clinical training, get level 2 training across the board. EP group has huge volume, and is well respected by other top EP programs
-- Not well known because of its location
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Other NYC programs -- All great clinical programs
-- NYU's fellows seemed happier than just about any program I saw across the country
-- Sinai has Valentin Fuster, but pays a little less than the other programs; for EP recently recruited Vivek Reddy who's a huge star in the field, Sinai also has incredible cath volume
-- On the trail, a lot of NYC people told me that they considered Cornell to be the 4th best program, but with the strongest EP department. I honestly couldn't tell the difference between Cornell, NYU and Sinai, but from an applicant view, I liked the Sinai and NYU people better. Cornell does this group interview that was a bit controversial. A few applicants found it off-putting.
-- Montefiore - solid clinical training. Well-respected by the NYC IM programs. Interviews tons of people so would only go there if you are serious about ranking it high.
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UWashington
-- Wonderful program. Awesome city. But with no CCU and a PD who is a bit strange.
Wash U/Northwestern
-- Well-rounded programs
-- NW just recruited Brad Knight who's a huge star in EP. Also has Clyde Yancy for HF, and Bonow who's a kind of Valentin Fuster-type old style famous clinician. Hospital hotel is awesome. Really happy fellows.
-- Wash U - strong basic science research. Doug Mann just comes across as a really down-to-earth chief during the interview day.
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UPenn
-- really strong in HF and EP, not as good in cath
-- Only got to meet 2 fellows during the IV day and they did no dinner beforehand
-- Wanted to like this program a lot, and it's probably as good as the name implies, but the place didn't make the same impression that it's peer institutions did
I'm gonna stop here. I think you can see that I liked a lot of different programs, and even my summaries kind of blend together. I think the main takeaway from my post is that there are a lot of great places to train, and people generally are happy.
Good luck all on next year's cycle. Hope this post gets a few people to apply to Tufts and Rochester if nothing else.
