Hi guys, Britt Davis here. I did Gen Surg at Stamford Hospital/Columbia University ('22) and applied to the independent PRS match my 4th year and didn't match, then reapplied and matched in my 5th year at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Just finished my first year here, and reaching out the same as last year to offer support and opportunities if you don't match.
I spent my "gap year" ('22-'23) doing a burn fellowship at the University of Chicago. Though it was awful not matching, my time at UC was an amazing experience. When I reapplied in the fall of my chief year, even though I hadn't even started at UChicago yet, just having their name on my CV opened up more doors for me. As it is a plastics-run burn department, it's great for networking and you attend all the plastic surgery didactics which can help you get ahead for when you do match. The attending are extensively published and you can churn out papers if you'd like. The residents you will work with are absolutely fantastic people who work hard and have great personalities. There's also a huge scarcity of burn surgeons and so if you decide not to pursue plastics after the year, you will have many job options regardless.
So good luck to everyone this week! I wish you all the best. If in the event you don't match, and are seeking some advice or support, I'm happy to help you however I can. My email is
[email protected].
And if you don't match and are interested in applying to the burn fellowship at UChicago, please email your CV to Dr. Sebastian Vrouwe, the PD. His email is
[email protected] -- also, he's a millienial who is a self-proclaimed "work-life balance enthusiast," so while you'll learn a ton, this program won't chew you up and spit you out like general surgery. Really great place.
Best of luck! <3
Britt
