Recent content by SocialistMD

Laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure.

We've grown out team beards at the VA and on trauma nights, but it isn't tradition as much as protecting our sanity.

You have time for one in depth hobby or two part-time hobbies.

Most programs want either 3 or 4 letters, and one will either need to be from your PD or chairman. Only use those from surgeons.

If they deem you academically and technically acceptable, it is your spot. We have yet to encounter more than one person (two, in CT) fighting over the same spots, but I imagine it would be based on who the strongest residents were.

I wouldn't worry about it for the time you'll be in training. Yes, more specialties are going to the integrated model, but until everyone is integrated, fellowships will still exist. Given that you don't even know what you want to do, stressing about it now is a complete waste of your time and...

It may be that they are decreasing the number of people they interview. The pediatric programs did this last year, with each program only interviewing ~24-30 applicants. I think it worked out well for them, and it saved the applicants time and money, so it was a win-win.

Because he's becoming a chairman. I think he has family that lives in Dallas as well.

FWIW, Jim Fleshman is leaving Wash U to become the chairman at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.

Yes, but looking at my med school classmates and the residents who have graduated from my residency, I was only surprised by the career path (i.e. community or academic) of one of those surgeons. The rest were (to me) easily predictable based on what I mentioned above (namely, the desire to...

The truth is, I'm not that bad, but I'm sure I'm worse than my community-trained colleagues, and it is because it is a component of the education that isn't taught at academic institutions. I'm a relatively nice person, so I don't treat people poorly, but the reprimand for being crappy to the...

I think it all depends on (a) the surgeon and (b) the ultimate practice environment. You practice in Austin, where the setup is much more private practice than academic. The surgeons who trained in academic environments will not adhere to the same "rules" as the community-trained surgeons...

Very cool. Did you bust your PD's chops for missing the diagnosis for so long? There is no way the gallbladder got that big overnight... ;)

No, but I would put in central and arterial lines.

The yield is, "please, don't ever let me f***ing do this to anyone..."