"Every type of case and loads of them. Trauma, fetal surgery, transplants, you name it. Very resident driven program - essentially no fellows except ICU - and residents still get top picks for fellowship nationwide. Top name in academics if that's your thing - several of the biggest names in the history of the field were and are at UCSF. Beautiful, fun city - although not the best location within it. High pay - I think CA-1s total around 60k after the housing stipends etc. Hours/lifestyle have improved significantly over the past 10 years with influx of CRNAs (a +/- in my opinion) thus this program is not nearly as malignant as it still gets credit for." | More from this Member | Report Response

"Case load/variety, nothing lacking with the busiest OR's I have seen. There was a heart tx, renal tx and an in utero diaphragmatic hernia repair. Autonomy in OR. Anesthesia driven ICU's with over 90 beds!! Fantastic research opportunities. Very stable program. " | More from this Member | Report Response

"The price you pay for getting every kind of case is rotating through 5 hospitals, I can't imagine this is good for class unity. Salary bonus is eaten and then some by expensive housing. Like many of the historically top programs, regional is a relative weakness." | More from this Member | Report Response

"Weak in structured didactics. Stress level a bit high but residents still work approx 60-65 hrs/wk. Compensation starts after 7pm and is added to your education account. Many residents wish it went toward parking since it can be $120/month. SF is $$$. " | More from this Member | Report Response

"Dinner the night before, no hotel anymore. Presentation with PD in the morning followed by interviews or tour. Meet with the chair later in the day who is a great guy. Quite possibly the best lunch on the tour and then out." | More from this Member | Report Response

"The Bottom Line/Impression: Undoubtedly one of the best in the country, though probably not a fit for everyone. <p>Lodging/Dinner: Nice hotel near right across from Golden Gate Park in the western part of the Haight, short walk to Moffitt-Long campus. Dinner around the corner.<p> Schedule: Starts at 0800 and out at 1400. Decent breakfast, followed by a few words from Dr. Miller who announced he’ll be stepping down in July 2009. Chair search is underway. Then a bird’s eye view of the program from assistant PD Dr. Pardo, going over the various hospitals, internship, changes in didactics and rotations. Impressively >90%ile on the ITE every year. Then, interview with either Pardo or the PD, Mark Rosen, and 1 other faculty. Tour complete with 15th floor view of the Golden Gate and Bay, excellent lunch (best of the interview trail) with residents, then home free.<p> Program Info: 24 spots/year, 12 categoricals and (this year) 10 advanced due to surgery switchers. Up to 2 of the cat spots are the 5-year research track, and up to 2 are the 5-year ICU track which are separate NRMP numbers. Rotations are at Moffitt (including surgicenter), VA, SF General, Mt. Zion (onc/outpatient surgery), and one month of Peds at Oakland Children’s.<p> Pros: ICU, ICU, ICU; 17 anesthesia intensivists on staff which is crazy. Transplant, trauma, OB, regional, cardiac. Acuity is very high. Oh, I think they do some research here! Competitive pay with the housing stipends despite low base UC pay. Location, location, location. <p> Cons: Miller is leaving with unknown consequence. Cost of living. Need to travel to no fewer than 5 hospitals. Lots of work hours with apparently few perks/rewards other than the training; i.e. this place is old-school. This is not a touchy-feely environment and if any program is “sink or swim” I’d say this is it. This is manifested in the interview day where many commonly addressed issues (hours, average time out of the OR, teaching, which fellowships are offered) were not talked about or brought up – as if doing so was silly or was so not an issue that it didn’t need to be talked about. Many are put off by the “We ARE UC” attitude. Question of malignancy always lingers but residents overall seem at least neutral and possibly even happy. Residents seem to be satisfied with curricular and didactic changes but it still seems like trying to redirect a cruise ship. One of the chief residents was a general surgery resident for 3 years before switching – which should give you an idea of the kind of residents and attitudes they are looking for. " | More from this Member | Report Response

"Arrived by 7:45am to meet in anesthesia fellows library at Moffit-Long hospital, no food or coffee. Brief remarks by Dr. Miller who explains why he is stepping down as chair to return to resident education. Dr. Rosen gives PP presentation on h/o UCSF and Dr. Pardo gives PP on residency structure then opens to Q's. Half of group goes to 3x 30min interviews while other half gets tour. Lunch around noon and day pretty much over by 1pm. " | More from this Member | Report Response