University of Pennsylvania Program Individual Response

On what date did the interview take place?:

2/1/2008

How do you rank this residency among ALL other residencies?:

10 out of 10

How do you rank this residency among other residencies to which you've applied?:

9 out of 10

What is your ranking of this program's facilities?:

8 out of 10

What is your ranking of this program's location?:

7 out of 10

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?:

10 out of 10

What was the stress level of the interview?:

8 out of 10

How did the interview impress you?:

Positively

How was your interview day? Please summarize.:

The Bottom Line/Impression: Dude. Fantastic program. This place rocked my world. <p> Lodging/Dinner: Nice on-campus hotel, nice dinner in the hotel “Living Room” = library the night before w/ EtOH, appetizers, pasta, etc. About 10 residents showed up, maybe more, and seemed like a normal, outgoing, young, urban group of people. Even the married ones, even the ones with kids talked about living in the city and going out during the week. I wouldn’t say they were “happy” per se but weren’t unhappy or displeased or felt it was malignant. They say, “we work a lot, it’s worth it.” I buy it. They also, almost universally, said they came to Penn because of the PD and the chair. More on that later. <p>Schedule: Interview day starts at various times but everyone gets a tour, a brief talk from the PD Dr. Gaiser, and a talk from Dr. Fleisher the chair (oh PS the dude’s famous). Dr. Fleisher has an ill-deserved rep for being arrogant, and the institution for being full of themselves – which would be reasonable conclusions if you didn’t buy their argument that they’re awesome. Personally, I do buy their argument that they’re awesome. Breakfast if you’re in the early group, otherwise there’s a Cosi right up the street. Lunch w/ a lot of the same residents, since it’s their 30min break they come and go pretty fast. Then, interviews: Gaiser, Fleisher, 3 other faculty. Some were fairly intense and hard to read but all were well-prepared with very thoughtful questions, but no pimping (as I was warned there could be). Out by 1500.<p> Program info: 24 per year, 16 categorical in the match, 5 advanced in the match, 3 for switchers. Mostly rockstars. Pretty good prelim year, Fleisher gives it a “B”. All rotations in the various hospitals in the University City area (HUP, VA, Presby, CHOP). Level 1 Trauma, Pain suite in Center City, all fellowships. <p>Pros: Reputation/caseload/teaching/size/research. They all go hand-in-hand. It’s Penn! ICU, cardiac, trauma, and livers experience all outstanding. Oh yea…they have this rinky-dink kids’ hospital next door I can’t remember the name of…what's it called again? Vibe: Dr. Fleisher wants his residents to be leaders and to “own” their patients; this place does not train gas-passers. You get the feeling when you go there that you’re gonna be a total anesthesia rock star. Residents are super-bright, work super-hard, learn independently, are motivated; basically they’re residents who woulda been studs in surgery, on the other side of the drape. PD and chair are personally invested in the residents, seem like really earnest people. Hours/call: call schedule 2-3/month (presumably since regular days are long), in ICU pre-call day is OFF, $100/hr moonlighting. Philly, University City, Center City, etc: maybe not a plus for all but I love it, reasonably affordable true big-city living. <p>Cons: Maybe the internship? Maybe the regional experience? (those question marks are there since these are better than most programs already) Handful of CRNAs, so residents = workforce for all but out-of-OR cases. Philly (cost/safety can be a concern for cheap wimps). Report as inappropriate

What was your primary mode of travel?:

Automobile

Where did you stay?:

At program supplied housing

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?:

Inn At Penn

How would you rate the hotel?:

10 out of 10

Would you recommend the hotel?:

Yes