Yale program

[Yale]

Just wanted to know your thoughts on Yale program. I was unable to schedule a second look because my schedule was backed with other interviews and second looks. Would love to hear about second look experience commenting on the operative experience.

[Guest]

As an Ivy League school it is one of the best training programs in the country . Fantastic name and great research

[lol]

(02-24-2017, 12:12 PM)Guest Wrote: As an Ivy League school it is one of the best training programs in the country . Fantastic name and great research

Thanks Yale guy!

In reality it's a country club program, living off it's undergrad reputation.  The volume is low, as is the autonomy.  They emphasize research, because you'll have plenty of time to do it.

[Guest]

Again, did anyone go to Yale for a second look and willing to share their thoughts?

[Guest]

Interested to hear thoughts from applicants went for a second look too

[Guest]

My thoughts: Yale is a sleeper program. Since Gunel became chair in 2014, the number of clinical faculty has almost doubled (now ~20) with likewise increases in case volume/complexity. The program did this partly by absorbing community surgeons (Petrucci, Tomak, Bartolomei, Doherty) and hiring former medical students/residents (Kahle, Hebert, Omay). The most significant hire was Joe Cheng, who single-handedly breathed life into the complex spine program.

During the interview presentation, it's clear that Yale is utilizing Pittsburgh's spoke & wheel model for expansion i.e. they're covering community hospitals throughout Connecticut & referring the complex cases to the flagship, Yale-New Haven Hospital. Some of these community hospitals include the Saint Raphael campus, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and Greenwich Hospital.

I may be incorrect, but my impression is that historically a good chunk of Connecticut patient volume has been siphoned by the New York and Boston programs. This should be combatted with the current strategy. As Connecticut's only neurosurgery residency program, Yale will only keep expanding under Gunel's leadership. There will be growing pains as expected and some of the better-known faculty (Spencer, Piepmeier) will slow down/retire in the upcoming years.

Basic science research is top notch although clinical research appears to lag behind. You can also utilize the ridiculous resources of Yale University (undergrad and graduate schools almost all within 7 blocks of the hospital). This is subjective, but I thought the Yale residents were some of the most approachable and happiest residents I met on the trail. They're worked appropriately (good mid-level coverage, tradition of being a "gentleman's program" under Spencer) and have great flexibility during their research years.

The major disadvantage of Yale is the location. While the resident pay is excellent (~$61.5K as an intern in '16) and the housing is affordable, New Haven is not New York or San Francisco, although it doesn't pretend to be.

[Guest]

(02-25-2017, 07:41 PM)Guest Wrote: My thoughts: Yale is a sleeper program. Since Gunel became chair in 2014, the number of clinical faculty has almost doubled (now ~20) with likewise increases in case volume/complexity. The program did this partly by absorbing community surgeons (Petrucci, Tomak, Bartolomei, Doherty) and hiring former medical students/residents (Kahle, Hebert, Omay). The most significant hire was Joe Cheng, who single-handedly breathed life into the complex spine program.

During the interview presentation, it's clear that Yale is utilizing Pittsburgh's spoke & wheel model for expansion i.e. they're covering community hospitals throughout Connecticut & referring the complex cases to the flagship, Yale-New Haven Hospital. Some of these community hospitals include the Saint Raphael campus, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and Greenwich Hospital.

I may be incorrect, but my impression is that historically a good chunk of Connecticut patient volume has been siphoned by the New York and Boston programs. This should be combatted with the current strategy. As Connecticut's only neurosurgery residency program, Yale will only keep expanding under Gunel's leadership. There will be growing pains as expected and some of the better-known faculty (Spencer, Piepmeier) will slow down/retire in the upcoming years.  

Basic science research is top notch although clinical research appears to lag behind. You can also utilize the ridiculous resources of Yale University (undergrad and graduate schools almost all within 7 blocks of the hospital). This is subjective, but I thought the Yale residents were some of the most approachable and happiest residents I met on the trail. They're worked appropriately (good mid-level coverage, tradition of being a "gentleman's program" under Spencer) and have great flexibility during their research years.

The major disadvantage of Yale is the location. While the resident pay is excellent (~$61.5K as an intern in '16) and the housing is affordable, New Haven is not New York or San Francisco, although it doesn't pretend to be.

Thank you. Apparently, this is not a second look thought and sounds more like a resident or student there. Would like to hear from anyone went there for a second look after the interview. I guess many applicants went there for a second look because even very small programs get at least 2-3 second look visitors

[Guest]

(02-25-2017, 09:21 PM)Guest Wrote: ww

(02-25-2017, 07:41 PM)Guest Wrote: My thoughts: Yale is a sleeper program. Since Gunel became chair in 2014, the number of clinical faculty has almost doubled (now ~20) with likewise increases in case volume/complexity. The program did this partly by absorbing community surgeons (Petrucci, Tomak, Bartolomei, Doherty) and hiring former medical students/residents (Kahle, Hebert, Omay). The most significant hire was Joe Cheng, who single-handedly breathed life into the complex spine program.

During the interview presentation, it's clear that Yale is utilizing Pittsburgh's spoke & wheel model for expansion i.e. they're covering community hospitals throughout Connecticut & referring the complex cases to the flagship, Yale-New Haven Hospital. Some of these community hospitals include the Saint Raphael campus, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and Greenwich Hospital.

I may be incorrect, but my impression is that historically a good chunk of Connecticut patient volume has been siphoned by the New York and Boston programs. This should be combatted with the current strategy. As Connecticut's only neurosurgery residency program, Yale will only keep expanding under Gunel's leadership. There will be growing pains as expected and some of the better-known faculty (Spencer, Piepmeier) will slow down/retire in the upcoming years.  

Basic science research is top notch although clinical research appears to lag behind. You can also utilize the ridiculous resources of Yale University (undergrad and graduate schools almost all within 7 blocks of the hospital). This is subjective, but I thought the Yale residents were some of the most approachable and happiest residents I met on the trail. They're worked appropriately (good mid-level coverage, tradition of being a "gentleman's program" under Spencer) and have great flexibility during their research years.

The major disadvantage of Yale is the location. While the resident pay is excellent (~$61.5K as an intern in '16) and the housing is affordable, New Haven is not New York or San Francisco, although it doesn't pretend to be.

Thank you. Apparently, this is not a second look thought and sounds more like a resident or student there. Would like to hear from anyone went there for a second look after the interview. I guess many applicants went there for a second look because even very small programs get at least 2-3 second look visitors

Man aren't you an annoying brat! Stop whining. Its too late now

[Guest]

(02-25-2017, 09:21 PM)Guest Wrote:

(02-25-2017, 07:41 PM)Guest Wrote: My thoughts: Yale is a sleeper program. Since Gunel became chair in 2014, the number of clinical faculty has almost doubled (now ~20) with likewise increases in case volume/complexity. The program did this partly by absorbing community surgeons (Petrucci, Tomak, Bartolomei, Doherty) and hiring former medical students/residents (Kahle, Hebert, Omay). The most significant hire was Joe Cheng, who single-handedly breathed life into the complex spine program.

During the interview presentation, it's clear that Yale is utilizing Pittsburgh's spoke & wheel model for expansion i.e. they're covering community hospitals throughout Connecticut & referring the complex cases to the flagship, Yale-New Haven Hospital. Some of these community hospitals include the Saint Raphael campus, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and Greenwich Hospital.

I may be incorrect, but my impression is that historically a good chunk of Connecticut patient volume has been siphoned by the New York and Boston programs. This should be combatted with the current strategy. As Connecticut's only neurosurgery residency program, Yale will only keep expanding under Gunel's leadership. There will be growing pains as expected and some of the better-known faculty (Spencer, Piepmeier) will slow down/retire in the upcoming years.  

Basic science research is top notch although clinical research appears to lag behind. You can also utilize the ridiculous resources of Yale University (undergrad and graduate schools almost all within 7 blocks of the hospital). This is subjective, but I thought the Yale residents were some of the most approachable and happiest residents I met on the trail. They're worked appropriately (good mid-level coverage, tradition of being a "gentleman's program" under Spencer) and have great flexibility during their research years.

The major disadvantage of Yale is the location. While the resident pay is excellent (~$61.5K as an intern in '16) and the housing is affordable, New Haven is not New York or San Francisco, although it doesn't pretend to be.

Thank you. Apparently, this is not a second look thought and sounds more like a resident or student there. Would like to hear from anyone went there for a second look after the interview. I guess many applicants went there for a second look because even very small programs get at least 2-3 second look visitors

You should have made it to the second look dude. everybody was there, even the guys who didn't do the first look. They said, as soon as the ROL deadline is passed, they will allow those who did not come for a first look and/or a second look, a chance to come in for a third look. so you are good to go. Don't worry though, if you end up missing the third look, they are allowing fourth looks after the match.

[Guest]

Hilarious above.

What kind of vibes do people get from Yale? I thought I liked it but now I'm not so sure. Piepmeier and Spencer might retire in the next 7 years. What does that do? Case volume seems low, and autonomy also seems low.