Program Name: Kent Hospital (Warwick, RI)
General Program/Hospital Info: This is a relatively older hospital that has gone through some changes. They mostly work at Kent Hospital, Blackstone Surgery Center, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital and Southern New England Surgery Center. They see a variety of cases (Charcot recon, ankle fractures, bunions, hammertoes, limb salvage, etc.). This programs emphasizes self-driven people because they are not going to hold your hand during your cases or consults 90% of the time. The attendings trust their residents and it does show. They treat them as equals and respect their decision-making.
Attendings: Dr. Douglas Glod (Program Director), Dr. Jason Mallette (Externship Director), Dr. Tammy Van Dine (Assistant Director), Dr. Arun Karwal, and many other attendings.
All of the attending are willing to teach and give you the best month possible, which is great to see. Most of them are pretty young and are hungry to improve the program as much as possible.
Residents: 2 per year. All of them are capable to perform any procedure in front of them with little guidance. They start skin-to-skin when they start residency and it does show. They have no problem completing their numbers and don’t be surprised if they might double their numbers. They are a friendly bunch and you’ll definitely hang out with the residents during your month here. They are the work hard, play hard kind of group.
Didactics: One journal article review per month and a possibility to squeeze in a lab if possible. Didactics is not the goal of this program.
OR Experience: This is the strongest aspect of their program, no doubt. If you’re telling me that there are a lack of cases here, you’re lying. As mentioned earlier, they see a variety of cases and if your goal is strictly surgery and hone those skills, this is the program for you. Externs are only allowed to go Kent Hospital and Blackstone (can’t scrub).
Clinic Experience: They only do clinic if they have time with Dr. Glod. Their philosophy is that they already built clinical skills throughout their podiatry school and can be re-visited during their 3rd year of residency.
Research Opportunities: Not an emphasis here.
Lifestyle: Work hard, play hard. It used to be more hectic due to the amount of residents they had previously (4 total) but that is going to change now since they reached fully capacity again (6 total). You’ll definitely hang out with the residents.
Pros:
– Surgery heavy
– Talented and friendly team
– They actually have a life here
– Hungry attendings that are willing to improve their program
– Providence is a cool small city
Cons:
– Older hospital
– Lack of academics
Overall Conclusion: They are a very solid program if you just want to focus on surgery. No doubt in my mind that you’ll become a competent podiatric surgeon if you came here but they do lack academics, which could be a negative to some people. This program wants self-motivated people that can make their own decisions and the attendings respect their residents’ opinions of how they want to treat their patients.
