08-14-2016, 06:32 AM
@missal and @diverticulosis
Sorry for the late reply. Been crazy hectic on inpatient service and I'm on night float starting this week. I'll try my best to answer questions:
1). I saw somewhere on their application it said the fees for the program ranges from $7,500 to $8,500. How many weeks did you do and how much was the fee? Just trying to figure out the fee for 6 weeks.
Yes, I paid $7500 for 6 weeks. Theres also 12 weeks and 18 weeks option. I forgot how much those were , you'd have to ask Cynthia Johnson (program administrator) or the Drexel refresher program head Dr. Nielufar Varjavand.
Theres a general IM track ( I did this one) and a PEDS track. Dr. V is in charge of the IM track. For the PEDS one, you go to the children's hospital and theres a separate rotation schedule for that (I don't know much about it). There is NO Fam track for this program.
2). After completion of the program, is it compulsory for the precepting Dr. to give you a a letter of recommendation (if you did well) or it is up to them whether or not they give you a letter?
The way Drexel refresher works is that Dr. Varjavand is in charge of the refresher students. All communication goes through her. You'll meet her on the first day at their office and she'll give you your rotation schedule for the month. Most days you'll do half day at one IM specialty clinic, and the other half day at another IM specialty clinic (for example cardio in the morning, and GI in the afternoon) You'll be assigned to the preceptor attending of that specialty for your sessions in that clinic. On the last day you're assigned to that specialty clinic, Dr. Varjavand will provide you with evaluation forms to give the preceptor attending. The attending fills it out and faxes it back to Dr. Varjavand. Dr. V is the one who will write you a standard LoR at the end of your program , which will include most/if not ALL of the evaluations from your different preceptors. You also will have some days where you have to do some mock CS exams, and Dr. V will evaluate you. That goes on the LoR too. That will be explained at the start of the program. Of course you do go to morning report & noon lectures at Drexel Hospital, with the IM residents and staff. Those are mandatory.
3). In your experience, do you think the Drexel refresher program help you get interviews or did you think an LOR from Drexel impressed the PD/SC?
Its a great program. I learnt a lot, especially some issues touching on patient-doctor interactions, ethical issues, and how you deal with breaking news to patients. I could never learn that from any textbook. It definitely helped with answering ethical questions that were asked during my interviews last year.
4). Do you think the program overall will help prepare someone (like me) who has been out of med. school for 4 years prepare for residency or do you think I should be fine just going over my step 3 materials? In other words, is the amount of money invested in this program worth it?
If you have the money, I think its worth it. I really liked it. Of course, don't go in expecting that you are guaranteed a spot in their program. Its really proportional to the effort you put in and how much you're willing to learn. I liked the group of students I worked with. Dr. V and the staff are pretty amazing. They really try to teach and help you learn.
If you have any other questions, please free to ask me here. I'll check in every so often. Good luck!
Sorry for the late reply. Been crazy hectic on inpatient service and I'm on night float starting this week. I'll try my best to answer questions:
1). I saw somewhere on their application it said the fees for the program ranges from $7,500 to $8,500. How many weeks did you do and how much was the fee? Just trying to figure out the fee for 6 weeks.
Yes, I paid $7500 for 6 weeks. Theres also 12 weeks and 18 weeks option. I forgot how much those were , you'd have to ask Cynthia Johnson (program administrator) or the Drexel refresher program head Dr. Nielufar Varjavand.
Theres a general IM track ( I did this one) and a PEDS track. Dr. V is in charge of the IM track. For the PEDS one, you go to the children's hospital and theres a separate rotation schedule for that (I don't know much about it). There is NO Fam track for this program.
2). After completion of the program, is it compulsory for the precepting Dr. to give you a a letter of recommendation (if you did well) or it is up to them whether or not they give you a letter?
The way Drexel refresher works is that Dr. Varjavand is in charge of the refresher students. All communication goes through her. You'll meet her on the first day at their office and she'll give you your rotation schedule for the month. Most days you'll do half day at one IM specialty clinic, and the other half day at another IM specialty clinic (for example cardio in the morning, and GI in the afternoon) You'll be assigned to the preceptor attending of that specialty for your sessions in that clinic. On the last day you're assigned to that specialty clinic, Dr. Varjavand will provide you with evaluation forms to give the preceptor attending. The attending fills it out and faxes it back to Dr. Varjavand. Dr. V is the one who will write you a standard LoR at the end of your program , which will include most/if not ALL of the evaluations from your different preceptors. You also will have some days where you have to do some mock CS exams, and Dr. V will evaluate you. That goes on the LoR too. That will be explained at the start of the program. Of course you do go to morning report & noon lectures at Drexel Hospital, with the IM residents and staff. Those are mandatory.
3). In your experience, do you think the Drexel refresher program help you get interviews or did you think an LOR from Drexel impressed the PD/SC?
Its a great program. I learnt a lot, especially some issues touching on patient-doctor interactions, ethical issues, and how you deal with breaking news to patients. I could never learn that from any textbook. It definitely helped with answering ethical questions that were asked during my interviews last year.
4). Do you think the program overall will help prepare someone (like me) who has been out of med. school for 4 years prepare for residency or do you think I should be fine just going over my step 3 materials? In other words, is the amount of money invested in this program worth it?
If you have the money, I think its worth it. I really liked it. Of course, don't go in expecting that you are guaranteed a spot in their program. Its really proportional to the effort you put in and how much you're willing to learn. I liked the group of students I worked with. Dr. V and the staff are pretty amazing. They really try to teach and help you learn.
If you have any other questions, please free to ask me here. I'll check in every so often. Good luck!