- Joined
- Jan 5, 2016
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 40
I'm an incoming MS1 so I'll start with the obvious disclaimer that I have no idea what it's like to practice in any specialty, but I'm in my mid-thirties with a previous career and that's given me some pretty specific ideas about what I want my life to look like.
What's important:
What's important:
- Support for my military career. The Army Reserve will eventually call me up for 3+ months and I need a practice model where that won't create undue disruption.
- Lifestyle during residency. No surgical specialties, no 80-100+ hour weeks. I understand intern year will be tough no matter what, but I have a family and I'd like to keep it that way.
- No relocation for residency. We live in a fairly large metro area in the Midwest with lots of residency programs nearby, and it's more important to me that we stay in our community than that I get into a particular program or a specific specialty.
- Time off and/or flexible scheduling: I taught high school for over 10 years, and I'm used to working ~190 days a year. I could see working part-time year round, but I'd probably be happier working 40-60 hour weeks but with lots of vacation time.
- Pay and benefits. I will be getting loan repayment and health insurance through the Army, plus enough of a baseline income from my Reserve commitment to pay my bills. I'm used to living on teacher pay and I don't have expensive tastes.