maternity leave

[kali]

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Dr. Doan or anyone,

Do you know what the policy is on maternity leave? I've read an article by the Mayo Clinic, which states that ophthalmology does not have an official policy on extending residency for those taking maternity leave but rather it is "by program director's discretion." I am due in a few months and unofficially, an attending has said that I will need to extend my residency. However, I'm only taking 6 wks (4 wks vacation and 2 wks sick leave) and I don't feel I should have to extend my stay. Others in my program have taken more than 4 wks off (paternity leave, conferences, sick days) so taking more than 4 wks off in a given year does not seem a valid reason to extend residency. My leave will fall during one rotation and I have heard that I need so many weeks of each core rotation, so this could be why I need to extend my stay. I'd really like to find any official information however and I'd appreciate any help!

 

[orbitsurgMD]

Dr. Doan or anyone,

Do you know what the policy is on maternity leave? I've read an article by the Mayo Clinic, which states that ophthalmology does not have an official policy on extending residency for those taking maternity leave but rather it is "by program director's discretion." I am due in a few months and unofficially, an attending has said that I will need to extend my residency. However, I'm only taking 6 wks (4 wks vacation and 2 wks sick leave) and I don't feel I should have to extend my stay. Others in my program have taken more than 4 wks off (paternity leave, conferences, sick days) so taking more than 4 wks off in a given year does not seem a valid reason to extend residency. My leave will fall during one rotation and I have heard that I need so many weeks of each core rotation, so this could be why I need to extend my stay. I'd really like to find any official information however and I'd appreciate any help!

A suggestion: be tactful, no matter what you think about what you have been told others have been allowed or not allowed to do. These faculty will write your recommendations to many things you will need and want in the future. Your department head will have to decide that you have sufficiently completed your requirements as a resident for you to be able to sit for your boards. You need to keep them on your side. If another resident was able to take paternity leave without extending his residency term, you might ask what would be necessary for you to do the same thing (provided you aren't asking for a longer leave than they gave this other person.)

If they give paternity leave then it is only fair that they also give maternity leave; your job is to suggest how reasonable they would be in doing so.

 

[Mirror Form]

Others in my program have taken more than 4 wks off (paternity leave, conferences, sick days)

more than 4 weeks for paternity leave? sorry, but i find that hard to believe.