Professor/Student relationships

[MedStudentWanna]

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I'm at a pretty decent allopathic school and something happened this week that made me curious. I'm a guy, but I have this female friend I was studying with (platonic) and while we were studying for block finals this week, one of our profs called her on the phone. She went to the other room to talk to him, but I find it creepy. When she came back, she said she's talked to him on the phone before and I waited for her to volunteer about what but she didn't. I just found it weird. Do profs at your school call students at home?

 

[chiz2kul]

Yes all the time 😉

 

[justdoit31]

We had several faculty members give us their cell phone numbers for both study questions or if you need personal help (car broke down, too drunk to drive home, whatever). I had emailed my small group leader once about a meeting location one evening and she called me on my cell (in my email signature) to talk to me about it which didn't bother me.

Maybe your friend had a study question- maybe not.

 

[smq123]

I'm at a pretty decent allopathic school and something happened this week that made me curious. I'm a guy, but I have this female friend I was studying with (platonic) and while we were studying for block finals this week, one of our profs called her on the phone. She went to the other room to talk to him, but I find it creepy. When she came back, she said she's talked to him on the phone before and I waited for her to volunteer about what but she didn't. I just found it weird. Do profs at your school call students at home?

I had some serious personal and family issues, particularly my MS1 year. My student dean and a faculty mentor called me at home numerous times, for advice, counseling, and moral support.

My MS3 year, we did a practice OSCE in preparation for Step 2 CS. My score for that OSCE wasn't scheduled to be released until after I took Step 2 CS, so one of the professors called me at home to go over my exam and critique it, so I would be ready for the CS exam.

It doesn't have to be for skeevy reasons. It might be, but not necessarily.

 

[Marcus Brody]

why didn't you just ask her?

 

[mmmcdowe]

I work for a number of MDs that have my number and call me as needed. They are all of my gender, however.

 

[azzarah]

I don't think it's weird. I had many attendings both male and female that invited me over to dinner with their family during the holidays when I could not go home, etc. or they would call me to see how I was doing or how my studying was going. I still keep in touch with them & in fact, some are my facebook friends. 😀

 

[C5toC9]

is the professor single and good-looking?

 

[OveractiveBrain]

is the professor single and good-looking?

In a position of power. Looks are meaningless. His sad, empty marriage means nothing. Skeev to the max!

But honestly, I have the phone number of many of my attendings and residents. I've gotten hammered with my residents, gone to a football game with an attending, and was on a surgeon's speed dial in case he "needed me to come in for an emergency case" (he was very excited about his work, I was not...). Some I have stayed friends with, others it was an awkward encounter, being not very certain how to act. I would say it is not out of the ordinary for a strictly platonic (even strictly professional) relationship to exist with phone calls or interactions.

That being said, there have been plenty of hookups between resident and medical student (even on service), and two attending-student hookups (hookup confirmed, timing unconfirmed) that I know of at my institution.

Bottom line, dont start rumors, they don't help anybody and can potentially hurt some one for no good reason. If she confides in you, confirming your suspicions, keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, just assume its totally legit and move on.

 

[Forthegood]

Perhaps your concern is because the platonic feelings are more on her side...

 

[cbrons]

Perhaps your concern is because the platonic feelings are more on her side...

Nothing like a good kick in the balls after midnight FTG.

 

[hematosis]

Perhaps your concern is because the platonic feelings are more on her side...

"mmmm excellent" -Mr. burns

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Perhaps your concern is because the platonic feelings are more on her side...

Or perhaps I just think it's weird for a student in the classroom setting to receive calls from professors at home.

I still think it's weird, but thanks to those who answered this thread without being a smartass.

 

[smq123]

Or perhaps I just think it's weird for a student in the classroom setting to receive calls from professors at home.

I still think it's weird, but thanks to those who answered this thread without being a smartass.

As you progress through your medical training, you will find that things become much less formal. Even as an intern, I called my attendings on their cell phones. I texted them as well. I am friends with attendings who are on Facebook. I've been to their houses, bought each other gifts, etc.

Most professors, particularly at the graduate level, are used to a certain degree of informality, I think.

 

[Narmerguy]

Perhaps research-related as well.

 

[causalinference]

As you progress through your medical training, you will find that things become much less formal. Even as an intern, I called my attendings on their cell phones. I texted them as well. I am friends with attendings who are on Facebook. I've been to their houses, bought each other gifts, etc.

Most professors, particularly at the graduate level, are used to a certain degree of informality, I think.

Agreed. The professors/attendings I know prefer to keep things as informal as possible.