I have my interview on 10/12/07 and I am really excited. I just have a few questions though for some students.
1) My wife is a physician assistant with 7 years experience in rural health. is there a good number of clinics around where she might get a job? Are there many PA's employed/practicing in the area?
2) Where do most students live? Middleboro? Knowxville? We were hoping to drive around on Saturday and look at the different towns, and see where might be a nice place to live if I get accepted?
thanks for all help. I am really looking forward to making it out there for my interview. I have heard so many great things about LMU-DCOM
First off, congrats on the intervew!!!
Regarding your wife, I doubt she would have much of a problem. The area can always use more medical staff. I don't know how many clinics there are around, but that would be an ideal question to ask during your interview. Also, LMU will be starting a PA program here in 2009, so there may be an opportunity there, but I don't know. I would recommend asking one of the clinicians and see what they say in terms of area clinics, etc. But I imagine she would be snagged up fairly quickly. Besides, she could always open her own clinic as well.
As for places to live, the main towns would be Harrogate, Tazewell, New Tazewell (all in TN) and Middlesboro, KY. I would not live in Knoxville b/c that is a really long drive. There are a couple of students who do that drive, but I would advice against it, if at all possible (the biggest reason students stay in Knoxville is b/c of family - kids in school, spouse job, etc., but your wife should be able to find something close to school). Try to stay as close to school as possible b/c you will have many long nights studying, trust me. Whether you want to rent or not is your option. I would plan on moving closer to your core hospital for 3rd and 4th year roatations b/c you don't want to be driving long distances then either. I, for example, am planning on moving after 2nd year to be closer to the hospital. Most of the hospitals will be in Knoxville, but some are farther away, like Chatanooga (sp?). I will be renting for all 4 years so I don't have to try to sell a place (I am going thru not now - my wife and I are trying to sell our condo back in Chicago, so we are paying both rent and a mortgage - not fun). But you will be learning all about the rotations during the interview, so you will be able to think about it better then. But I highly recommend staying as close to school as possible.
Good luck on the interview and I will see you then!!!