Premed Perspective: The Application Wait

Yes I’m using the Royal ‘We’.

That’s the mentality that helps you to keep throughout this whole medical school application process.

Solidarity.

Unity.

One-Mindedness.

We.

 After applications were turned in, a little message popped up.

‘Congratulations! Your applications have been submitted. Now comes the hardest part. Waiting.’

We could hear replies up until 5-6 weeks out.

The first response was a quick and definite ‘no’ at the end of week 1 into The Wait.

It’s okay, because it was our last choice with a  VERY small class number.

The second we heard back from about 2 weeks into The Wait.

It was an offer for an interview!

There was a lot of celebrating in the isle of a Target when DH called me from work to tell me.

Commence trip planning for said interview.

Praise the Lord for hotel rates given specifically for those coming to interview, otherwise we would have been out quite a bit of money… Not that it would have kept us from the interview itself.

Things went really great at the interview.

DH always comes off as personable, responsible and professional, so we never worried about the interview itself.

He came out feeling solid and confident in the impression that he made on everyone he met.

The wait continued for a reply from the school.

After 2 weeks we received a letter stating that DH was placed on the Alternate list for this upcoming class.

He could be accepted up until 2 weeks before orientation.

Alternate?

Is that different from a waitlist?

Is he ranked in this ‘Alternate list’?

When would movement start?

Was it common for a lot of movement from this ‘Alternate list’?

We have been trying to get information about it, but as you can imagine it is a little hard to get a hold of anyone, considering they are dealing with dozens to hundreds of people in the exact situation, asking the exact same questions.

That means that until we are told otherwise, we are still in this eternal wait.

The middle of week 3 of The Wait we heard back from THE school.

Our number 1 pick was a ‘No, thank you’.

That was a bad call to get at work.

With half of Our applications being turned down it was time for a little pep talk.

This was not the end of the world.

Maybe it just was not meant to be.

Maybe the Lord has other plans for us.

With half of the applications being negative, at this point it was time to talk about the possibility that this may not be THE year.

If We don’t get into a school this year, We need to try to find out the reasons for being turned down.

I encouraged DH to possibly call and get a little more information about why he was turned down. If it’s something we can do in the possible extra year, then we need to get that in the works and on the books. Being proactive about things is the key to getting things done.

Some people may feel that being persistent after being turned down is a bit pushy… I see it as being assertive, yes, but more determined than anything else.

Committed.

Once he emailed, he got a fairly generic response back.

‘Continue shadowing, take classes to raise your GPA, consider retaking your MCAT to boost your score’… Those kinds of things.

So that got us a ton of great information.

Not.

Our 4^th school never replied to the initial application.

We called and called to see if there was an error, or if something was missing, but never got a response.

Whatever.

We believe, can pretty much bet, that DH’s timing may have hindered his applications this year.

Because of how late his MACT re-take was in the year, it put him submitting his full applications right at the deadlines.

This choice may have cost him his entrance into medical school this year.

It’s the nature of the beast and your impression on a school starts from that very first application.

You have to assume that every little bit of information about the applicant is taken from the beginning, every action is calculated and taken into consideration.

We have decided to learn from this and have turned around and submitted everything again so that he makes the early application timeline for the next cycle of applications.

Yes, that does mean investing more money into this process.

Yes, we still have a chance that DH will be notified of acceptance this cycle.

We are just covering our all of our bases.

If it happens that DH’s name comes up and we get the acceptance letter, we will rescind our applications for next cycle and start our journey.

Multiple application cycles are not abnormal, so our story isn't unique.

The joys of putting your life in the hands of others...

There is nothing that you can do in the meantime.

No amount of stressing or worrying will change your circumstances.

So, we are continuing to just live our lives.

Enjoying the spring weather and continuing to pray for good news.

How are Your applications going?

How many are prepping their families for the next application cycle?

Do you want to share helpful hints that you have for getting through this stage?

Survivor Stories: How Residency Interviews Became the Best Memory During the Training Years

It’s easy for a “survivor” to recall the tough times during medical school and residency.   The tough times are truly numerous.  But since I like to keep the survivor stories light, I recently asked my husband to recall the best memory of his training years.  Having been with him since graduate school (and before any of this medical journey) I had a feeling I knew the answer he would give.  “The trip with my dad.”  He said.  The same answer I expected he would give. Although I would have phrased it “Your residency interviews.”  It was the same trip, just a different perspective of the memory.

When we think about residency interviews as a medical student, our pulse quickens and palms get sweaty.  How many places do we have to apply to?  Did we choose the right away rotations?  Did we do enough away rotations?  How many interviews will be offered?  How many can I afford to attend?  What will my ranking list look like?

There are dozens of questions, and even more factors to complicate the matter.  We had the usual complicating factor – specific desired location.  At the time, we were in the Midwest for medical school, where my husband grew up.  But as a Colorado girl, I was used to warmer weather and much more sun.  I couldn’t handle another 3 years in the Midwest and desperately wanted to get closer to home.  

Here moves in the second complicating factor.  There are few programs in the Western states around Colorado (at least for ER – my husband’s specialty).  

And our last complicating factor is that my husband doesn’t fly.  As we neared the end of third year, we wondered how we would make this work.

Ultimately, my husband chose to do his fourth year elective months in Dec and Jan.  The electives he chose allowed schedule flexibility, so he was able to manage a 4 week break that placed Christmas through New Years near the end.  His Midwest interviews he scheduled around 3-day breaks in November and early December, and the Western states he planned during the 4-week trip.  His dad, a recently retired ER physician, joined my husband for the journey along with our 1-yr-old golden doodle. 

For the journey, I made my husband a binder with a map of the US on the front and individual pages for each of the locations.  I had areas for him to write down notes related to the program director/staff, hospital facilities, other residents, best areas to live, etc.  Each location had a two-page spread for him to capture thoughts.  I also included printed mapquests, hotel recommendations, things to see and do at their destinations and along the way.  I stayed back as I was working full-time and unable to take that much time off. Although a road trip this extensive is more suitable for the boys anyway.

On their way to interview destinations, they visited Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, the White Sands, the border to Mexico, and Saguro National Park – to name a few of the highlights.  We rendezvoused in Colorado at Christmas with both of our families.  

Overall, by driving to all of his interviews, my husband developed a great feel for each of the areas we considered.  He was able to see the surroundings and outdoor activities (just as important to him as the program).  And, it made for interesting conversation during his interviews.  People would ask about the adventures, what sights had he seen, how our puppy was holding up through the travel (very well, by the way).  I would like to think it helped him be more relaxed, allowed his personality to show through, and helped him stand out in the memory of the rank list panel when the time came.  His father’s wisdom, as a former academic ER physician, was hugely valuable in determining questions to ask and how to process all he had learned through the interviewee experience.  It was a powerful trip between a father and a son, and one they speak of often to this day.  He matched at his number one, and we enjoyed spending the next three years continuing to explore our surroundings – as much as a residency schedule allows.

Residency Roundup: Run A Match

Last Tuesday was DrH's residency program's final interview day for the entering 2014 class!  I was able to attend their applicant dinner that evening and met six of the interviewees.  I was impressed by their kindness and hope them each a successful match.

The feelings that surface during this time of anticipation, pressure, chaos, excitement... are exhausting, and I empathize with each applicant.  This year, more than the previous two, has me on edge for the match.  This is mainly due to the fact my Brother-in-law is eligible for the 2014 match, which could send/assign my sister and her family anywhere!

I'm sure many of you MS4 families are having to explain over and over again what exactly is 'the Match'. While reading the nrmp.org site I found the following information helpful.

• The Matching Process- a general synopsis. 
• Run a Match- a document describing the process of algorithm that matches each MS4 and residency spot.  My family would have found this interesting during our match...and would have saved them from hearing my simplified analogies;)

Here are some important dates to have marked on your calendar (if not already!):
February 26, 2014- Rank Order List Deadline.  Must complete and certify your list by 9:00pm ET.  Three years ago we decided to put a preliminary list in the system to avoid any last minute computer glitches and then updated the list with minor changes the day or two before the cutoff.

• Interesting facts on Rank Order List Length. 
• My previous post that outlined our match list. 

March 17, 2014- Matched?!? Applicants receive notification of a successful match!  Or the beginning of the SOAP process for unmatched MS4 students.

March 21, 2014- MATCH DAY!!  www.nrmp.org even asks for pictures of the 'Match Face'!   Make contact with your program director or residency coordinators to show your excitement!  Congratulations!

If your DrH has previously match and you have any pearls of wisdom please share!
Best of Luck!!
Cami

Tipping my hat

Tipping my hat 

by: Laura Saunders

http://ljsaundersgrace101.blogspot.com

"Bleeeeh--Waaaaaaaaah!" And suddenly my lap is covered in throw up in the middle of an interview dinner while my husband stares frozen in shock that our sweet adorable little charmer just turned into an exorcist baby spouting copious amounts of, well, you know...

I'm trying to contain or at least direct the liquid bombing, find a burp cloth or anything to mop up, soothe my poor baby, and apologize profusely to the upper level resident next to me whose purse may or may not have been splattered. David still plays statue ( I wonder if I blink if he'd suddenly be in action. Helpful instead of deathly Weeping Angel statues? Yes. My name is Laura, and I'm a Doctor Who fan.).

Though it seems like forever, we manage to grab all the baby gear, wipe and strip Ethan down in the car, and drive home listening to our son's coos of glee because now apparently all is right in his world. Yay for being naked in a car seat! And welcome to our son's first onset of a cold.

The next few days would be snot covered and full of wailing (baby or me?), coughing, and late night fevers. And let me say that I am so glad that my husband is a doctor and is in Peds rotation right now, because he helped keep me less anxious when Ethan's temperature hit 101.1*

Lately, I've been caught up in being a busy Mommy/housewife--wiping a little nose constantly, applauding my boy when he pulls up to stand, and sweeping him up when he loses his balance and falls on that chubby little booty. I've rushed around looking for Christmas crafts/decorations that I can repurpose into something somewhat elegant, sewn curtains and pillows, and crocheted baby sweaters and hats. You see, I'm hosting Christmas for the first time in our first house with our first baby, and I want to make beautiful picture perfect memories, darn it! And while I wear my Mommy hat that gets switched with my Homemaker hat back and forth, I sometimes get frustrated with my husband who just seems to make my hats topsy turvy.

Now, I know that he works really really hard for long hours days and days in a row. I know that his job is demanding both mentally and physically. I know that he works and wants to spend as much quality time with his little family as possible. And I know that he tries to help out when he can. However, I also know that he has forgotten that dirty dishes can go ~gasp~ in the dishwasher, or at least in the sink. Someone also has a tendency to refer to taking care of baby Ethan as "babysitting" when he does so... Um, you mean Being a Parent? This person also volunteered to clean off the Foreman grill after dinner one night last week. After a few days, I decided to wait a little bit more just to see how long it might take... I broke down and washed it yesterday.

So I get stuck in this Mommy Homemaker mode and then get frustrated when my domain isn't running the way I want it.

Then, we had a golden day. The sun was a cheerful marigold in a clear blue lake of a sky. The air was fresh and crisp with just a hint of pine. It was David's day off, and we were going to get a Christmas tree and have a date night.

Listening to Christmas carols and singing along, laughing and checking at odd moments to make sure that our tree was still tied securely to the top of our car, we made our way home and successfully got our beautiful, dense, Douglas fir set up.

Later, we dropped Ethan off at his babysitter's house (an angelic woman from our church who volunteered to babysit for free) and went out to dinner.

We chatted over an appetizer, shared our hearts over dinner and sangria, and prayed over our family. And sometime during this dinner and walking around afterward, we became just a young, goofy-in-love couple again. I hung onto his arm as we walked and talked and giggled and teased. He teased back and talked more, and we left the everyday busyness and business behind. David said that he hadn't seen me that giddy in a while.

I need to put on my Effervescent, Cheerful, Confidant, Infatuated with My Man Hat more often. It is so easy to get caught up in my new and different roles that come with staying home with my precious baby and forget that other part of me and the other parts of David besides Daddy and Doctor.

I have been so blessed with a treasure of a little family. My husband is compassionate, intelligent, driven, hard-working, loving, goofy, helpful, and God-loving. My son is so sweet, smiley, determined, alert, social, and mischievous. I love both my boys so very much! I just need to make sure that my care for my little boy doesn't overshadow my care for my big boy. And most of all, I desire to honor my Lord and seek a closer relationship with Him each day. He should come first before anyone and definitely before daily busyness.

All of my hats should be perched on a foundational head of faith and love and grace that makes each one more and more beautiful as time and trust go by.

I want to always wear my Love the Lord My God Hat...

Besides it's the one that turns into a sparkly crown some day :)

Residency Roundup: After the Interview

Many MS4 families have completed one or more interviews! Congratulations on starting yet another step in the 'process'.:)
The first wave of interviews brings a new onslaught of information and pressure.  How are you ever going to rank all these programs??  Below are a few points to ponder as you and your DrH prepare for your rank list.

• Rank each program after each interview.  Another family ranked different aspects of the programs (COL, research, salary...) and compiled an average score for each program.  We just generally put each program at the top, middle, or bottom of the list with an explanation. 
• First impressions- DrH should write them down while on his return flight home.  This was the most important for us.  We went with our guts on the majority of the rank list.  
• Personal Priorities- Academic prestige, research opportunity, average case numbers and variety, home/in house call, proximity to relatives, parking pass...etcetera.  What are DrH's career goals? What procedures do you want to learn? Will your family be comfortable? 
• Co-residents, Attendings, and Staff- Are they people you can be around? What is the atmosphere? Our bottom rank was due to a program director getting sloppy drunk and telling inappropriate stories.  
• Facilities and Human Resources- Insurance coverage, meal plans, vacation requests. 
• Housing locations- Would it work for your family? Jobs? School? Transportation?

Three years ago as we 'made' our rank list interview by interview, we continued to remind ourselves that  matching is left up to a computer program.

We ranked 15 programs

#1 DrH's Dream residency spot.
#2 Solid program, low COL, Family Friendly
#3 Close to Family
#4 Great personality match, 2 hrs from family
#5 Good program, low COL
#6 Medical School program, wouldn't have to move
#7-#14 No particular order
#15 Rather go here than nowhere

We are grateful to have matched at #4.  When we opened the match letter, we both didn't even remember this program on our list... but ten minutes after the match the program director called to welcome DrH into the program and we have felt blessed to be here since.

Happy and Safe Travels to all interviews!
Cami

Residency Roundup: Interview Prep

Welcome to the Residency Interview Season!! 

 Hopefully, you are successfully juggling the quick responses to offers, the calendar filling up, purchasing travel plans, all while continuing MS4 rotations. 

I've compiled a list on how to prepare for residency interviews. 
DrH should bring this information to each interview!

• Program background- Basic information on FRIEDA https://freida.ama-assn.org/Freida/user/viewProgramSearch.do.  Go the the programs website for more details, how long the program has been active, number of faculty, current research emphasis. 
• Bios for the faculty and specifically for whom your DrH will be interviewed by.  My DrH read each bio while flying to the new location.  
• Bring copies of CV, cover letter, and research.  Many programs didn't want separate copies...but some appreciated them.
• QUESTIONS!! - There is a bunch of time set aside for questions.  Make your list based on what is most important to you and your family.  I recommend between 4-10 good questions ranked in order of importance.
• Home or in-house call
• Clinic hours 
• Average Cases for the current residents
• Mentoring program
• Research requirements
• Vacation requests
• Locations- housing, schools, recreational activities
• HR- Medical, Vision, Dental insurance? Parking? Food?
• More ideas-  https://www.aamc.org/download/77936/data/residencyquestions.pdf

This is another great list!! 

http://www.ama-assn.org//ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/minority-affairs-section/transitioning-residency/the-residency-interview-making-most-it.page

The AMA page lists possible interview questions.  Such as 'Why did you choose this specialty?" or 'What are your strengths?'  We typed each question with DrH's answer and we rehearsed his response.  Obviously, you cannot predict what question they will use, but this practice will help.  Here are some other possible question your DrH will be asked. http://som.georgetown.edu/docs/2012%20Handout%20Residency%20Mock%20Interviews.pdf

Warm wishes to all MS4 families.

Cami

If you have some additional interview prep advice please leave a comment below:) 

That Interview Invite

After the application is in….secondaries have been received and sent back off…comes the agonizing wait for interview invitations…or rejection letters.

That first rejection letter HURTS….and hurts even more when it was a top choice school.  It feels like all of you and your spouse’s hopes and dreams just went up in smoke.  Good news…they didn’t!  If you are like most people, the application went out to a ton more schools. Which means that there is a bunch more emails or envelopes that still can help you out in reaching that dream! 

That first interview invite is so exciting!  (I’m thinking Sally Field “You like me.  You really like me.”)  It’s confirmation that all of that hard work has finally paid off, that all of that extra time doing research or shadowing served a purpose and all those hours spent on the application and secondary were worth every minute.

My husband scheduled his first interview for the first open spot.  It was about a month away.  Luckily for us, it was driving distance (about 4 hours).  I started looking for a hotel.  Then my mom asked, “Are you going with him?”  I never really thought about it.  But, yes, I wanted to!  After all, it wasn’t only him moving for 4 years…it was our whole family.  I wanted to check out housing, the schools, the community, and talk to people.  So we made the arrangements for me to join him.  I’m so glad I did.

While he was in his interview, I drove around town, talked to moms at the park, and found the elementary schools.  I ate lunch at a restaurant with free wi-fi and browsed craigslist for local rentals.  Obviously they wouldn’t still be available when we moved, but they gave me a great idea of what was available, price ranges and I could see the neighborhoods.  I drove by most of those rentals. I left that town feeling so comfortable and confident that I could be perfectly happy raising my kids in this town.  That was huge.

I can’t help but write about his first interview.  It really is the worst nightmare for a first interview.  This goes to show you no matter how much planning you can’t always plan!  We arrived the day before the interview.  We drove around the town noting what was familiar and what was new. Found the school and found the easiest route from hotel to school.  We also timed the route.  The last thing my husband wanted was to be late….little did we know…

My husband is early to everything.  Not just a few minutes early but EARLY.  His interview was at 8:30am.  The school was 8 minutes from the hotel.  

We boarded the elevator at 7:45am.  The elevator went to the next floor and picked up 4-5 elderly guests…walkers, canes and all.  The doors shut and the elevator made this weird noise.  I looked at my husband in a panic.  The elevator wasn’t moving.  It was stuck between floors!

Of course, my husband starts freaking out!  He can’t be late to his first interview!  I push the elevator emergency button to which the person on the other end was less then helpful.  I pull out my phone and call the front desk and tell them we are stuck in an elevator…me and my husband along with 4-5 elderly guests.  They tell us they will call 911.

Fifteen more minutes go by…still nothing.  It’s now 8:00am.  He has his interview in 30 minutes.  We start Googling the school and seeing if anyone will answer on a Saturday.  Finally, someone at the school answers.  He explains who he is and that he is currently stuck in an elevator at the hotel the recommended.  He would be there as soon as he could. I call the front desk again and ask them a timeline…they say they have no clue.  I hang up and call 911 myself.  The operator tells me the fire fighters are in route.  Thank Goodness! 

8:10am the elevator doors crack open, a bright light is shone through, and we see a crew of fire fighters.  I climb out with the aid of the fire fighters.  The elevator has my husband and the elderly guests.  He can’t leave them there.  So, he helps lift all of the little old men and ladies out of the elevator…all the time praying he doesn’t rip the brand new suit he is wearing.  Finally, he climbs out.  It’s 8:20am.  Crap. He explains to the fire fighters what is going on….they had a great sense of humor about it and offered to write him a note for the interviewers!  We run to the car and rush to the interview.

He gets to his interview with 1 minute to spare.  He walks in and they knew who he was…no one gets to the interview only 1 minute early on purpose!  During the interview one of his first questions they asked was, “What is one of your biggest pet peeves?”  He responded with a laugh and ‘tardiness.’  He went on to explain what had happened that morning and how he had the privilege of meeting the towns fire fighters.  The interviewers laughed.

Eight days later…he was accepted! 

My husband scheduled 4 interviews and cancelled one of them.  But I went along on the other 3.  One we drove to, the others we had to fly to.  Luckily we had family at home to watch our kids.  The cost of me going was just the extra plane ticket.  No matter if I went or not we would have to rent a car and book a hotel room.  The extra cost to me going was the ticket and a couple extra meals.  Being able to view those cities, the schools, the neighborhoods, the people, helped me so much.  Moving for us is huge…we’ve never lived anywhere but within 30 minutes of where we grew up.  My husband had great input when it came to the medical school and I had different input because of the community.  It gave us the best of both worlds and we were able to decide on what school was best for him while keeping in mind what community was best for me and our kids. 

Advice for med students attending residency interviews

This is from reader Camilla:

*****************************************************

My husband is in his fourth year of Gen Surgery residency and has been doing a research year so he finally has had the chance to sit in on a lot of night-before socials with applicants and ranking meetings. I thought I might pass on some of this information to wives of potential applicants.

First, take time to learn about the program-- even if you think it is at the bottom of your list. When an applicant says something like, "I really like your program," the natural follow-up question will be, "Why? What in particular do you like?" If you can't answer intelligently, you will look like a dumbo. On the converse side, don't seem too overeager. One applicant told my husband he really liked the program and couldn't wait to come out for a second look. This comment made my husband wonder why he didn't just ask his questions now while he was at the site. I'm sure the applicant was just trying to sound interested, but he sounded like he was gunning. . . I guess you had to be there?

Anyway, show your interest with interesting, well-thought-out questions, not anything that remotely resembles kissing-up.

Second, stay away from controversial issues like politics. Just don't talk about it. Not in an interview. No. No. No. No matter what you say, you will irritate someone when your comment gets repeated in rank meetings.

Third, don't brag to the current residents during socials. You may think your score is high-- and it may be-- but that information is listed on your application. When rank meeting time comes, the number is clear to everyone. If you came across braggy before-hand, it is often perceived as arrogance. Also, don't brag about how many chest tubes you put in during your rotations or how many whipples you've observed, you are talking to residents who have had more experience than you. Don't try to make yourself seem cool. Be cool for who you are, not by trying to out-do a resident- the resident will win. And the resident will be bugged.

Fourth, don't share your marital/relationship troubles with the residents at socials. Just don't do it. You will seem needy. Don't tell them your wife doesn't think she can support you in a rigorous specialty. That is between you and your wife. If you share this with the residents, they want to protect their program. They don't have a colleague who will be calling them to cover shifts cause their wife is having a bad day.

Dress nicely. If you show up in jeans and t-shirt, most people won't take you seriously.

Finally, be yourself. Have a good reason about why you are pursuing a specific specialty.

Getting closer!

I'm sorry I didn't put up a poll last week. I hope you didn't miss it too much!

We went on some interviews. Oh my lands, it was fun! They paid for plane tickets for us and our 3 kids. They even got us adjoining hotel rooms so our kids wouldn't keep us up all night. There was a beautiful fruit and snack basket waiting for us in our room. They arranged for childcare during fancy meals with the other doctors. Took us on tours of the town. Had realtors to show us around neighborhoods. Arranged a meeting with the school superintendant.

Then we got to talk about salary, signing bonus, loan forgiveness, moving expenses, housing payments, stipends, etc. It just feels so wonderful to be getting spoiled like this. There is a light shining at the end of the tunnel and it is beautiful!

An Idea

so, I was thinking it would be neat to make a post with the info on the med school or residency program we are each at. We would want info like Insurance, Cost of average rent, Salary, perks, etc...also maybe detailed info on how the med school/residency experience has been including number of hours worked a week, how call is, etc.
I thought it might be helpful for people that get on here.

Anyone interested? Any ideas of how we could organize it?

Tips for Matching

I read this article (the managing editor is a good friend of ours from residency), and I thought it was really helpful and encouraging. Even if your husband isn't thinking about ophthalmology (and really, it takes a very special person to cut on eyeballs), I think there are some good tips for applying to any specialty.

Pain Management Fellowship

We have endured the non-match Pain Management fellowship application/interview process and have accepted a position in Lubbock, TX.  We have done med school and residency here, so I guess we will be here for another 2 years.  The obvious plus side is I don’t have to move or sell my house just yet.  The down side?  The dust and not getting to see another state.

Has anyone else done all their medical studies and training in the same city? Just curious how common this is?

Contract Info for Physicians

This is a great article I found when looking through my 2009 MD Career Path journal from the New England Journal of Medicine.  It highlights the importance of finding a lawyer who specializes in Physician’s contracts and also some key matters that make a contract harder on a physician who decides to leave a practice. 
Physician Job Contracts
This is definitely one to share with your husbands.  Also, peruse the NEJM Career center for some other great articles.

The Inside Scoop on Interviewing

I still remember the first interviews my husband had when he finished residency. I remember discussing which states were acceptable and then rating them first choice to last. When my husband went on his first interview, it was a real eye opener. I wasn’t invited to come along, but that didn’t stop me. My husband spent the entire day in interviews (even over lunch) and I was left to fend for myself. As I walked around the hospital block over and over, I began to notice drug deals taking place outside the building. That one observation taught me that a second pair of eyes is always good when considering a new job.

Now I’m on the other end. My husband is the one who hires and fires physicians. When he’s recruiting a new surgeon or radiologist, I come along to meet the spouse. I can learn a lot by talking with her (and sometimes him), and I can share things about the community that she should know. My husband and I believe that if a community isn’t right for a physician’s family, it’s best to find that out BEFORE the contract is signed. A recruiter may disagree with that statement, but my husband doesn’t want to invest his time in filling a position twice.

Mark has worked for several hospitals, each with a different set of strengths and weaknesses. Some employed their physicians. Others had cordial relationships with practices. In nearly all cases, my husband and I were a part of the interview dance. While he spent the day meeting with the physician, I took the wife to lunch to answer questions about the community. My first goal was to establish if she was interested or reluctant to move to the community. Then I would find out if her interests matched up with what the community had to offer. I also loved to ask the question, “so how did you and your husband meet?” Not only was it fun to hear the answer, but the way in which the story was told said a lot about their relationship. Mark always avoided the strained relationship that could become a distraction. (Ladies, if you get asked this question, realize that you’re being interviewed and think before you speak. Sharing that you started out having an affair is NOT a good answer.)

Realtors usually worked with administration, too. Oftentimes, a realtor would be asked to give a physician’s wife a tour of the city. A few neighborhoods would also be in the plans. This was a great way to see what kind of lifestyle the wife was expecting. If she only looked at the very top end homes, it could be an indication that the salary range wasn’t a match. The realtor also had an opportunity to find out some things about the candidate and his family. That information was usually passed on to me in preparation for the next day’s luncheon. (If you’re offered a realtor, accept the offer. If you aren’t, ask for one. Ask to see a wide variety of prices and styles, and use her as another resource to find out about schools, sports, and local politics.)

Sometimes there were existing physicians who liked to ruffle feathers when a “new kid” came to town to interview. It was their way of sabotaging the practice’s expansion, or in some cases just causing trouble. To avoid an undesired encounter, preemptive meetings were sometimes scheduled so only some of the practice physicians attended. At a minimum, the disruptive physician was never left alone with the candidate. (Wives, make sure your husband goes to the practice and talks with every physician on staff. If they’re not available, phone calls are a smart alternative.)

Some candidates only wanted to come if certain promises were met (a new building, a new procedure, better benefits). As much as my husband wanted to guarantee something, his promise was only as good as the current hospital budget. (Tell your husband if a condition is a deal breaker; don’t take a job where it’s not already in place.)

My husband’s worst nightmare was the physician who thought he was smart by getting an attorney involved with a contract. In most cases, the stall tactics and nitpicking of the attorney made the candidate seem less desirable. Sometimes, the attorney would fight for something that was illegal and Mark would have to give an ultimatum and prepare to offer the job to another candidate. By the time negotiations were over, the relationship was damaged. The best negotiations were hammered out over a few meetings and phone calls and put to paper in a civil fashion. Notes of the agreements were then drawn up in final contract language and reviewed by an attorney. (Ladies, having a final contract reviewed is smart, but warn your husband about getting an attorney involved in the actual negotiations. They’re just going to drag it out to rack up your bill.)

So there you have it… the inside scoop from a CMO’s wife. I hope these tips help you as your family looks for the next opportunity. There are more specific tips on how you can influence an interview on my blog.

Pittsburgh Help

Anyone have any info on Pittsburgh PA? My husband got an interview for fellowship there and I have been researching the city with not much luck in the way of where to look for places to live in a good school district with minimal commute and rent for less than $1200 for 2-3 bedrooms. We want to be in a nice area hopefully with other kids and families. Prefer a suburbia-type feel...but can adjust to city living (I think...I've never lived in the middle of a huge city). Oh, and the kids will be 3 and 6 when we are there. (so, 1st grade)

Thanks!!