I’m Going Home for 6 Weeks During Residency. Here’s How:

Let’s be honest. I’ve been planning plotting this time at home ever since I pulled up to intern year orientation and the program director (PD) mentioned away rotations. Away? With this cold weather and a landlord who doesn’t want to give us heat? Away is exactly where I belong. Ha!

I don’t know about other programs, but electives AND away rotations are definitely a thing at mine. An away rotation is when you go to a sight outside of your residency to gain more exposure to your particular interests. You are still fully paid by your own residency program. It’s a great way to network and get your feet wet at a facility where you may want to work after residency is over. Near the end of intern year, my PD asked us our schedule preferences for year 2. I already had my sights set on a specific clinic, population, learning objectives, and medical interest. I had already reached out to a few contacts to start poking around about the possibility of them hosting me for an away. So by the time my PD sent out her email about schedule preferences, I was ready. I said Doc, give me everything with a slice of Atlanta on the side.

Y’all, I mean it. I asked for everything. I had already secured a Reproductive Health track, but I knew not to stop there. I don’t put limitations on God and He shows up for me accordingly. I asked for a consecutive 4 week away rotation. I requested to have my vacation right after the elective so I could stay in Atlanta for a grand total of 6 weeks. I timed my away rotation for the fall so I could first refresh my OB, prenatal, and GYN skills and, thus, show up on my rotation at my best. And, y’all…because of that timing, I essentially requested all winter holidays off. And guess what…

My PD gave it to me. Everything I requested. The answer was Yes. I have to complete one week of telehealth while I’m in Atlanta because as a Family Medicine resident, I can only spend so much time away from clinic. My PD offered me the telehealth option to make my 6 week respite work and I absolutely jumped to accept the compromise. I also ended up switching back up shifts (when you come in if someone calls out) with one of my co-residents. The weekend I leave, I was supposed to be on back up, but now with the switch, I get an extra weekend at home. Y’all!!! I have thought every crevice of this thing through!

I remained in constant communication with admins from my program and my visiting site. I started getting documents together back in April: program letter of agreement, temporary training permit, visiting program application, proof of malpractice insurance, etc. I got the process started as early as possible because I wanted to account for possible delays, time to collect signatures, and time to negotiate program letter of agreement. Starting early was imperative to my process and everything truly worked out.

I am so incredibly excited to go home; to have a break and to return to some level of normalcy (for me) for a while. And all I did to secure this opportunity was ask. That’s the root of it. I asked and I’m so glad I did. I am very grateful my PD allowed me to take this time to really seek after my interests. I so look forward to being incredibly inspired by the work I’ll get to do, driving to and from work with my QT coffee in tow, and seeing my family and friends. I look forward to being cozy at home and skipping out on part of the NYC winter. And you better believe I already started strategizing how I’ll spend my elective time next year. We get even more electives as 3rd years and can spend more time away because we no longer have a month of night float to take away that time from clinic. My 3^rd year schedule is about to be IT!!

So if you’re like me and want to plan an away elective:

-Research visiting programs of interest and start reaching out by early spring of intern year

-Schedule important/preparatory rotations BEFORE your elective

-Shoot your shot! Ask you PD for what you want

-Start working on your elective documents early

-Set money aside for a temporary training permit if you are leaving your state. My rotation site provided the licensing paperwork. The permit cost was $150 – fully refunded by my union. See if you can get the fee refunded!

-Show up to your elective and SHOW OUT!!!

I hope this helps y’all! I encourage all residents to really think about your schedules and ensure it makes sense for your interests and your wellness as much as possible. We give so much of ourselves to this profession. If you have the ability to influence your schedule in any way, think hard about what makes sense, plan it out, and ask for the moon and stars which is exactly what ACGME asks of us. This time next week, I’ll be Home.

xx,

Photos by Sweetie Mensah

Preset by Tina Smith