We've narrowed it down!

[tink2020]

DH and I are (FINALLY) narrowing down our destinations post-graduation. Starting next month and into January, he will be applying and interviewing for his meical residency programs, and in March we find out where we end up! So, of course me - the compulsive planner - wants to know NOW .... so I've been bugging him, researching the various programs in his line of work (86 of them!) and trying to get him to start figuring it out...

Now - might I mention that his application, CV, etc are DUE October 1st - he finally narrowed down his list! It's still not final.... he'll probably knock the list down to about 15-20 programs (we're at about 28 now).... but at least I have SOME sort of direction. And the number of cities is actually low enough that I can start daydreaming and figuing it out!

Here's the list, as it stands (just of cities/areas.... I won't bore you with any more detail than I already do! )

- NYC (and vicinity), Rochester, Long Island, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Kansas City, KC/MO
- St. Louis, MO
- Minneapolis, MN
- Baltimore, MD
- St Petersburg, FL
- Cincinnati,OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Worcester, MA
- Chapel Hill, NC

Any thoughts??!! Not that we have a TON of choice... once we apply and rank, it's up to some computer somewhere

Just thought I'd share my excitement

 

[ckmommy]

No Houston?? Oh that makes me so sad

Any of those places look good. I wish you both the best of luck. It looks like it will be a year full of change!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I can only comment on the NY stuff. Rochester and Long Island are totally far apart and different. Rochester in winter is very cold and snowy, My dh had to go up there for a business trip, rented a car and the doors were frozen solid with ice on the inside. Gheesh. But I know things are not so expensive up there. Now Long Island, where are you looking Stony Brook University Hospital, just had my ds there yest. Its a metro area and you could even take the train into the city, the beach is close by, but things are pretty expensive. I just have to say that Stony Brook had a few bad publicity things lately, like a nurse that killed a baby by giving the wrong med dose etc. But overall its a pretty good hosp. Very busy. Best of luck.

 

[tink2020]

No Houston?? Oh that makes me so sad

Any of those places look good. I wish you both the best of luck. It looks like it will be a year full of change!!

Belieeeeve me, Georgia was number 1 on my list, and I REALLY wanted this place that WAS in Houston to stay on the list (just so I could visit... never been!), but there were no programs at all in the ENTIRE state of GA, and the Houston one didn't offer the balance of itnernal medicine and pediatrics that DH was looking for

It will be an exciting year though, thank you!

 

[tink2020]

Thanks luv marypoppins..... I really don't know anything about the parts of NY that aren't "the City". I have a friend who is from Rochester and I hear the same things.... very nice, not too expensive, etc.

The Long Island program is Stony Brook.... we really haven't visited, just checked out the "credentials" and the set-up of the program online. Pretty much I think DH will apply anywhere he thinks it looks good on paper (and that we wouldn't "mind" living), and then of course when we visit for interviews (assuming he is granted one) we will get a better feel for it.

Really I just want to hear about all these places because I can't stop thinking about it..... and unfortunately there's NOTHING that can be done for a while.

Hmm.... sounds strangely like my Disney planning obsession?

 

[Microcell]

Kansas City is a great place to raise kids! I grew up in Detroit, and aside from being dirty, I liked it. Just ask for which suburbs to live there, as you DO NOT want to live in Detroit proper!


St Louis has an arch. No distinctive foods, but you would be 3 1/2 hours away from BBQ!!!!!!!

That is all I have.


Children's Mercy in KC is THE BEST HOSPITAL IN THE REGION!!!! They saved my DD's life so I am partial.

 

[Micca]

Another vote for Kansas City, it's a very nice place to live. Your realize, of course, that St. Petersburg is just a hop, skip, and a jump to WDW

 

[tink2020]

Aww, great! These are things I love to hear. I have been to KC twice, but CERTAINLY with no intentions of family, etc.... I was just doing work with my youth group in Junior High. I'm glad to hear it's a good choice.... and especially glad to hear about your DD - Those are the things that make me REALLY smile... especially if I might live there And I am going to need a pediatric hospital to work wherever we are, so at least I'll have a place to start!

And as far as St. Petersburg..... my DH keeps bringing up the World to tease me I'm pretty sure we won't end up there. He crossed off the Orlando program (WHAT?! I know.... heresy!) because he didn't want to live in Florida. And yet..... he DOES know where St Petersburg is Who knows. He swears he has his reasons, but I venture to guess this won't make the final cut.

Which is fine with me, as I LOATE the buccaneers... I may have to make him move alone if he ended up at TB

 

[tar heel]

Chapel Hill is a WONDERFUL place to live. If you end up there, don't be surprised if you really want to stay after the residency is over.

 

[LisaR]

Ann Arbor! Great place to live and wonderful hospital.

Lisa

 

[crazyme5kids]

Stony Brook is where I had one of my children. It is a nice area, nice towns nearby. It's a nice hospital.

 

[mrsmom]

Cincinnati Hospitals are very good! Cincy childrens is one of the best hospitals in the country!! I know , I am there every week with my dd and ds. I have been to other childrens but I love the drs at cincy.
Kim

 

[swilphil]

Kansas City is a great place to have kids, but I also had lots of fun here in my pre-kid days. There's lots of culture, pro-sports and good restaurants. I had a couple of friends do their residency through KU Med Center and one went through Truman Hospital. They all had good experiences. I do agree that Children's Mercy is great. My oldest has been there for a few things, though nothing life-threatening. They have a Children's Mercy South branch, too.

 

[bcvgal]

Good Luck wherever you get to go but as you can see I have a favorite

 

[tink2020]

Actually (and don't laugh) pro-sports, etc were what we started with to narrow down our extensive list. Don't get me wrong - we CERTAINLY didn't base it on the teams, etc.... but my DH grew up in the middle-of-nowhere Ohio and I can't imagine not having gone to baseball/football games, theme parks, zoos, ballets, etc as a child. It is very important to me after seeing him go to these things for the first time in college!! So certainly, MOST of the places we have chosen thus far have those sorts of things -- both for our pre-kid days and for when our children are growing up.

Cincinnati is CERTAINLY one of the best programs in the nation (no offense meant towards any docs, etc in other parts of the country ).... especially for pediatrics, the area is rated second only to the likes of the Harvard Medical Community. The only problem is that DH MIGHT not be competetive at UC, because the med-peds program only accepts 4 residents. He is at UC-COM right now though, so that helps

I work at Childrens part-time.... it makes my heart happy that our facility can help you out

 

[tink2020]

shaemeless bump! i could use a discussion that doesn't get me down this week!

 

[becka]

Well I live 2 hours away from both KC and St. Louis. I think either of them would be great and have lots to offer.

 

[golfgal]

Minnesota has some top notch medical programs. Is the Mayo Clinic on your list? That is an amazing place. The Rochester, Minnesota area is nice and just a quick hop up to Minneapolis. The Twin Cities Metro area also has some great hospitals. There is a Children's Hospital in both Minneapolis and St. Paul and they have some innovative programming and services available.

 

[tink2020]

Unfortunately, the mayo clinic does not have the program we are going for. I have had family experience with them, and wouldn't that be an awesome experience!!

I think the place on the list (or 2?) is technically in Minneapolis. It is a medicine-pediatrics program. so it would incorporate the children's hospital and another hospital nearby. So Rochester is a suburb? And how long of a 'hop'? Is it commutable, or just close enough to drive in for the weekend, etc?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Well, with Cleveland, you've got both the Cleveland Clinic and Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital, both of which are highly rated pediatric hospitals. A friend of ours from college went to the Clinic for his pediatric internship and is now at Duke as a pediatric cardiologist resident.