What’s Up With Me?
So, I have failed to write anything on here for a few days, but I promise to write at least a little something every day from now on. Mostly, I’ve just been working on my residency application lately. I’m almost finished gathering my letters of recommendation, updating my CV, and writing my personal statement.
I have an admission to make. I thought I could handle the heat this summer with my little window fan, but it was just becoming too unbearable. So, I am now the proud owner of my first window air conditioner unit. I feel so adultish.
My schedule has also changed a bit. My infectious disease rotation was cancelled, so I now have a four week gap ahead of me. I’m going to try and get something scheduled for the last two weeks of August, hopefully emergency medicine. But if I don’t, I will just have to deal with the gap. Right now, I’m using my extra time to work on my residency application.
Also, my little sister is getting married this Saturday! YAY! So, since I now have nowhere to be on Monday, I’m going to drive down to my parents’ farm in Luray (where the wedding will be taking place) and help out with all the work that needs to be done in advance. I’m actually quite excited, because I will get to spend extra time with my fam, AND help them get all the work done. I also can’t wait to get all dirty and sweaty on the farm.
I never updated my “stuff learned” in cardio, as I promised, but I will hopefully do that soon. But here is one quickie that I thought was interesting:
1) If you have a permanently implanted pacemaker, you are advised to NOT keep your cellphone in your breast pocket on the same side as the pacemaker.
I just thought that was kinda cool.
And FYI, here is my current upcoming rotation schedule (I will hopefully be adding to it in the near future):
August 31 – October 9: Obstetrics/Gynecology
October 26 – November 20: Emergency Psychiatry
Anyway, more to come soon!
My name is Kendra and I am a newly minted doctor about to begin my residency in Psychiatry at 
So when are you all done rotations Kendra? how long was the rotation period altogether?
Just getting an idea of what we’re in for after 5th semester
I will hopefully be done by the end of March. Here are the required rotation weeks from Ross:
Ninety (90) weeks of clinical rotations are required for graduation. This includes Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine, which is twelve (12) weeks in length. Forty-eight (48) weeks of core rotations and thirty (30) weeks of electives are required. Within the thirty (30) weeks of electives, eight (8) weeks must be Medicine sub-specialties and four (4) weeks must be Surgery sub-specialties.
Here is what mine has looked like so far:
AICM: Don’t remember the dates, but it was 12 weeks
Psychiatry: June 16 – July 25, 2008
Surgery: Aug 18 – Nov 7, 2008
Internal Medicine: Nov 10 – Jan 30, 2009
Neurology: Feb 2 – Feb 27, 2009
Family Medicine: March 16 – April 24, 2009
Gastroenterology: May 4 – May 29, 2009
Radiology: June 1 – June 26, 2009
Cardiology: July 20 – July 31, 2009
Obstetrics/Gynecology: Aug 31 – Oct 9, 2009
Emergency Psychiatry: Oct 26 – Nov 20, 2009
I was just curious on who did you request letters of recommendation from, professors back at Ross or the directors in each program?
The best scenario is to get letters from program directors. But it’s also good to get letters from attendings and basic science professors. So far, I have a letter from one program director, two attendings, and one basic science professor. You should try to have at least one letter from a program director or attending from the speciality that you are applying to.