It's great being married to a doctor (or resident, or medical student) because...

[SuzySunshine]

When our son was very sick as a toddler, we got VIP treatment in the ER and on the floor afterward. It was nice to be ushered back to the open room quickly when you've got a very sick 18 mos old in your arms. Also, I think they were quicker to send us the "best" at everything -- best guy from PICU to do the IVs, best nurse, etc. it was touching how well they took care of their resident's family - particularly because they worked him like a dog the rest of the time!

This is also what we experienced when R got sick and DH was a fellow. It was very relieving since we had only lived there about six weeks.

[diggitydot]

1.) We have the single weirdest tool box replete with needle drivers, hemostats, and surgical rags.

2.) We have a SCARY extensive first aid kit. It's larger than all of our tool boxes combined and is on wheels. No, I'm not exaggerating.

3.) We've met some seriously cool peeps, iMSNers included.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Now that would have been a handy thing to have. It cost us over $2,000 to have K2's eyebrow glued a couple months ago.

Except it wasn't in its outer vial thing - so it was in the super-fragile, ready to crack and use, state

[WolfpackWife]

Is conference travel a perk? Is this a thing that happens? Do docs have conferences in cool places? Our faculty chair in our dept is always going to fun conferences and takes her sons--Zurich, Australia, Seattle, BVI, etc. I talked to the son of an ophthalmologist over the weekend and he said they got to go to pretty fun places too, when his dad was going to a conference and their school schedule allowed.

[v-girl]

Is conference travel a perk? Is this a thing that happens? Do docs have conferences in cool places? Our faculty chair in our dept is always going to fun conferences and takes her sons--Zurich, Australia, Seattle, BVI, etc. I talked to the son of an ophthalmologist over the weekend and he said they got to go to pretty fun places too, when his dad was going to a conference and their school schedule allowed.

We've gone to one conference with DH. It was in March. I got so sick Thirteen's hubby called to listen to my cough and gave DH his recs for course of treatment. And we are STILL waiting to get reimbursed.

[SuzySunshine]

DH could have gone to a conference in NOLA last week, we'll probably go to a conference in San Fran in October, we went to Vegas last Februar. We haven't gotten to go anywhere international yet, I'll be surprised if we do...

[Auspicious]

Is conference travel a perk? Is this a thing that happens? Do docs have conferences in cool places? Our faculty chair in our dept is always going to fun conferences and takes her sons--Zurich, Australia, Seattle, BVI, etc. I talked to the son of an ophthalmologist over the weekend and he said they got to go to pretty fun places too, when his dad was going to a conference and their school schedule allowed.

My experience so far: not really. My husband's about to leave for his third one this year--Vancouver, Baltimore, Denver. We may go with him when the kids are older, but right now, I feel like if I'm going to wrestle two little ones to tour a city without Dad, I want to at least pick the city myself.

Plus, it's single parenting at home for a week, but the practice has also been living without him for a week, so when he gets home, his call week is usually right on the heels of the conference, so it's another week of reduced parenting for him.

It's definitely a perk for the doctor, though--he gets to see at least a glimpse of a bunch of places he might not otherwise go. They do have them in cool places. Maybe it all looks different when the kids are older.

[mommax3]

Not so much, in our experience, especially when kids are school-aged. Also, if he is at a conference, he isn't seeing patients/making money, so there's that, too.

[corn poffi]

Nope. I'm a conference organizer and it is not a perk. At all.

Although seeing how some of these guys act when away from their spouses can be horrifying/entertaining (mostly horrifying).

[migirl]

I had a lovely day exploring Coronado Island and am sitting in the beautiful Hotel del Coronado right now while DH is attending a conference this week, so I'd say "yes" to conference travel being a perk.

[v-girl]

I had a lovely day exploring Coronado Island and am sitting in the beautiful Hotel del Coronado right now while DH is attending a conference this week, so I'd say "yes" to conference travel being a perk.

Oh, well, if DH could go there and we could be reimbursed within a reasonable time, I would be all over that!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

The kids have great grandparents (MIL/FIL), so conferences will be a perk for us. Either Gma/Gpa will watch the kids, or they will travel with us. Win-win. The first big one is in 2015 - the dept. sends all the PGY-5s to the Academy conference. 2015 is in Vegas!!

[v-girl]

There's a conf in Boston in the fall. Like the VeggieTakes, I've never been to Boston in the fall. We may try for that one.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

There's a conf in Boston in the fall. Like the VeggieTakes, I've never been to Boston in the fall. We may try for that one.

Thanks for the chuckle

[oceanchild]

We went to Puerto Rico in January for little more than the frequent flyer miles it took to get me there, thanks to a critical care conference. I had a great time! I'm a pretty self-sufficient tourist though, and I like any excuse to go places.