Quitting a job 4th year to travel/go on away rotations

[mountainmarmot]

This is my first post -- I'm new here!

My wife is interested in a couple surgical specialties and I am a teacher. We haven't seen as much of each other the last couple years (she is an M2) and we anticipate that she will not be around a lot in residency, especially intern year.

She loves to travel and would like to make the most of her 4th year by using her 2 vacation months to travel, maybe do an international rotation and also to do a couple away/audition rotations.

I am considering quitting my teaching job so I can accompany her on away rotations and vacation. I would try to find work substituting in the meantime when we are home, and perhaps volunteering when we are on an away.

Has anyone else done anything like this before? I feel like it might be a black mark on my resume but I really don't care about the loss of income for one year compared to the precious time it will give us together. Any thoughts on this idea?

[poky]

This is my first post -- I'm new here!

My wife is interested in a couple surgical specialties and I am a teacher. We haven't seen as much of each other the last couple years (she is an M2) and we anticipate that she will not be around a lot in residency, especially intern year.

She loves to travel and would like to make the most of her 4th year by using her 2 vacation months to travel, maybe do an international rotation and also to do a couple away/audition rotations.

I am considering quitting my teaching job so I can accompany her on away rotations and vacation. I would try to find work substituting in the meantime when we are home, and perhaps volunteering when we are on an away.

Has anyone else done anything like this before? I feel like it might be a black mark on my resume but I really don't care about the loss of income for one year compared to the precious time it will give us together. Any thoughts on this idea?

Welcome! I would have LOVED to be able to do this, but my husband would have completely freaked about the money I wasn't making (and since we ended up staying the same town for residency, it's good I was able to just keep my job, too).

[alotofyarn]

My husband did two away rotations during 4th year. While it would have been nice to have been there with him the entire time, the truth is I probably wouldn't have seen him much anyway. When they go on away rotations, they really need to give it their all and work a lot so that they can impress the attendings and get good letters of recommendation, and having you in town might be a distraction, and I'm not sure how much time you'd have together to have fun. It also would have been challenging for us to lose our income during that time. 4th year gets really expensive with residency interviews, especially if you're looking at some of the more competitive surgical specialties. My husband went on 14 interviews, which cost us several thousand dollars. The time apart isn't fun, but we had gone through periods of long distance previously and learned how to adapt. I went and visited him on both rotations, which helped with the time apart.

[reciprocity]

we're hoping that I can come along for a week on away rotations if they're in a city where my firm has an office, just so I can get a chance to feel out the cities a bit more.

[oceanchild]

We talked and talked about both of us going on an international rotation. I had a job where I probably would have been able to pull it off. But it just never came together.

I think if you can afford it, it'd be really cool to do. And probably a few months' absence on a resume won't be a huge deal.

Welcome!

[OrionGrad]

I did pretty much exactly what you're proposing, and it worked out great for us. I'm a writer, so I quit my job and began exclusively freelancing at the beginning of fourth year. My DH did 3 aways, and 15+ interviews and I was able to join him probably 80% of the time.

You probably won't see a ton of your spouse while you're on the away rotations, but if you have an independent spirit then it can be a great way to see what life would be like in the places you may be moving. Even though DH was working long hours, we still did fun touristy stuff together on the weekends, too.

As far as interviews go, the only significant extra cost was my flights. Hotels and car rentals were the same whether I came or not, and I think traveling together really made the whole process seem more like an adventure.

And my DH matched at his #1 choice in ortho (at a place where he did an away) so I definitely don't think my being there hurt him at all.

[moonlight]

I think it sounds like a the best nutty idea ever! If that makes any sense! MS4 is a really busy and lack year all rolled into one. There are lots of interviews for residency, away rotations, graduation stuff, on and on. I think for all years for you not to work during the medical schooling and medical training MS4 would be the very best year for you not to work a full time job. Having flexibility that year would save your sanity! Like you can said, you can be with her on away rotations, vacations, interviews, and help out with anything she might need during the processes. I say go for it! You can always go back to full time work after you have your residency placement.

My DH did 3+ months in the UK during MS3. It was for a couple rotations that he knew he wasn't interested in for his residency training. It was wonderful for us! We traveled all over and I cherish that time we had together.

[Pollyanna]

I think it sounds awesome!!!! Go for it and enjoy!!

[Curegirl]

Welcome! As for the traveling and rotations, if you can swing it, do it!

[mountainmarmot]

Thanks for all the replies! It is nice to hear that some people have tried this before to some degree! I'll have to keep thinking about it.

We are fortunate enough that between scholarships and my work we don't have debt thus far, so I feel that this wouldn't be the most irresponsible thing to do financially (even though it will hurt!).

That is a really good point about the away rotations and their workload. I would just love to walk around and explore a new prospective city -- I could probably entertain myself like that for a month. I also do all the cooking/cleaning/errands etc. so it would be nice to take that burden off her when she is trying to impress.

@oriongrad, I'm glad you suggested tagging along for interviews and that it is really just extra airfare. I hadn't thought about that much...it would be really helpfulto see the place we'll spend the next 5-6 years!

@moonlight, that sounds wonderful! We have talked about the idea of doing an international rotation or two in England post-match...I'll have to keep that in mind.

Thanks to everyone else for the constructive criticism as well, it is appreciated!

[SoonerTexan]

A friend of mine is planning on doing this--she's a lawyer! But she wants to stay home eventually anyway, so she is okay walking away. I say good for her! I guess it depends on whether or not you want to keep that specific job long term or think you want to try and match in your same city.

We will be in 4th year next year too. He doesn't have any plans for aways (out of the city), but I am saving up vacation so I can go on a few interviews with him. We'll eat the extra cost. We want to have another child 4th year, though, so our situation is a little different.

[MarissaNicole]

And while it sounds like a wonderful idea, it may add additional stress on your wife if you go with on away rotations and expect to spend ANY time with her at all. Away rotations are when she will need to prove herself and show that she is cut out for surgery. She will need to get there earlier than any of the residents and stay there until the last resident leaves; she will need to be on the top of her game; anticipate their needs; show a team attitude; all while functioning on little or no sleep. Even if they give her the weekends off she will need to offer to come in, and if they insist that she take the day off she will need to SLEEP. Although she would much rather spend her time with you, or exploring the new city, you do not want her to have to make that choice; you want her to be able to spend every waking moment working without any guilt.

If she wants to make a good impression she won't have much time to even eat during the day.

Away rotations are so important because they are often places you'd like to rank, and they will provide the Letters of Recommendation that will make or break her application.

Although I still think it sounds like a great idea to travel with her on interviews, or between away rotations.

[Vanquisher]

I have to agree with MarissaNicole.

[mountainmarmot]

@SoonerTexan, I am not a big fan of the job I've got right now and I will be a stay at home dad at some point in residency so my career is certainly not our focus. We don't plan on staying in this city for residency, either, so no concerns there either.

@MarissaNicole, thank you for the hard advice. I will tell her about your words of wisdom and see what she thinks -- I do think I can be an asset to her on an away if we approach it the right way and we are disciplined. I would love to hear from more spouses that came along on surgical away rotations and if they found themselves to be a hindrance or a help.

[GrayMatterWife]

I wouldn't, personally. But that's just me. My husband did away rotations in med school and did a 6 month rotation in Ireland during residency and I did not quit work to go with him (although most spouses in residency did quit their jobs to go with their spouse on the mandatory Ireland rotation). I don't like being broke and I was the primary breadwinner. Also, I really did not want my existence (career, home, etc.) to be dictated by his career. I liked having a bit of my own life. But if you can make it work, sounds good.