Mayo Clinic is an exceptional institution. Its environment is unlike any I have experienced. The camaraderie among residents is outstanding. I am confident I have forged lasting friendships in my first year here.
The patients that you interact with allow you to build these amazing relationships in a continuity clinic with the local people of Rochester, and that is something that I find to be one of my favourite things about residency.
Support and Individualised Training
What I love the most about our program is the support that we provide for residents, as well as the tools for us to succeed. Mayo Clinic is obviously a top-notch institution. We are consistently rated as the top hospital in the country and internationally.
What we have that is unique is this fantastic training environment with amazing faculty, but also the support and the personal touch for our residents. We really want to bring in a diverse class of residents who can come and thrive in our program. We do not have a cookie-cutter approach to who we want. We are here to make the best doctors of anyone who comes to our program.
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Training at Mayo is special because they really celebrate who you are and who you want to become as a physician in the future. I think what is really special about training at Mayo is the time and energy that is put into each and every single one of our residents, and really building a unique educational experience.
For the size of our program, that is something that is incredibly unique when it comes to internal medicine programs, and that really starts on day one as soon as you get to Mayo.
Research Opportunities and Mentorship
Within my first week here, I had a consultant send an email on my behalf to help me find a research mentor. Through that kind of sponsorship, through one of the consultants here, I have had an incredible opportunity to perform research, write my own manuscripts, and be involved in writing up multiple projects.
Residents have access to more research opportunities than they can possibly pursue. Nearly any mentor you approach will connect you to a project, presentation, or publication.
Mentorship has been a very critical part of my academic and clinical progress. It is a very unique aspect where you are training among some of the top publishing clinicians and working alongside them. Not only do we have an academic focus, but we also have a lot of humility with the leaders that we work with.
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We really try to have our residents have an individualised learning plan from the very start. We help them explore through mentorship with their associate program directors, as well as our rotation directors, to give them that broad experience, as well as really using their elective and selective time to explore what they are interested in.
Unique Experiences and Clinical Training
I actually did get a chance to participate in an elective while here at Mayo. The one that I got to do was going to New York City for the ABC News medical unit rotation. That was an experience of a lifetime. I had a chance not only to witness but to be part of medical journalism firsthand.
Our ultrasound training is something that I am very proud of here at Mayo. We have every single resident come down to the simulation centre here and work with the chief residents and faculty to build those basic ultrasound techniques.
Mayo achieves an ideal balance between independence and guidance. This is evident in your intern year on medicine rotations. Interns act as primary physicians for six to eight patients, owning their care plans.
The second year is really where the autonomy piece shines. It is just you and your consultant providing service to patients. Our role as an educator is really emphasised in the third year, where you are teaching the interns, but also teaching a lot of your colleagues and consultants.
Patient Care and Diversity
I think one misconception I had was maybe because it is a referral centre that we only see, quote unquote, zebra cases. Now that I have done training here for three years, I totally disagree with that statement. We spend a lot of time in the primary care clinic and also in our inpatient general medicine service. We get to see our bread and butter medicine patients, but then also on top of that, we do get to see those zebra cases on some of our other rotations as well.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the diversity of our patient population. We have a large proportion of patients who are federally insured. We also have a large proportion of our patients who have limited English proficiency, and with whom you will be using a translator to communicate.
We also have integration of service learning into our ambulatory and community medicine curriculum, so you will be treating vulnerable populations in the community.
Wellness and Life in Rochester
I honestly could not be more pleased with how much the program has supported me. The program understands that you are a person outside of medicine, and life does not stop in the three years that you are here. We are very accommodating of vacation requests, including during inpatient months. We also have a four-plus-four schedule that really lends itself to wellness because you know that every other month, you will have four weekends where you can plan important events for yourself.
Moving to Rochester was my first experience in the Midwest, and I love calling Rochester home. It is awesome. I really like spending time outdoors year-round, and there is no lack of that here in Rochester.
What I like to do in my spare time is a lot of outdoor activities here in Rochester. There are Great Lakes and great trails. It is a very close-knit community, and everyone kind of knows everyone, and everyone is supportive of each other.
I am actually not from here, but I feel like I have found my family away from home. Living here in Rochester, I was really nervous coming to Mayo because I am not from the Midwest. I actually grew up on the East Coast. I left my family there and came to a brand new part of the country. I found my new family here, and I would make this decision all over again.
Final Thoughts
This is the premier residency program. I appreciate Mayo Clinic and its values. The continuity clinic fosters remarkable patient connections. Residents witness extraordinary pathology while training in an elite institution.
Everyone you interact with at Mayo Clinic is happy to be here. They are excited to be at work, and I think that is really special. A lot of places say that they put the needs of the patient first, but that is actually what happens here the entire time. From being a medical student to being a PhD here, to coming back to medical school here, to residency here, I can say that I feel proud and honoured to have been at this institution and to have served the patients of our local community and the global community as well.
FAQ
Q: What makes the Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Residency unique?
A: It offers a perfect balance of autonomy and supervision, individualised learning plans, exceptional mentorship, and a supportive community within a world-renowned institution.
Q: What research opportunities are available to residents?
A: Residents have access to abundant research projects, publications, and presentations. Strong mentorship helps residents connect quickly with faculty and start projects from the beginning of training.
Q: How diverse is the patient population at Mayo Clinic?
A: The patient population is highly diverse, including federally insured patients, individuals with limited English proficiency, and vulnerable populations served through community medicine rotations.
Q: What is life like in Rochester for residents?
A: Rochester offers a close-knit, supportive community with abundant outdoor activities, trails, and a family-friendly environment that many residents describe as home.
Q: Does the program support resident wellness?
A: Yes, the program is very accommodating with vacation requests, uses a four-plus-four schedule for better work-life balance, and recognises residents as individuals outside of medicine.
Q: What types of cases do residents see during training?
A: Residents see a mix of common bread-and-butter cases in primary care and inpatient services, as well as complex referral and zebra cases.
Conclusion
The Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Residency Program stands apart through its exceptional support, individualised training, outstanding research and mentorship opportunities, and strong emphasis on both clinical excellence and personal wellness. Residents benefit from world-class faculty, diverse patient experiences, and a collaborative environment that celebrates individuality while building lifelong skills and relationships. For those seeking a transformative training experience that prepares them to become outstanding physicians, Mayo Clinic offers an unmatched opportunity in a welcoming community.
