Interview #1: San Jose O'Connor

Today was my first interview, at San Jose O'Connor hospital in San Jose, CA. I was very, very impressed. I know that you seasoned interview-goers are already sick of interviewing, but I really, really liked the program and am excited to see how others compare. Melissa, a third-year, a graduate of U. of M's medical school, both hosted a dinner last night (AMAZING Thai cooking, reminiscent of John's, which made me feel at home) and the tour today. We commisserated about the MN winters while enjoying the 65 degree sunshine in and outside of the San Jose hospital. Things I really liked:

• The residents. Very, very friendly and HAPPY people. They obviously love eachother (close knit class of 6-8 residents per year) and their families. One had a baby intern year and there is incredible class support.
• The quality of life. There is SO MUCH to do in this area. People couldn't stop telling me about all the opportunities for hiking, biking, running, wine-tasting, etc. that abound in this area. Too bad we have to have jobs (and/or have to interview during these precious days). I would just love to be somewhere where you can enjoy the outdoors for so much of the year!
• Great hospital schedule. NO PREROUNDING!!! I cannot get over this. Days usually are between 7 or 8 and 5-6 p.m. Teams cover admissions and patient care during the day. Then, when you're on call as an intern, you take admissions usually from 5-10 p.m. and then there is a night-float system to cover other stuff. You can potentially get tons of sleep :)
• Call: You cover call for the whole hospital, so are admitting Peds/Medicine/ICU/OB patients. No compartmentalizing, consistent with a true family-medicine model.
• Lots of OB experience: 2 months at a busy county hospital, then your own continuity patients as well as deliveries when you are covering inpatient OB/Peds service. Included is experience with C-sections. Most easily graduate with 150 deliveries. No fellowship needed, although there is an OB fellowship at the nearby Santa Clara Valley hospital.
  
• Diversity. 40% of the population is Hispanic, and most of the patients are underserved, insured through Medical (CA's equivalent of Medicaid) . Spanish would be used frequently!!
  
• Interational health is encouraged. One of the faculty physicians has an interest in Tropical Medicine/Global Health and there are programs already set up in places like Honduras. You are guaranteed a month in either 2nd or 3rd year for an away elective. Melissa did dermatology in Maui!! How cool is that?!
• Open, friendly long-time residency director committed to honoring residents' suggestions for changes and improvements. Very receptive to resident input.
• Facilities: Brand-new ER. Spotless hospital and family med clinic sites right across the street from the hospital-- no driving across town for few-times-weekly clinic half-days.
  
• Lots of procedures. They are hands-on here. Surgical training in common outpatient problems without having to seek it out. No "see one, watch one, observe one" here.
• Catholic-based hospital. On-staff non-denominational medical chaplains who see all patients. A "prayer break" at 9 a.m. They stress care of the "whole person," medically and spiritually.
• Free, unlimited food. Yes, no signing in or anything, at the hospital cafeteria (whose food is really good!). Free parking too. Awesome health insurance, including for any cohabitants:)

There are many more pluses, so I could go on and on. But this gets two-thumbs up. Set the bar high. I'm going to have to see if other programs measure up! It's UCSF tomorrow (Tuesday) and then FP/OB at UC Davis in Sacramento on Wednesday.