We recognize that the decision about where to train is important and should be well informed. We polled our residents about what information would have been helpful to have when they were deciding which programs to apply to. This is the compilation of those questions. Whether you choose to apply to our program or not, hopefully, this will help make your selection a little easier.
Training
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What things do graduates do? Will I have the skills to practice the way I want when finished?
Despite having only a few graduating classes, our residents have had an array of future positions. Residents have done fellowships in geriatrics, hospitalist, and urgent care. They have gone into outpatient practices in rural, suburban, and urban communities. See Our Alumni Page for more details.
What electives or tracks are available?
We do not have pre-formed “tracks” that residents must follow. We encourage our residents to develop (with the help of their advisor) a plan that works to help them develop their own skills. Some choose to focus on areas of difficulty that they may not have access to after graduation, and others focus on skills they believe they will need in their next position. Common electives include: endocrinology, nephrology, palliative care, pulmonology, sports medicine, urgent care, urology, independent study, and inclusion clinic.
How do you prepare residents for training and support them through training?
We have a month-long orientation during which the faculty, staff, and current residents introduce the new residents to the work that we do. Time is spent in the clinic and hospital getting instruction on our EMR (Epic), local policies/protocols, and the basics such as where to find things.
What are the didactics like?
Practice
What are the patients like?
Our patients come from a range of geographic locations and a variety of socioeconomic statuses. It would not be uncommon to care for an affluent suburban college student one minute and an elder with no income or social support the next. The primary languages in the area are English, Spanish, and Hmong.
What is the adult inpatient experience like?
Residents have 6 blocks of adult inpatient, 2 per year. The team consists of a faculty attending and 1 resident from each year. The team supports each other. We expect a steady increase in skills and responsibilities. The PGY3 resident functions as the chief on service, junior faculty of sorts. Most months, there is also a 4th year medical student as the sub-intern. The day shift is covered by the team, and nights are covered by the night float resident. Each resident has 4 weeks of night float per year with 5 nights/week and no clinic responsibilities. To allow each team to have time to rest, an “off-service” resident covers Saturdays. This averages out to 4-5 Saturdays per year for each PGY2 and PGY3.
The resident room in the hospital is a large space with many windows that overlook the hospital garden. There are several sleep rooms onsite. Hospital scrubs are available for use during inpatient shifts. The residents are provided meal cards to cover the cost of meals when on hospital-based rotations.
What types of procedures do residents do?
Our residents do skin procedures (excisions, punch biopsy, toenail removal, I&D, cryotherapy, laceration repair), GYN procedures (IUD, Nexplanon, colposcopy, EMB), newborn procedures (circumcisions, frenulotomy), MSK procedures (joint injection/aspiration, OMT for those trained, casting/splinting) as well as point of care ultrasound. We have ultrasound machines available in both clinics and the hospital.
If a resident wanted training to perform abortions, that would need to be arranged as a 4 week elective.
What is the OB experience like?
Each resident can have obstetrical patients of their own at any stage of training. The Women & Newborn Health rotation (WNH) is a multifaceted rotation. There is 1 block in the first year, 1 block in the second year, and 1 block in the third year. During WNH, residents will rotate at our partner hospital, Froedtert West Bend Hospital for both obstetrical and newborn care experience. Residents will be responsible for the management of inductions and laboring patients, delivery of the newborn, assisting in cesarean sections, and post-partum management. They are responsible for newborn care rounding as well.
The hospital shift is 6a-6p every other day. When not in the hospital, residents are either in their own clinic or rotating with the OB/GYNs getting additional outpatient gynecology training.
Life
What is the typical family status of your residents?
We have a range of residents – married/partnered, single, with and without children.
Would I be able to raise a family there? Is it safe?
Menomonee Falls and surrounding areas are very safe with many communities that have excellent school systems and lots to do.
What is the cost of living?
In 2020, Menomonee Falls was ranked 15th among the “Best Places to Live in the US”. To learn more about the area, check out https://menofallsfmr.org/menomonee-falls. To read about cost of living statistics, check out this website.
Where do most residents live?
Our residents must have their own license and vehicle. Public transportation, ridesharing, and taxis are not reliable ways to get to and from rotation sites
Will I need my own car?
Our residents must have their own license and vehicle. Public transportation, ridesharing, and taxis are not reliable ways to get to and from rotation sites
What is your policy on vacation, sick leave, and parental leave?