Why This Program?
Yue Teng M.D. and Larisa Sharp M.D. give us their perspectives on why they chose CRMEF for their medical residency program.
Yue Teng, M.D.
I finished my exams late in the interview year and did not expect to get many interviews. Fortunately, I did get a few interviews and visited a few places, but my wife and I were not very impressed; I thought I would have to wait another year.
However, one day Dr. Baustian called and reviewed the details of the Cedar Rapids Program with me. After discussing this opportunity with my wife, we decided to come to Cedar Rapids. At least I was going somewhere that it snows; I missed the snowfalls I enjoyed in my home town! I asked myself many times during interviews, “How bad can it be? How good can it be?” I have been surprised, impressed and now confident training in Cedar Rapids.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the educational environment of CRMEF. Everything is about teaching and learning; how to teach the residents efficiently -- how to give the best learning opportunities for the residents -- how to prepare the residents best for their future practice. The Residency Training Program is focused on the residents. The upper-class residents are friendly and always willing to help. Plus, there is no competition from other residencies.
I am impressed by the dynamic balance between responsibility and supervision - what I should do for the patients and what I feel comfortable doing. The faculty and the local preceptors are always willing to work with residents to find the best balance for the resident to learn. Our faculty somehow know the right amount of support the resident needs.
Confidence is one of the components I can take when I graduate. I was unsure what I was going to face when I started in June 2006. There is no such thing as family practice in China and that was one of the reasons I chose family medicine. When I think about what I knew when I started compared to what I know now, I feel confident I will be a competent family physician
when I graduate. The bridge from student to resident was not bumpy. You are surrounded by support from the faculty, nurses, fellow residents, even the medical record staff.
Weekly activities with fellow residents, faculty, graduates, nurses and others have introduced me to the many exciting parts of Cedar Rapids. The lakes, rivers and natural beauty around Cedar Rapids have given me plenty of resources for my fishing, jogging, biking and my wife’s
gardening. Though the schedule is sometimes busy, I still have time to enjoy life with my wife and friends.
Being an International Medical Graduate, my road to residency was atypical and demanding, thus making the importance of my match decision very critical. I have been asked by many people, "WHY Cedar Rapids?"
After traveling across the Midwest and interviewing at ten programs, the Cedar Rapids Medical Education Foundation was the Program that quantitatively made the most sense.
One of the major differences I experienced was the sense of importance the Program placed on family both in and out of the hospital. Our call schedule allows you to not only grow and work closely with your CRMEF family, but also be able to be home with your real family. Due to a diverse and highly educated staff, the systems in place make those resident horror stories you hear simply untrue. The faculty is highly knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge with the residents.
Sometimes I am amazed by the deep and detailed approaches my preceptors use during evaluation and taking care of patients while simultaneously looking ahead for more solutions. Education at CRMEF is continuously happening no matter what time or place. Another great attribute is the simple fact that I am confident that I can call my faculty regardless of the time, even 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. with any question or problem, and I will receive the help I need. You will be impressed and appreciative of the faculty at CRMEF. They are all such dedicated teachers and doctors.
An additional bonus is that CRMEF is an unopposed Program allowing immediate hands-on experience, while balancing autonomy and faculty support. I was able to deliver a baby and participate in Code Blue in my first call; It doesn’t get more frontline than that. I also soon discovered that I had the opportunity to do my rotations with the top specialists in the area who also love to teach and work with residents in a very professional manner as a colleague and not as a student.
With my first year coming to a close, I feel that I have absolutely chosen the correct Program to become a well rounded family physician. You will enjoy this unique family and the educational experience you will gain. I truly look forward to what every day will bring me.
