The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Work, Life Concerns to Consider Before Completing Medical Fellowship

Work, Life Concerns to Consider Before Completing Medical Fellowship

November 1, 2014 • By Katarzyna Gilek-Seibert, MD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

I am sitting in a cozy nook of my new home, preparing for my two stressful and upcoming back-to-back exams: the rheumatology board exam, followed by the MSK U.S. certification exam two weeks later. My armchair vantage point allows uninterrupted views of the carpenter ants’ pathway in the adjacent kitchen, on the wall above the cabinets. With persistent accuracy, they adhere to the same route with occasional random aberration and exploration of various other areas of the kitchen. If you are not familiar with these little creatures’ habits, I learned, during the pest control man’s two visits, that they are not seeking to share our food, but are instead looking for water sources. They are large and annoying, but pose little threat to human health. They may, however, destroy the wood in a house and so must be eradicated.

You Might Also Like
  • Strategies for Striking Work–Life Balance
  • From the Expert: Dr. Anne Bass Addresses Fellowship Training in Rheumatology
  • Fellows’ Forum: 7 Tips to Successfully Manage Upward During Fellowship
Explore This Issue
November 2014
Also By This Author
  • Benefits, Challenges of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology

Finally, separated from the hectic trials and tribulations of fellowship, over the past few weeks I had some time to think. Observation of my ant companions’ repetitive motions provided me with some solemn reflection about nature’s dependable constants in contrast to the recent twists and turns of my life. At times I’ve been angry that my decisions upended my life balance and steered me into a realm of seemingly endless uncertainty. In that respect, I envied the ants (at least before the exterminator came to visit), with their lives of predictable rhythm. Like many medical school graduates, fellows or residents, I find myself yet again at a conflicting crossroads of my career where, although I have a job and duly executed employment contract, it feels like a few screws were shaken loose after graduation. I often identify with scenes from The Graduate in which Dustin Hoffman appears carefree, basking in the sun while floating on a raft in his parents’ pool, but his sunglasses and outward serenity mask quite a bit of internal turmoil, mixed feelings and doubt.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Observation of my ant companions’ repetitive motions provided me with some solemn reflection about nature’s dependable constants in contrast to the recent twists & turns of my life.

Not Yet an Attending

Here, in my comfortable armchair, as a freshly minted, board-eligible graduate, I am pleased with my recent accomplishments, but simultaneously apprehensive of the certainty of once again being the insecure new kid on the block.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

By all accounts, I should have been well prepared for this post-graduation period. I attended the ACR Annual Meeting sessions in which well-respected colleagues gave well-intentioned, sound advice about future career choices and navigating the netherworld between graduation and employment. Due to administrative delays, my time in medical professional limbo unexpectedly was extended from a planned 60 days (relax, study, get licenses) to more than 90 (Where is my paycheck? Why is COBRA insurance so expensive? Do I qualify for unemployment benefits?).

Pages: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page

Filed Under: Education & Training, Professional Topics, Profiles Tagged With: ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Career, Education, employment, fellowship, Gilek-Seibert, medical fellow, rheumatologist, rheumatology, work-life balanceIssue: November 2014

You Might Also Like:
  • Strategies for Striking Work–Life Balance
  • From the Expert: Dr. Anne Bass Addresses Fellowship Training in Rheumatology
  • Fellows’ Forum: 7 Tips to Successfully Manage Upward During Fellowship
  • Rheumatology Fellowship Programs Could Benefit from Leadership Training

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)