The Interview Season.

I just experienced my first residency interview. On Wednesday and Thursday, I interviewed for the Triple Board Program (Peds/Psych/Child Psych) and the Psychiatry Program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. 'Twas a long and exhausting process, but Rachel and I are hopeful that the interviews went well. Rachel is my colleague from Arizona who is also applying to the TBP. We have been working together for the last month. We have bonded through our similar experiences, our similar desires, our similar personalities and our preparation for our very first interview.

Wednesday was our interview day devoted to psychiatry. We both underwent four interviews, a lunch with the residents, a set of didactics and a fancy dinner with the TBP chief resident and one of the third year TBP residents. The day started out on an awkward foot. My cousin's house is ten minutes away from the site of the interviews. Therefore, I left 25 minutes early. And of course, a car was stalled on the way to the clinic site. I drove on campus two minutes prior to my scheduled time. I rushed to the door, and discovered I was at the wrong entrance. Fortunately, I also ran into a friendly psychiatry resident who ushered me to the place I was supposed to be. I arrived EXACTLY on time.

I was interviewed by the interim director of the TBP, the child psychiatry didactics coordinator, the founder of the TBP at UK, and the psychiatry residency director. In addition, I ate lunch with three child psychiatry residents. I learned about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), drug abuse in the Appalachians, and the risk of physician suicide. There was some confusion as to where we would be meeting for dinner -- apparently two dinners were scheduled with TBP residents, both by psychiatry and pediatrics, but eventually we ended up at Portofino's, an Italian restaurant with fancy and expensive food. I ordered Scallops Veronique -- a delicious meal that I never would have ordered on my own tab with my loan-money income. I also helped consume two overpriced appetizers and a glass of red wine.

Day two of the interview was with the pediatrics department. The day started with a Grand Rounds devoted to learning disabilities. It was an interesting lecture. Next up on the itinerary: an interview with one of the attending physicians in Adolescent Medicine. He was one of the nicest and most thorough interviewers I've met to date. I had some time off while I waited for some of my colleagues to complete their interviews. Then we had lunch with about six or seven pediatrics residents (from Categorical Pediatrics, Med/Peds, and the TBP). Afterwards, we met with the dean of UK who is pediatrics-trained. Finally, my last interview was held with the pediatrics residency director. I had met him before, and I enjoyed the interview. The day ended with a tour of the facilities with one of the residents. Though Rachel and I had been on campus already, the other two interviewees with the Categorical Pediatrics program had not had the chance to see the facilities. It was a good end of the day. Rachel and I traveled to Joseph-Beth, a local bookstore, and sipped coffee while we discussed the interview process. It was an exhausting experience, but hopefully the committee has a better feel for who I am and why I would make a good addition to the programs.

We shall see in March if the program agrees.

Yesterday I interviewed a girl with bulemia. I find the eating disorders intriguing, both because of the medical and psychiatric ramifications of the condition, and because of some people I grew up with who developed the disorder. It is interesting to discover the interplay of biology, psychology and sociology that leads to the development of such a condition in an individual. I think she will do well eventually, but the road will be tough.