| Resident Spouse Support |
| Medical Residencies: What to expect! |
| One of the most important decisions that you and your spouse will make is the type of residency program. Some medical students enter school with a certain goal in mind...for others, the choice of specialty becomes a family decision. There are several factors that you and your spouse may want to consider as you begin this chapter in your medical training journey: Call Schedules: Many specialties differ in the number of days per week that the physician is required to take call. Surgical specialties are known for their 1:3 and sometimes even 1:2 lifestyle. Many family practice programs have several months of outpatient work with no call and a less rigorous call schedule for the inpatient months. Research the specialty and the programs and talk to other residents and their spouses! Program Length: The type of residency also dictates the length of the training period. Internal Medicine and Family Practice Programs are typically 3 years. Most Surgical Residencies are 5. Other residencies like Radiology may require a transitional year before the 4 year program. This may be an important factor for families living on one income or with loans that can not be deferred. If you are looking for more information on the various residency programs, stop by the FREIDA residency FAQ page! |