Another Trip to the Mall--Children's National Medical Center

Happy New Year!! We sauntered into 2011 after a brief but entirely fulfilling trip to the U.S. Virgin Island St. Croix. We figured we hadn't traveled enough in 2010. We were able to visit with Joel, Maggie, Jimmy, Marylou, Diego, and Max. It was wonderful!

My Uncle Joel is such an amazing person. We really enjoyed being able to get a glimpse of what his life is like and has been like on St. Croix.

                                                                         Capitan Ureta

Dr. Brad try to save Diego's finger from the big bad splinter.

                                                         Max, Diego, and Uncle Joel

                                                          It was a bit windy but gorgeous

                                                                 

                                                                    Two pina coladas

                                                                   One for each hand

Although not entirely related to the residency search process, it felt relevant because of the priorities in life that were propped up before us to ponder. Family is key isn't it? Being able to show up for important moments in life, that is something we've though of but perhaps underestimated in the hunt.

Let me backtrack for a moment. Prior to our trip to St. Croix we were able to stop in Washington D.C. for round two of interviews. Brad was really excited about the program at Children's National Medical Center which is associated with George Washington University. The program did not disappoint!

We were able to stay with Kris, Jennie and Brewster in Columbia Heights. Their place happened to be less than a mile from the hospital. What luck! It was snowy when we trained it, but sun was soon upon us and the temperature managed to stay slightly above freezing. We took advantage of the fact we, as an adorable couple, were staying with an equally adorable couple, and we did an adorable double couple activity: ice skating!

Brad's interview was on Friday and we spent the rest of the weekend playing with friends. The interview itself was fantastic. It turns out, the residency has two different tracks. One is a more standard pediatrics program and the other is a community outreach focused track. You can rank each. The community outreach track especially appealed to Brad. Even though Brad currently sees himself working in a hospital, the folks who are trained in the outreach track are not limited to community based (non-hospital) careers. He met many Doctors who decided to do the track because it would make them well rounded, well trained practitioners. Tat is right up Brad's alley. We loves the idea of being uber-well trained. The people in the program were cool and mellow and from diverse backgrounds.

While the program did not eclipse the steadily favored John's Hopkins, it did make a great impression. Making an even better impression was D.C. We had a blast hanging out with Jennie, Kris, and Farah. We got great Ethiopian food and even check out my old haunt, the UCDC building in Dupont.

Our last night in D.C. we took Brewster for a walk and went by a wine shop to get some provisions. The kind shop keeper let us bring adorable and well behaved Brestwer inside. Another shocker occurred when we went in, Dustin was inside the wine shop!! Dustin is a friend of mine from law school. He recently started working as a lawyer with the Department of Justice doing environmental law. What are the chances that we would run into him! Oh hello fate, nice to see you again. .

We invited Dustin to hang out and watch some football the next day which he did. He also, incredibly generously (which is no surprise for those of us who know Dustin) drove us to the airport the next day

Overall, well done Children's National. I think you have secured your spot in the top five of Brad's rank list. Next up....Brad's first 2011 interview in Houston, Texas. Yeehaw!