As a neurology resident at UAB, you will enjoy an excellent quality of life. The daily congenial atmosphere among residents and attendings is very conducive to learning. Residents are busy, but not overwhelmingly so. After work, residents at UAB enjoy a high quality of life in Birmingham.
For most if not all rotations, your typical day will begin anywhere from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m. and end around 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Only PGY2’s take in-house call (q6 or q7), and when post-call, they must go home by 1:00 p.m. in order to comply with ACGME regulations. Also, when post-call, there is no continuity clinic.
For PGY3’s and PGY4’s, all call is home call (usually about q8 to q10). While on home call, you assist the in-house PGY2 resident over the phone. If necessary, home call residents will come to the hospital, but the need for this is very rare.
- Welcoming parties in July
- “Journal Club” held every couple of months. Held at a local bar & grill, it is known among the residents as “beer & cheer”
- Holiday parties, including 4th of July, Christmas, etc. sponsored by the department and/or a pharmaceutical company
- Post-RITE party. After the Residency Inservice Training Exam in February, residents blow off some steam! This event is sponsored by a pharmaceutical company.
- Dr. Oh’s End Of The Year party in June, honoring graduating residents and fellows
- And, of course, many informal gatherings throughout the year. Residents’ spouses are not left out. As mentioned above, spouses are welcome to most gatherings. Additionally, there is the JCRMA (Jefferson County Residents Medical Alliance), an informal organization comprised of female spouses of residents and some female residents. The JCRMA hosts parties and fun activities for members, and participates in philanthropic endeavors.
Birmingham is a surprisingly affluent community. Though UAB is the number one employer in the state, many other industries flourish here, such as finance, banking, insurance, and automobile manufacturing. Residents’ spouses have little trouble finding employment.
Without exception, residents living in Birmingham are very pleasantly surprised. Situated in the foothills of the Appalachians, the landscape is very scenic and hilly. The climate is temperate, but not as hot and humid as the Gulf Coast. Most residents live 5-20 minutes away from the hospital, with very little traffic, even at peak hours. South Birmingham is a very safe area. Some of the school systems surrounding Birmingham (Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and Hoover) are highly acclaimed and nationally ranked. With a population of over 850,000 in the metropolitan area, there are plenty of good restaurants and cultural activities.
A major reason for high resident satisfaction in Birmingham is the high quality of life the residents enjoy. Real estate is very affordable. Traffic is a non-issue (as long as you avoid Hwy 280!). Almost all residents, whether single or married, own houses or condominiums in very attractive and safe neighborhoods close to the UAB campus. If you are so inclined, there are ample opportunities to moonlight during your PGY3 and PGY4 years.