FAQ: Commonly Asked Questions

How long are shifts?

Depends, generally about 8 hours. May vary a bit by site but never more than 10. Off service will have some 12 hour shifts in the ICU.

What are we most proud about our program?

Seniors feel prepared to go off and practice in any setting. Though the years fly by, everyone is excited to make that transition and they do well.

We also feel that we do a good job at work-life balance. Do we work a lot? Yes. Do we also get enough days off and do fun stuff? Yes.

We also value fostering relationships amongst our residents, so there are plenty of opportunities (group conferences, first tuesday events, etc) for us all to bond.

Is there an orientation period?

Our program is generous with the orientation period. Our residents start orienting around mid June. Though earlier than some other programs, we do this for a few reasons. The orientation schedule is very light, so residents get to spend a lot of time exploring Portland, getting to know their class, and coming to graduation/kick-off events. Then when July 1st rolls around we are ready to jump in and start working hard.

What is the patient population like?

Portland is more diverse than some people think! We have an amazing range of gender diversity and a very supportive community to go with it. We also see many immigrant populations; we see Hispanic, Asian, African, and Slavic peoples regularly. The diversity of the many different residency programs is also apparent.

We will keep adding to this section as we can!