Dr. John Tannyhill and Dr. Michael Baron: Tips on Ranking Programs and Navigating Residency For Those With Families

“No worldly success can compensate for failure in the home.” Alongside the fact that we are all oral surgeons, another commonality that I have with the two guests on today’s show is that we all went (or are currently going) through our oral surgery residency with at least one child. Dr John Tannyhill is the Director of Harvard’s School of Dentistry Oral Surgery Program and Dr. Michael Baron is an oral surgery resident at Mount Sinai, and they are here to share advice about maintaining a healthy work-life balance. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and there will always be compromises that have to be made, so the key is to communicate openly with your significant other. We discuss important factors to take into account when deciding whether a residency program is “family friendly” or not, how some institutions accommodate for the unique income trajectory of oral surgeons, and why residents with families are likely to be more efficient than those without. For all of us, our “why” is our family, and we couldn’t do what we do without them, which is why we all recommend less (or no) moonlighting; there are so many other ways to get rid of your debt without sacrificing time at home! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Michael and John share what their professional paths have looked like, and how these intersected with their family lives. 
• Factors that contribute to making oral surgery programs “family friendly.”
• Compromises that you are likely to have to make in order to achieve a work-life balance.
• The importance of communicating with your significant other. 
• A story about an interaction that Michael had with a landlord in Boston. 
• Challenges of finding affordable housing as an oral surgery resident. 
• The unique income trajectory of oral surgeons, and how banks accommodate for this.
• Ways that some programs prioritize oral surgeons who have families. 
• How hospitals look after their residents in terms of health insurance.
• Health insurance options for students.
• John and Michael’s experiences of medical school compared to residency.
• A difficult time I went through during my residency and the support that my wife gave me during this time.
• Michael shares a story which highlights how difficult it can be to balance work and family life. 
• Why residents with families are usually more efficient with their time than those without. 
• The pros and cons of moonlighting, and why none of us would recommend it. 
• Value in having conversations with previous residents. 
• Changes that have occured in residency programs over the years. 
• Support that Michael is receiving in his residency program. 
• A rapid fire round with John and Michael.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720 441 6059