When you're applying for jobs after residency, there are a few cardinal rules.
- Apply broadly.
- Never take the first offer.
- Spend a lot of time negotiating, analyzing, and perfecting the contract with lawyers.
Here's the story of how I didn't follow any of them. And before I get into it: prior to working in Westport, I'm almost ashamed to say I didn't know much of anything about the town.
As I was finishing residency at Yale, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I had contemplated doing a fellowship afterward (hematology, addiction medicine), but at the same time I was ready to start working, and I really enjoyed internal medicine.
Right around that time, I received an email from our residency program: there was a practice in Westport looking for Yale graduates. The email came from Dr. Jaime Ruszkowski. It painted a picture of an established private practice, close-knit, high-quality internal medicine in an ideal community.
I'm not exactly sure what about that email resonated with me, but I arranged a meet and greet in Westport.
I remember driving down for the first time. It seemed nice. Then I walked up the stairs to the second floor and was greeted by Dr. Bob Altbaum and Dr. Mario Pinto.
I think it was at that moment that I felt a real warmth and sincerity from them both. As it turns out, my instinct was right. They showed me the clinic and I was genuinely impressed. I just had a really good feeling.
Over the next few months we had more discussions, an interview, and eventually a job offer, and I started asking around for advice about what to do.
But I hadn't applied anywhere else. I hadn't "played the field." Was that a problem?
I met with all the doctors. Dr. Horn showed me the contracts and such. I was told to really hone in on them, dissect them, and change what was necessary.
I did ultimately review the contract with a lawyer, and he made some suggested changes.
But then I looked at all these great doctors and I just sort of trusted them, and I ended up signing the original contract without the modifications, because they didn't seem to be that critical.
Looking back, I guess I was flying as blind as I thought. I met Dr. Altbaum (if you know you know), Dr. Pinto and the rest were really genuinely good doctors and collegial amongst themselves — I could see that. Those were real signals. Maybe I just knew what I had found was all I needed.
In the end, my time in Westport has been significantly better than I could have ever imagined.
I do have struggles with how the "system" is working, and that's one of the reasons I'm building my new model and moving toward becoming bi-coastal. But I want to be clear about where that frustration is aimed.
It's structural, not local. This practice, these people, and this town have been virtually perfect.
I didn't know anything about Westport when I drove down that first time, and I didn't know what else was out there when I signed. Both turned out to be the same kind of not-knowing.
I'm glad I trusted my instincts.
Stephen
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