Amy Hynek, Surgery Resident

I had rotated through several other places, all osteopathic rotations, looking at surgery residencies. I decided on NRMC because they have more of a focus on rural surgery and that's what I'd like to do. I grew up on a farm and so I like the broad spectrum of surgeries we get to participate in. This is much more head to toe surgery.

Here, several of the attendings will allow you to do the whole case till the point where you need assistance. I mean, they're there the whole time but you get a lot more participation. I can even remember when I came here as a fourth year medical student I was working with Doctor Bankey and he actually let me do the entire tracheotomy. This is also the strongest didactic program I've ever been to, so if we lack in numbers we make up for in didactics. As far as technology goes they have all the latest laparoscopic, endoscopic instruments here. We are actually now getting to do some rather cutting edge stuff for skin grafting.

Life here in Kirksville has been great. I live out by the lake and I love it, because

I really enjoy outdoor activities so I get to take my kayak down to the lake and kayak and swim. They have decent places for biking and running too, so I enjoy it a lot. It doesn't have all the amenities of the city, but I'm not like a big shopper so that's not a huge deal.

Over all this program is really like a big family, you really get to know everyone really well and the attendings really care about your learning. I feel like people are really here for me.