Resident Life
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Trainees in the Dermatology Residency program love all the opportunities that being at Mayo Clinic affords. Outside of work, residents are able to enjoy the Phoenix/Scottsdale areas and their numerous attractions.
While Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the nation, it is unique in its closeness to wilderness and nature, providing opportunities to enjoy both city life and the great outdoors.
Here are just a few recommendations from our current residents:
- Food/drink: There are many options of cuisine from all over the world. Some local favorites include Pizzeria Bianco, Glai Baan, Little Miss BBQ, FnB, Harumi Sushi, The Sicilian Butcher, and more. There are numerous options for sweets including Sprinkles Cupcakes, Crumbl Cookies, Sweet Republic artisan ice cream, frozen yogurt, and more. Abundant nightlife can also be found in Old Town Scottsdale.
- Arts/culture: There are several museums in the Valley, including the Phoenix Art Museum, Desert Botanical Gardens, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Arizona Science Center, and the Musical Instrument Museum. Some museums offer free admission days, and the Resident and Fellow’s Association sometimes offers free admission as well.
- Attractions: In addition to the museums mentioned above, family-friendly attractions include the Phoenix Zoo, Wildlife World Zoo, OdySea Aquarium, and SeaLife Aquarium. Scottsdale Quarter, Kierland Commons, Fashion Square, and Old Town Scottsdale also offer a variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy.
- Sports: Phoenix is home to many professional sports teams. Of major-league sports, there are the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, and Phoenix Mercury.
- Concerts: There are numerous performance venues to catch nationwide tours of various pop, R&B, hip hop, country, alternative, indie, and rock concerts. Some of these include Marquee Theater, Celebrity Theatre, Arizona Federal Theatre, Mesa Amphitheatre, The Van Buren, among others.
- Water activities: Despite being a desert, there are various lakes and rivers around! There is the Salt River, where you can kayak, paddleboard, or tube down. There are also various lakes, including Saguaro Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Canyon Lake for boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
- Nature/hiking: Many of the residents love all the nature and hiking that Arizona has to offer. There are various mountain preserves for hiking within the city. Additionally, the Superstition Mountains are an hour away with various trail options. Tonto National Forest, Prescott National Forest, and Coconino National Forests are all within close proximity and provide abundant hiking, off-roading, and camping activities.
- Day/weekend trips: There are abundant day and weekend trips from Scottsdale. Going North in the summer to Sedona or Flagstaff often provides cooler weather for camping or hotels to escape the heat. In the winter, skiing and snowboarding can be found at Snowbowl in Flagstaff. The Grand Canyon is only three hours away! Lake Powell is near the Arizona border with over 2,000 miles of shoreline for boating, kayaking, or camping. Other cities within driving distance include Tucson (1.5 hours), Las Vegas (5 hours), San Diego (5.5 hours), and Puerto Penasco in Mexico (4 hours).
- Golf: There are unlimited golfing opportunities within Arizona, including the Waste Management Open every year.
Wellness initiatives
As a trainee, your physical and mental health is a priority to both Mayo Clinic and the Dermatology department. Trainees have access to several resources to promote well-being, as well as time off clinical duties to attend appointments. Learn more about the wellness initiatives at Mayo Clinic.
- Fitness centers
- Well-being
- Groups on campus
Fitness centers
As a resident or fellow at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, you have access to an exclusive learners-only gym and wellness center conveniently located on the Phoenix campus. Additionally, Mayo Clinic residents or fellows at our three campuses get discounted membership fees to area gyms through PerkSpot, the Mayo Clinic employee discount program.
All Arizona learners can also sign up to take fitness classes and health workshops through the department of Integrative Health or through the Mayo Clinic Well-Being program.
Well-being
The Student Services office provides resources to promote academic, emotional, social, cognitive, financial, and physical well-being. Career and academic services include academic advising, peer tutoring, and accommodations for learners with disabilities or health conditions. Mental health services, counseling, interview practice, and a variety of enrichment sessions on topics like budgeting, resiliency, and stress and burn-out are also available through the Student Services office.
Groups on campus
Opportunities to join a variety of groups on campus provide regular social activities and can help enhance your training while connecting with a broad group of peers.
Trainees have the opportunity to join a Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) at any time during their training program. Current MERGs on the Phoenix/Scottsdale campus in Arizona include groups based on African, Asian, and Latino heritage as well as groups focused on veterans, global health, leadership development, and LGBTI and differently-abled staff and allies.
“Mayo Clinic in Arizona is a unique program due to its small size and the opportunity to develop close relationships with faculty and staff. It's hard to pick which facets of our program are my favorite, but among them are the predominance of resident continuity clinic, our strong dermatopathology training, and our new chief resident cosmetic clinic.
"The Phoenix-Scottsdale metropolitan area has something for everyone. Outdoor activities abound and escape from the heat in the summer is a short drive away."
Helen Cumsky, M.D.
Dermatology Resident, Class of 2023
"Mayo Clinic has provided me with world-class training in dermatology. As a large tertiary referral center, I often see rare and refractory skin disorders that provide a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Our continuity clinic allows me to observe the natural progression of skin conditions and develop the skills to prescribe systemic medications including rituximab, mycophenolate, and methotrexate.
"Arizona offers beautiful sunny days amidst the background of mountains. There are endless activities to explore including golfing, boating, hiking, and even skiing. Phoenix is a short drive from multiple national parks including Zion National Park, Saguaro National Park, and the Grand Canyon.
Monica Janeczek, M.D.
Dermatology Residency, Class of 2023
Life as a resident photo gallery
Explore just a few ways residents maintain balance between work responsibilities and hobbies, family, and friends outside of the clinic.
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