Resident Life

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Trainees in the Diagnostic Radiology Residency program love all that Mayo Clinic and Jacksonville have to offer. We'll support you both inside and outside of the Mayo Clinic campus to promote wellness and ensure your work/life balance.

Outside of work, residents enjoy a variety of activities on the land, in the water, and during days of sunshine. Here are just a few recommendations from our current residents:

Golf - there are 20+ courses in the city with many more within an easy drive in Fernandina Beach, St John’s county, and St Augustine. The headquarters of the PGA Tour, TPC Sawgrass, is in Ponte Vedra on the south side of town.
Beach - surfing, surf fishing, swimming, paddle boarding, beach volleyball, and more!
Water activities - Jacksonville is a great city for anything related to water. Beyond the beach there are many miles of shoreline on the St John’s River and Intracoastal Waterway. Kayaking and fishing are very popular.
Sports - there are plenty of recreational leagues and organized pick-up games in several sports including soccer, basketball, and beach volleyball. Residents also enjoy watching the Jumbo Shrimp, Jacksonville's minor league baseball team, and the Icemen, a minor league hockey team.
Concerts - the St Augustine amphitheater and Veterans Memorial Arena consistently bring in great shows and concerts.
Day/weekend trips - Springs in central Florida, St Augustine, Orlando/Disney World, Savannah, Georgia, Charleston South Carolina.
Food/drink - Jacksonville has several excellent breweries and a newly established distillery. There are also well-known distilleries and breweries in St Augustine and Fernandina Beach (40-minute drive). There are restaurants covering cuisine from all over the world and from grab-and-go to high-end. Seafood is prominent on most menus, and much of it is locally sourced.
Nightlife - there are many great restaurants and bars around town, with some very active spots by the beaches, San Marco, Riverside, and downtown. Each has a different atmosphere so there’s something for everyone.
Nature - Florida has a great state park system with several close to Jacksonville. There are plenty of city and county parks as well. Jacksonville is located between two national park sites, the Timucuan Preserve and the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Timucuan offers a huge area for kayaking and other watercraft activities and GTMNERR offers over eight miles of undeveloped shoreline on the Atlantic where you can completely escape the crowds. During the week, it’s possible to go there and share two miles of beach with only three to four people.

Jacksonville, despite its size, exudes the warmth and familiarity of a small town while accommodating a vibrant and diverse population across all ages. From the consistently pleasant weather to the tranquil beaches, as well as the rich tapestry of cultures, cuisines, music, and art, living in Jacksonville is a truly immersive experience. The city's eclectic populace ensures that Mayo residents are exposed to an array of patient demographics and varying pathology, enriching our medical training.

Christbel Ojieabu
Diagnostic radiology resident

My young family and I love Jacksonville and feel grateful to have ended up here for residency. We never have a problem filling our free time, whether that be with visits to the beach or parks, or enjoying the museums, restaurants, and multitude of indoor activities for kids and adults. The city is also conveniently located to several other locales, if we're looking for a day or weekend trip. We're glad to call Jacksonville our residency home, with all it has to offer.

Kyle Hatcher
Diagnostic radiology resident

Wellness initiatives

As a resident, your physical and mental health is a priority to both Mayo Clinic and our department. Residents have access to several resources to promote well-being, as well as time off clinical duties to attend appointments.

Fitness centers
Groups on campus
Student Services

Fitness centers

Trainees exercising in a studio Mayo Clinic residents or fellows can experience 24/7 free access to the Bill Hewitt Employee Wellness Center — opened in the summer of 2024 and spans 6,700 square feet with modern cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, a studio for live classes, and includes showers and locker rooms for convenience.

Additionally, residents or fellows at our three campuses get discounted membership fees to area gyms. In Jacksonville, Florida, residents and fellows can obtain an exclusive discount with the YMCA (several locations).

Groups on campus

Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) in Florida 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 will have the opportunity to join a Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) at any time during their training program. Current MERGs on the Florida campus include groups based on African, Asian, and Latino heritage as well as groups focused on veterans, global health volunteering, professional development, family resources and events, and LGBTI and differently-abled staff and allies.

Student Services

Cardiovascular diseases fellow works on a computer at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Student Services office provides resources to promote academic, emotional, social, 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 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.

Additional supportive resources

Mayo has great support for residents through multiple internal programs. The Mayo Fellows Association sponsors events and wellness programs throughout the year. There is free internal counseling/psychiatric service available to trainees. There is a clear and robust system for confidentially reporting issues and they are dealt with promptly. Active spousal Facebook groups and groups for trainees with kids provide social support as well.

There is no on-site childcare through Mayo, but there is a child care center across the street from Mayo's parking area where many employees take their children. Mayo also contracts for backup childcare and subsidizes that service for trainees up to 100 hours per year.