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Fellow Life

Nine people from the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, posted for a group photo at the Foundation House.

The Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship provides rigorous medical, surgical, and academic training to prepare you for excellence in patient care, research, and leadership in the field. While the program is challenging, we are committed to a supportive learning environment that encourages you to develop a work-life balance. You have time to spend with family and friends, engage in wellness activities, and pursue personal interests outside of work.

Wellness initiatives

As a trainee, your physical and mental health are priorities to Mayo Clinic and the department. Trainees have access to several resources to promote well-being, as well as time off clinical duties to attend appointments.

Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center

Trainees taking a yoga class at the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.Trainees have access to the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center (DAHLC), which is located on both Mayo Clinic campuses (downtown and Saint Marys) in Rochester, Minnesota. This state-of-the-art fitness facility offers basic classes (including free weights, stretching, cardio, and more), drop-in classes, evaluation services, group training, virtual personal training, and virtual wellness coaching.

Membership to the DAHLC is available at a low cost to trainees and their families through payroll deduction.

Video: Dan Abraham Health Living Center 
Video: A look inside the Dan Abraham Health Living Center 

Groups on campus

Several groups on campus help you connect with other fellows and their families, such as the Mayo Fellows Association, the Mayo Families' Connection, and Mayo Employee Resource Groups.Several groups on campus help you connect with other fellows and their families, such as the Mayo Fellows Association, the Mayo Families' Connection, and Mayo Employee Resource Groups. These groups help enhance your training by providing and organizing wellness initiatives and social activities.

Workshops for spouses and significant others are also available.

Well-being

Cardiovascular diseases fellow works on a computer at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.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.

Diversity and inclusion

At Mayo Clinic, we're committed to recruiting a diverse workforce (for example, women, underrepresented in medicine, and LGBTI) in order to provide the best care for our diverse community.

As a trainee, you'll have the opportunity to be a part of:

  • Regularly scheduled Women in Medicine events, with participation by women leaders across the institution.
  • Mayo Employee Resource Groups (MERGs) dedicated to diverse groups to allow for broader institutional engagement and interaction.
  • The OUTList — an internal resource created by the LGBTI MERG that promotes community, visibility, and mentoring among Mayo's faculty, staff, and trainees by identifying LGBTI mentors within Mayo Clinic interested in being a resource for others.
  • The Student National Medical Association and National Medical Association conferences, which provide a place for you to share and learn diversity and inclusion best practices.
  • The Mayo Clinic Trainee Diversity & Inclusion Committee, a group that recruits and mentors applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine.

Life in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, offers an outstanding quality of life for gynecologic oncology fellows, blending a welcoming community with diverse recreational and social opportunities. Fellows appreciate the city's ease of living, with minimal traffic and everything they need close by.

Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy running and cycling along the Zumbro River, participating in running and cycling clubs, and exploring nearby parks and hiking trails. Rochester also boasts a thriving food and social scene, including a variety of restaurants, local breweries, and unique experiences such as pizza farms and speakeasies. Seasonal events like Thursdays Downtown and the Saturday morning farmers market add to the city's charm.

For fellows with families, Rochester offers numerous kid-friendly activities, from the Quarry Hill Nature Center and Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo to the Rochester Public Library and extensive bike trails. Fellow favorites include live music at Novios Café and Forager Brewery, cocktails at Bitter & Pour, gatherings at Little Thistle Brewing and LTS Brewing Company, and dining at Thai Pop or Tap House. Rochester's affordability, safety, and sense of community make it an ideal place to live during fellowship.

Whether enjoying a walk along the river, rock climbing indoors, or gathering with friends at a local brewery, Rochester provides a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

A day in the life

Explore a few ways fellows maintain a balance between work responsibilities and hobbies, family, and friends outside of the clinic.