Resident Life

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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) residents love all that Mayo Clinic and Rochester, Minnesota, have to offer. We'll support you both inside and outside of the Mayo Clinic campus to promote wellness and optimize work/life integration. As a resident, your physical and mental health is a priority to both Mayo Clinic and the department. Residents have access to several resources to promote well being, as well as time off clinical duties to attend appointments.

Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center
Groups on campus
Well-being

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.

Maternity and paternity leave

Short-term disability (medical leave up to 13 weeks — includes six weeks of paid maternity leave)
Six weeks paid parental leave for non-birthing parents
Learn more about stipend and benefits for Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education

Breastfeeding and lactation resources

Mayo Clinic supports lactating employees and learners by providing lactation resources and space for individuals to express milk at work or school. Explore this website to learn more about lactation spaces near you and view lactation resources. In addition to the resources available within the institution, our department leadership have created a lactation room that can be used by anyone of our team members in our outpatient clinic with a refrigerator nearby. At St. Mary’s hospital there are multiple additional lactation rooms and available refrigerator space near the operating rooms as well.

Living in Rochester

A short drive to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul), Rochester was founded in 1854 as a stagecoach stop. Dr. William W. Mayo arrived as an army surgeon for the Civil War, and the rest is history.

Rochester is the third largest city in Minnesota with a population of 220,000 in its metro area. Known as "Med City," Rochester has been voted by Money and U.S. World News & Report as one of the best places to live in the U.S., with the perfect combination of convenience, cost of living, and culture.

Destination Medical Center

In 2013, the Governor of Minnesota signed a bill known as Destination Medical Center (DMC) — a $5.6 billion collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the state of Minnesota to make Rochester a global destination for health and wellness. DMC is a 20-year plan of economic development, innovation, and growth.

While other cities in the U.S. may be experiencing an economic downturn, Rochester is growing at an incredible rate. Every week, new local restaurants, bars, coffee shops, breweries, entertainment centers, and high rise apartment buildings are popping up in our beloved city. The skyline is changing rapidly, and we can barely keep up.

Our residents love the small town safety and conveniences paired with the big city entertainment and diverse restaurants Rochester has to offer. With live concerts, craft breweries, and over 3,500 acres of parks and trails, it's never hard to find something to do. Learn more about our community and what our fellows love about living here.

Rochester is a comfortable and highly accessible town with affordable housing (OMS residents often own a home). We have a strong school system, burgeoning food scene, and extensive bike and running trails. Living here has truly made my training a more pleasurable experience and if I get an itch for something more, Minneapolis is only a short drive away.

Jai Mediratta, D.D.S., M.D.
Oral and maxillofacial resident

I had a dental school professor who used to be a Mayo consultant and he would always reminisce about his time there. He remarked that Rochester was the most unique place he’s ever lived in as it had the highest density of some of the brightest and most compassionate people he’s ever met — all within a 10-mile radius. When I interviewed here, I realized that his assessment was spot on and what made Mayo unique were the people and the mentality they had in treating patients.

Angel Wu, D.D.S., M.D.
Oral and maxillofacial resident

Video: Living in Rochester, Minnesota

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Mayo Fellows Association (MFA)

The Mayo Fellows Association (MFA) offers a peer and social support network for residents and fellows and their families with social events, athletics, and advocacy. The MFA also holds an annual resident and fellow appreciation event open to all trainees with complimentary massages, stress-reducing activities, and social support.