And There Was Much Rejoicing

Jon and I got some great news yesterday.  I would have to say it was better than opening our letter on Match Day, though that was very exciting.  Let me explain why.

One of the graduation requirements for Jon is to take 8 weeks of clinic in a rural area (called an AHEC).  Normally, this is done in the third year.  Last year (Jon's third year), the school decided they were going to change how AHECs were assigned.  What ended up happening is that the people assigning these clinics did not realize that everyone needed a certain number of weeks to graduate, so they randomly selected people.  Jon applied to do an AHEC with almost all of his rotations, but since they were assigning them the way they were, Jon was only able to get 7 weeks during his third year.

This meant that he would have to take a two weeks (they do not offer 1 week) of AHEC during his fourth year.  A little bit of a pain.  Jon got one approved for the first two weeks of February.  In November, Jon was notified that the doctor was not going to be able to have him those two weeks, so he was dropped from the elective.  Since this was right in the middle of all his interviewing, it took awhile to find another one and get it approved.  Two more AHECs got dropped on him later, and he finally found one in Findlay (about 45 minute drive) doing Dermatology for the last two weeks in April.

On Monday, Jon got a phone call.  The doctor decided he was not going to be able to have Jon come after all.  What!?  This was the fourth time this had happened and all he needs is one more week!  Was he not going to be able to graduate even though he is supposed to start residency in June?  Finally, last night Dr. Metting called (the vice provost of the medical school).  She told Jon this was unacceptable and that she would have the one week waived for him.  YEAH!!!!!  He will get to graduate!  Now he just needs a two week elective here in Toledo.  This will be a lot easier to find and a lot less likely to be cancelled on him.  We were even jumping up and down.  James got into it, clapped his hands, and shout "YEAH!"