Go West, Doctor!

OK- I am finally posting the details about our big news! Jon secured a position in Deer Park, WA (about 10 minutes outside of Spokane)!

Now that you know the news- here are the details. Starting in about April, we started contacting posible job opportunities in the Spokane area. We thought about other areas of the Northwest, such as Idaho, Oregon and Utah- - but just kept coming back to the fact that there are great job opportunities in the Spokane area- so WHY NOT go home? As we would pray and discuss the different things we would find, it just felt so right to go back to what we consider home. Our only regret is that most likely we wouldn't be doing the small town doctor gig that Jon was always interested in, and the loan repayments that would go along with that. We are so tired of moving around, we just felt that it was time to find a good place and STAY PUT indefinitely!

In May Jon went home for his Grandpa Marsh's funeral, and while he was there, made a few personal visits to clinics he was interested in. Providence Health, which was recruiting for several of the positions he was interested in contact him the week after his visit to set up interviews during a week in June. We were so excited- especially since they were going to fly us both out and put us up in the nicest hotel in town and pay for all of our expenses.

The next pictures are at the Davenport Hotel, which coincidentally my Grandparents stayed in once back in the forties when they were first married!


I also have to add- it was a beautiful hotel, but the famed great service wasn't all that great for us. They ran out of cribs and didn't tell us until we checked in, even though I had requested one in advance. I guess there was a wedding with tons of families that came in before us. I understood the reasons, but I just wish they had told us in advance so we could have borrowed one! It was a horrible night of sleep. There were a few other minor things that were promised and never carried out. All in all, it was cool to say now that I have stayed there- and again, it is beautiful. Since we have family in the area- we only stayed one night at the hotel, right before we flew home.

Jon ended up going for the week, and I joined him for the last three days so our kids would only need a couple of nights at friend's houses. Since Tyler was free to fly with us still, he came with me. Jon did most of his interviewing early in the week and after I arrived, we visited the two he was most excited about again, and had a realtor take us around to look at houses all over the city (which was so fun! We will be able to get a great house in the future in our price range!).

Bonus for me- I just happened to be in Spokane the day Brian flew home from his mission in Oklahoma!! We suprised him- it was so awesome to be with him the first few hours he was home. I had to laugh when one of the first things Brian said while we were out to lunch at Red Robin was "You talk really fast, Becky!". I guess I do- especially compared to the drawl of the southern midwest. I always just have so much I want to say! Ha Ha.


So, the top two opportunities Jon was interested in were with a private practice, where he would be salaried for the first year (guaranteed by Providence Health- who runs a few local hospitals), and then buy in as a partner. This suprised me, because I always thought a straight salaried position would be less stressful. As Jon interviewed, he realized that in the end he really did want to be a business owner and his own boss in a sense. The income potential and starting salary is much higher too. Truly, though, it wasn't the money that decided it for him, it was the fact that he would be building up his own panel of patients and would have the lifestyle he desires. One was a fast paced, very busy clinic in the heart of North Spokane, and the other was in the small town of Deer Park (about 10 minutes out of the Northernmost part of Spokane). Initally the interview he was most excited about was the one in Spokane- he had visited them when he was in town for the funeral. But, when he interviewed out in Deer Park, he fell in love with the idea of being a small town doctor, and the clinic itself. It wasn't quite so fast paced which fits Jon better (which means a bit of a lower income in the end, but after talking to the other doctors, it will certainly be good enough!!). The clinic also runs the urgent care clinic in the area, so he has the options of "moonlighting" for some extra income if he desires. Besides an awesome salary offer, along with moving expenses, a signing bonus, health insurance, etc . . . we also found out they are a qualified spot for the state loan repayment for primary care in "underserved" areas- - that is huge and over the course of 5 years will knock out a large portion of his student loans. It really seems like the perfect option for us.

Signing the contracts was interesting, though- kind of like buying a house- heavy. The funds to bring him in (the moving allowance, signing bonus, what they add to guarantee his salary) is acutally techincally a loan from Providence Health- but then is forgiven for the three years after that first year- as long as he stays in their service area. Makes sense to me- this money is how doctors are able to make it in a private practice opportunity before their patient base is built up. Anyway, all was in order and now the contracts are signed! Now we are just waiting for his Washington license to be approved. We don't anticipate any problems, but with what happened at CWFM last year- things aren't 100 percent sure. The fact that he has a Michigan full license and is successfully completing a new program means things should be just fine. At the same time, we aren't looking for a house or doing any planning until that license is in hand!

It was a whirlwind trip, but it was wonderful to see our families! We wouldn't have gotten to see Jon's family the whole time we lived in Michigan- I am so glad they at at least got to see Tyler (and Jon and me).



The day we flew home it was Father's Day! The kids and I had everything all ready for when we got home . . .



This is completely anti-climatic- but I also wanted to post a few pictures from Jon's residency "graduation" ceremony. Even though he doesn't get done until January, they wanted him to be a part of this because he won't be around for next year's! I have to say a few words about how incredibly grateful I am to Jon's program director- Dr. O'Connel at Mount Clemens RMC. Not only did he take a chance on Jon, but his encouragement and direction has given Jon the boost he needed to pick up after what happened at CWFM and move on in his career. Not only has he been able to move on, but Jon is thriving and learning here. His knowlege and skills truly put him ready to be a fully board certified doctor!