During Orientation Week, you will probably go to quite a few evening events, unfortunately, the calendar of events sent by the Medical Center doesn’t tell you what to expect at these events or what to wear, etc. We decided to clue you in.
Dinner with Dr. Queenan (Date to be determined)
Dr. Queenan welcomes the new residents with a dinner at her home before the other kickoff activities begin. This is likely the first time that you’ll meet your fellow interns. This can be a little awkward, like the first day of school, but by the end of the evening, you’ll all have made your first impressions and will probably have a few people pegged for friends. In a few years you’ll probably laugh at what you thought of each person, but getting to know each other will be a great help for when you have to meet all of the residents who are already comfortable with each other in the next few days. This is just dinner so you don’t need to dress up, but most people do tend to dress with first impressions in mind.
Hello Goodbye BBQ (Date to be determined)
This is the casual mixer at the end/beginning of each year. Most of the residents and spouses will be in attendance, as well as many representatives from the department. The BBQ is a lot of fun, with some skits, slideshows, and roasts of outgoing resident once the party moves inside. Free beer and BBQ at a covered area in a park out at Bushnell’s Basin. This event is the most edgy and fun-oriented event of the year and is a great time to get to know people and just be yourself. You don’t need to dress up at all for this one any more than you would for another BBQ.
The Banquet (Date to be determined)
The Banquet is definitely more formal, and takes place at the Casa Larga Winery in Fairport (casalarga.com). It is the only day of the year that every resident is able to get together, since none are on call, so plan on taking a rare group photo before the sun goes down. The first year I went, I was told that a shirt and tie would be just fine, but I felt out of place as the only person without a suit jacket. The wine bar stays open until dinner begins, at which point it becomes a cash bar. The Finger Lakes wineries are known for white wines, so try the whites before the reds. The dinner is always very good, and is served during several presentations and speeches. Much of this is aimed at wishing the outgoing residents well, including a speeches by an attending of each outgoing resident's choice. Incoming residents are introduced, and those hailing from the University of Washington are met with wild applause. If this isn’t you, don’t take it personally, it’s just something that the Huskies always do for each other. After dinner, the dance floor is opened, and attendings and residents will dance the night away.