The Pediatricians I work with are a great group of people. The have come out here to one of the most isolated spots in the lower 48 to deliver top quality care where the need is great. The core group of Pediatricians are all young (at least relative to me) and within a few years of leaving their Pediatric Residency. Coming here gives them an opportunity to practice a very broad spectrum of Pediatrics from the inpatient practice of sick children to the outpatient practice of well children who need immunizations. The Indian Health Service guarantees a good paycheck with a relatively low cost of living. It is an exciting practice at times with many sick children rolling into the emergency room and one does a lot more the average Pediatrician in Portland. I great admire and respect my fellow Pediatricians, especially the lead Pediatrician who is a woman who is headed to bigger and better things.
The down side is that living in Chinle is hard on the Pediatricians and other practitioners who do not have roots in the community. There is little intellectual stimulation nearby, little recreation opportunities, and not much shopping. The hardest area for young physicians is the lack of opportunity to meet and romance other people. There are no sports clubs, book clubs, and cultural activities to meet others. There are very few active churches except for the LDS church in town. There aren't even any bars. (Not a bad thing in my mind.) Many of the young people feel isolated so after a few years move to large cities where they meet others with interests similar to their own. I am not sure what the Indian Health Service can do to change this trend of people moving on after a few years. I love the mutton stew, the Navajo tacos, and the local color but I can so how it would wear thin after a few years.
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