no longer unemployed

I got a call today from the Medical Director of the student health center at the University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) offering me a job there. I had a formal interview this past Monday with 6 staff, which seemed to go well. They liked my experience and my references (thank you Mark, Judy and Susan). Oh, and I passed my background and fingerprinting check. As Rich says, it's just a good thing I keep changing my last name.

 They would like me to work full time, but I opted for the "per diem" position, which gives me control of the days I work, but no benefits. At this point in my life, time is worth far more than money. I am pleased and excited to join their group! Everyone I have met there seems like they will be fun to work with. My boss' voice reminds me of Alan Alda, and he seems like a terrific, well put together guy. More to come next week on orientation and start date...

I also had a couple of other interviews this week. I met with the Medical Director of a small local group wanting someone to help them start an urgent care. The group is primary care oriented, but they have a few more steps before they are ready to get started. The other was a 2 hour (!) phone interview with a large multi-specialty group. I started by telling the recruiter that I was not interested in being plugged into a primary care slot---so she was kind of at a loss for what to do with me. I tried my best to sell her on the idea that I would be a good person to help their organization create systems for dealing with patients with multiple chronic conditions, using multidisciplinary teams. In other words, provide care for those who will get Medicaid in 2014 a'la The Kitchen Clinic. She said she thought their recruitment committee would be "intrigued."So there are a couple of other hooks in the water which might be possibilities down the road.

There is also some interesting work going on in Santa Cruz as well as in the region related to helping elderly patients be able to keep living independently despite having chronic conditions. I would very much like to get involved in that work in some way. I have made a few exploratory contacts to learn more about local efforts which are underway.

I am incredibly fortunate to be qualified to work in a field where there is wide demand, and which is well compensated. Still, this experience of job seeking in my 50's helped me understand the vulnerable position so many people face. Work is part of my identity, a part of fulfilling what feels like my role in this world. I am just lucky I enjoy it so much.