Interview Trail, Episode 6: Indiana University

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
-Willie Nelson

Indeed, we did hit the road again, this time driving to Indianapolis, Indiana, the Hoosier State, home of the Colts, and the Indiana University medical programs. We arrived just as the Colts vs. Lions game was winding down, so navigating around the one way streets downtown trying to find our hotel was a little difficult. But we made it, checked into the Omni Hotel, and went out exploring among the throng of Colts fans that had now spilled into the streets. The area of downtown we were in is known as the Wholesale District, and it was quite nice. The new Lucas Oil Stadium loomed nearby, and it was quite massive, easily the first thing you see approaching downtown. There was also a very nice mall that spanned several blocks above the street, spread out over eight buildings and connected by various walkways. We also passed the Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the Pacers. The pictures below show the Soldiers and Sailors monument that we paid a dollar to ride to the top in a really old elevator. There is also the Indianapolis ArtsGarden that is a massive glass structure supported over an intersection. For dinner that night the residents took us and several other applicants to Harry & Izzy's, where I had one of the best steaks I have ever tasted. It was a New York Strip, covered in peppercorn, and sitting in an awesome orange burgundy sauce. We had a great time talking to two other married couples where the females were the doctors. The next day I did the usual interviewing and Katie shopped and whatnot. Their program is quite massive, the largest in the country, taking 14 Med/Peds interns a year. There are several hospitals they work at, with a people mover actually connecting the medical center to another hospital that is several blocks away. We finished up and raced back to Memphis in an effort to beat the ice storm that never came. We did run into some snow through Louisville, and on the day I interviewed in Indiana the temp was about 13 with the windchill in the single digits. I survived in my nice wool coat, and I was one of only four applicants who brought a coat out of about twelve total, so maybe they were impressed with my common sense.