Jonathan Bock has decided that he no longer
actually wants to finish residency, electing instead to
remain a resident physician and student for the rest
of his earthly life.
"You know, everybody is always saying, 'Gee, I
can't wait to get done with my training so I can get out
and get my own practice, make some real money,'
but I don't see it that way," stated Bock. "It's like that
Rush song, man... the point of departure is not to
arrive, man. You gotta love the journey, smell the
roses. Every year of residency I just get to smell a
ton more roses. God, I love Rush. They totally
ROCK!"
Having entered college in 1991, finishing
medical school in 2001, and starting residency in
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the
University of Iowa and completing a 2 year NIH
funded research fellowship in molecular oncology in
Iowa City, Dr. Bock has already been in training for
his eventual job for nearly 15 years. While that
seems like an impressive amount of time to spend in
training and education, Bock sees it as the tip of the
iceberg.
"I was thinking to myself, why limit my training to
just doing basic science research laboratory work on
cancer and voice problems and operating and seeing
patients and eventually teaching medical students
and residents and travelling to major research and
medical meetings around the world? I'm thinking
psychiatry looks pretty sweet right now, and it's just 4
more years of residency. How could you NOT do just
4 more years of training? I mean, you'd be stupid
NOT to do it! After that, I think I might go back to
college and study communications."
The other "sweet" part according to Bock is that
if he remains a student until the time of his death, he
will never have to repay his student loans.
"It just makes financial sense," added Bock.
Bock's wife Cristin has some reservations about
his plan of educational infinity. "I think it's kinda like
when he was in high school, and he'd ask out a girl,
and they'd say no, and he'd say 'Well good - I didn't
really like her anyways'. It's kinda like that. Only
much much stupider."
The Bocks currently plan on completing Jon's
current residency in Iowa City in the summer of 2008.
Plans after that are still elusive. although they may
entail completing a year of fellowship in laryngology
so that Jon can become a voice specialist, perhaps in
Nashville or Boston. After that, it appears that Jon
will re-enroll in college and start the whole thing over
again.
"College..." Bock stated. "It's the best 17 or 18
years of your life.
