Any experience seeing a clinical fellow vs a staff physician?

Hi @vidya2 From my fairly extensive experience with Mayo Clinic, I’ve been seen by many Clinical Fellows over the years. These doctors have all been excellent. They were very knowledgable, attentive and detail oriented. Most are trying to specialize in a chosen field. Each visit with the Fellow has always been followed up with the staff physician. They are ‘attached’ to a staff physician during their fellowship. So I think you can feel comfortable with the Fellow…again, from my experience, your getting two doctors instead of one. ☺️

Wishing you a safe journey and finding answers for your little girl. Mayo is definitely a place of Hope.
Which campus will you be visiting?

Thank you for sharing this @loribmt. That is reassuring. We will be coming to Rochester. Yes, hoping for some answers and solutions!

Hi @vidya2, Mayo-Rochester is my home away from home. I think you’ll find everyone at the Clinic very welcoming and supportive. There are volunteers in Blue Vests on every floor who can help direct you or answer questions if you need help.
The buildings are all interconnected with easy directional sighs to help you find your way around. If you take the elevators down the S floor, all of the buildings flow into each other without having to go outside.
Here’s a link to the maps of the building and subway systems
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/campus-buildings-maps
Rochester is relatively small and easy to navigate. The clinic is in the heart of the city with hotels, restaurants/ shopping all nearby. Many of the hotels connect to the ‘subway’ which is a lovely underground/skyway walking system,

If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know. Are you all set with lodging?

Thank you for sharing this @loribmt. Yes, we are staying in the broadway plaza that has the covered connection to Mayo. I will certainly reach out if we need anything else. It will be good to have one person to reach out to when we are there. Thank you so much!

Hi @loribmt. my daughter is asking if there are therapy dogs at Mayo who can visit with her since she is highly anxious about the whole experience. Please let me know how we can arrange for this. Thank you!

Vidya

Hi! I believe there is a Caring Canines program with Mayo Clinic or at least there had been in the past. To if this is available for your daughter, my suggestion is to contact the Concierge Services at Mayo. They’re magic makers and have the answers to most everything! 😉
Here are 5 ways to do that!
~Phone: 507-538-8438
~Live Chat: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide
~Email: concierge@mayo.edu
~Web form: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/becoming-a-patient/concierge-travel-services
~In-person in Rochester MN: Lobby hours are 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday. Offices are located in the International Center in the Mayo Mathew’s Lobby, Executive Lounge on Mayo 5, Radiation Oncology Lobby – Desk R

There’s nothing like cuddling with a dog to relieve stress, so I hope it can be arranged for your daughter to have a visit.
If a genuine fur-fix fix isn’t available, maybe sneaking a cute little stuffed animal along on the trip to surprise her when she’s having her appointments could be fun. Stuffies are always welcome. ☺️

Thank you! Our appointment is Monday morning, so at this point, I will have to stop by the concierge in person and make the request. I hope they can make it work too!

They recommended an EMU stay for 5 days with a medication taper. We are going in tomorrow morning. Thank you for all the hugs and support.

love,
Vidya

Thank you for the update, @vidya2. I hope all goes well with your daughter’s stay in the epilepsy monitoring unit and they’re able to find the cause of your daughter’s escalating seizures.
I know your little girl was pretty anxious about all of this. How is she doing? Is there an opportunity for a visit with a Caring Canine?

not yet, I apparently need a doctors rx for it - will ask tomorrow.