Maggie Riley, M.D.
Family Medicine – House Officer II
Medical School: UCLA, Class of 2005
28, married
Why Michigan?
I chose Michigan for the outstanding academic opportunity, to be close to family and because when I came for my interview, I loved Ann Arbor.
Describe a typical day.
There is really no typical day for a Family Medicine resident. We are in various clinics and many different departments in the hospital, and life certainly changes on a month-to-month basis depending on what rotation you're on. This month I'm on Women's Health, and a typical day goes something like this:
| 7 a.m. | Wake up, get ready for work, quick breakfast with my family if they're awake, if not I try to read a journal article over breakfast. |
| 8 a.m. - Noon | GYN clinic, multiple colposcopies, endometrial biopsies, IUD placement and patient visits. |
| Noon - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch with my fellow residents, catch up on any clinic business or paperwork. |
| 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Continuity clinic, seeing my own patients, from babies to teens to adults to the elderly, including prenatal visits (the best part of the day as far as I'm concerned). |
| 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Back home to be with my family, some dinner, maybe a trip to the park. |
What are your joys and your challenges throughout the workday?
My joy with my work comes from interacting with patients, particularly my continuity patients who I have been following since I began residency. I love the relationships I've established with my patients. I also look forward to seeing my co-residents and the FM faculty, laughing and joking is a big part of our time together. The main challenge is the heavy workload. Some months are extremely work-intensive, and it's hard being away from my family.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
One special Ann Arbor activity we've enjoyed is canoeing. There are some amazing canoe trips down the Huron River, and I love the beauty and peace of floating around in a canoe. (I typically make my husband do all the paddling.)
If a prospective resident has free time in Ann Arbor while they're here interviewing, what would you recommend they do?
Prospective students should check out downtown Ann Arbor, walk around, eat out, do some shopping, etc., if they have time.
What have you enjoyed about living in Ann Arbor with a family?
I have a 2-year-old son and a baby on the way. Ann Arbor is great for young parents. There are parks everywhere, and so many family-friendly activities like downtown festivals and free outdoor music concerts. There's also a great Hands-On Museum.
What are your plans for the coming year?
I'm pregnant again right now, so my plans for this year include adjusting to life as a family of four, continuing to grow and improve my skills as a doctor, and squeezing every second of enjoyment out of my free time.
Having been here for a while now, what is the number one reason you would recommend Michigan?
I can't recommend Michigan more highly to prospective students. Academically, it is absolutely top notch, and it also has a very warm, friendly work atmosphere. Ann Arbor has it all: culture, good food, diversity, outdoor activities, nightlife and a great downtown. I have no regrets in my choice of Michigan.
