Click image to enlarge: Residents enjoy cupcakes (left); Drs. Kraft and Meinke cut the ribbon (center); and the computers get a test run (right).
The new Internal Medicine Resident Lounge for the UA Department of Medicine opened Thursday, Dec. 17, to great fanfare with a ribbon-cutting event and red, white, blue and chocolate cupcakes.
Doing the honors on the big red bow with the UA-branded scissors were DOM Chair Monica Kraft, MD, and Tucson campus Internal Medicine Residency Program Director Laura Meinke, MD. Residents cheered and flooded into the lounge.
Dr. Meinke gave recognition to Dr. Kraft, DOM Education Vice Chair Ken Knox, MD, and Lu Martinez, PhD, DOM director of Educational Research and Development, for making the room redesignation happen – and her staff for handling the details of equipment purchases. The furniture and décor choices, she credited to Dr. Martinez.
“Dr. Kraft was a huge part of supporting dedicating this space for our residents,” she said. “That’s been a big challenge in this space-challenged environment.”
The lounge is in the former DOM office for Medical Student Education, which was relocated earlier this fall. It features lockers, a refrigerator, computers, couches, tables and chairs, a flat screen TV as well as a Nintendo gaming console.
“Now, I want you all to know that we’re not your mothers, so keeping the room clean and neat is up to you,” Dr. Meinke added with a smile. “Oh, yeah, and be sure to clear out the fridge on Fridays.”
Click here to view more photos from the lounge opening.