A Week in the Life (Andres Fuenmayor, MD)

A Typical Week for a Second-Year Psychiatry Resident

Monday

  • Andres Fuenmayor sitting on top of a blue bench, wearing a Duke t-shirt

    Morning: I'm an early riser, usually up around 5:30–5:45am. I like to hit the gym for an hour and meditate before heading to my outpatient clinic. Depending on the season, I sometimes switch it up with an outdoor workout. I usually get to the clinic around 7:50am and start seeing patients at BHOP.

  • Afternoon: If the weather is nice, I enjoy eating outside during my lunch break before finishing my day at the clinic. I also really enjoy our educational hour from 4–5pm—such a great time to learn and grow!

  • Evening: Quick drive home! I either swim or go for a run to keep my energy up, then do some light reading and meal prep for the next day.

Tuesday

  • Morning: Same morning routine! But today, I head to the movement disorder clinic at Duke, where I work with an epilepsy expert. It's a great opportunity to interact with a different patient population and take on a new role.

  • Afternoon: I grab a quick lunch and then head to our Academic Half-Day—one of my favorite parts of the program! I love catching up with my co-residents and interacting with other classes. The content is top-notch, and the presenters are always incredibly knowledgeable.

  • Evening: Afterward, I head to the Farm Workers Clinic, which often runs late into the night. This initiative was developed with my co-resident, Emily Aarons, and we're providing mental health services to underserved farm workers in rural North Carolina. I'm really grateful to the program for supporting us in this important work.

Wednesday

  • Morning: Same routine, though I get a bit more sleep after the long day before! I use this time to brainstorm ideas for our farm worker project and review the cases from the night before.

  • Afternoon: I head to one of my favorite clinics, "El Futuro," where I care for Hispanic patients with limited resources. I primarily provide medication management, but there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in community projects like group therapy.

  • Evening: I grab a light meal, do some reading, and then play soccer in a local league. Our games usually start between 8:00 and 8:45pm.

Thursday

  • Morning: After my usual morning routine, I head to my med management clinic from 8–11am. All the BHOP PGY3 residents are there, and from 11am to noon, we come together to learn, discuss different topics, and dive into the nuances of psychiatry. At noon, I join the departmental Grand Rounds via Zoom.

  • Afternoon: From 1:30–2:30pm, I attend the Family Studies Lecture Series, where we discuss therapy approaches and watch our peers conduct family and couples’ therapy. Eventually, we get assigned a case ourselves—it's such a valuable learning experience.

  • Evening: Family Studies wraps up around 5:30pm, and I get home by 6:00pm. I take the evening to unwind—watch some TV, do some stretches, and relax.

Friday

  • Morning: My Friday exercise routine is a little different. I start with hot yoga at 6:00am at Midtown Yoga and treat myself to a nice coffee from a local shop on the way home. After that, I head to the Civitan Clinic to see my therapy cases and attend supervision.

  • Afternoon: Fridays are my administrative days. I catch up on patient messages, notes, emails, and other tasks I couldn’t get to during the week. I also use this time to work on ongoing projects.

Saturday

I like to start my Saturdays with a morning run or some kind of exercise, followed by meditation to reflect on the week. I usually catch up with friends, and we either plan something outdoors or meet at someone’s house to cook and listen to good music. Sometimes, I like to get out of Durham for the day and head to the mountains or the beach.

Sunday

Sunday is all about stretching and recovery. I usually stay home, catch up on household chores, and prep meals for the week. I also make time to FaceTime my friends from home.

I chose Duke because ...

... of the amazing people and the enormous opportunities to explore different areas of psychiatry. 

My favorite thing about Durham is ...

... green spaces! There’s such a great outdoor scene here, perfect for unwinding after a long day. 

My favorite thing about Duke is ...

... the people! From attendings to co-workers and staff, the solidarity, camaraderie, and support are truly unmatched. 

My advice to prospective residents is ...

... Follow your heart and choose a place that aligns with your values and life stage. If you have a few options in mind, I highly recommend reaching out to faculty and current residents to hear their experiences.

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