SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Wake Forest School of Medicine

By: Lauren Corriher

If you’re trying to buy or sell a house, you know just how hot markets all over the country are right now. Dr. Michael Hrycelak, his husband, Chris, and son, Ash, experienced this firsthand. The three are some of the millions of people who have moved during the pandemic. Dr. Hrycelak and his family are now calling Charlotte’s Providence Crossing area home. They arrived just in time for a unique moment for the Atrium Health system, as the organization is set to begin construction on a new medical school in midtown next year.

Prior to making the move down south, Dr. Hrycelak was an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Yale University School of Medicine/Yale-New Haven Hospital, as well as the director of the school’s neuroanesthesia fellowship program. He and his family have lived in Connecticut since 2006.

We sat down to chat with Dr. Hrycelak about what it’s like to move to a new part of the country during a pandemic, his tips for making your move as stress-free as possible, and the significance and excitement surrounding Charlotte’s new medical school.

Here are some must-know facts about Hrycelak, his tips on moving across the country during a pandemic, and opening charlotte’s first medical school.

Moving is stressful enough, so I’d imagine that relocating from Connecticut in a pandemic with a baby is a lot to manage. what has the experience been like?

Stressful, indeed! I was working full-time after my paternity leave. My husband, Chris, was able to stay home with the baby, but anyone who has raised a child knows that in itself is a fulltime job. Finding the time to stage our home in Connecticut and then pack up a full household was definitely a challenge.

We were very fortunate to have a ton of support. My parents relocated from Rochester to Connecticut last August in anticipation of the birth of our son and are now actually in the process of moving to the greater Charlotte area themselves to help. They were instrumental in providing childcare so that we could handle all the moving pieces associated with a long-distance relocation.

We were fortunate to be moving from a hot market, so our house had multiple offers on the first day, which meant we didn’t have to keep the house perfectly staged for multiple days or weeks of showings.

Image sourced from atriumhealth.org what’s the significance of building a medical school in the queen city?

Until the recent announcement of plans to build the new medical school campus, Charlotte was the largest city in the country without its own medical school. Upon completion of this venture, as part of the merger with Wake Forest, Charlotte will now have the largest server of medical education in the state.

This will have a huge impact on the way that the people of this city are able to access cutting-edge healthcare, not to mention the new jobs and new ideas that such an enterprise will bring. The ability to be on the ground floor and to help shape such an exciting, unique, and vital part of the community definitely influenced my decision to make the leap to North Carolina.

What tips might you offer other people looking to move now?

The best thing you can do is find yourself a knowledgeable agent who is willing to work with and for you. Things are going to move fast, and someone who knows the market and the options is key.

I would also say that, particularly if you are coming from a different area, it’s important to take the time to be educated as to how the transactions might be different than where you are currently. I had never heard of due diligence periods or the double deposits associated with that concept before. I also came from a place where a lot would ride on the inspection, versus the more “as-is” mentality that you see here, particularly when there is so much competition for houses. Again, a really good agent is a huge asset.

Finally, because things move so quickly, make sure you have your must-haves and your wish lists clear in your mind. You can then quickly see whether or not the property you are considering checks all of the boxes and figure out how many wish list items you might let go of if all of the must-haves are in place. And keep in mind that what is meant to be will happen if you have a great team beside you.

What are you most looking forward to enjoying here in charlotte as the world starts to open again?

We love to eat and are asking everyone we meet for their recommendations for the best restaurants. We very much enjoy shopping for antiques and interesting art, so exploring that local culture is exciting to us. I’m an avid gardener who has never lived outside the northeast, so I’m looking forward to exploring the local nurseries and gardens to gain some knowledge and inspiration that I can employ in my own yard.

What advice might you give to young Charlotteans who are contemplating a career in the medical field?

It might sound trite, but I personally have always felt medicine to be a calling. It was particularly interesting to be hailed as a hero in the early days of the pandemic, because while that was very gratifying, it felt strange because I was just doing what I was meant to do.

I will say that it’s a very long road. I completed four years of college, four years of medical school, four years of residency, and a year of fellowship before I took my first job. And while I love what I do, it’s a job that also has a major impact on your lifestyle. Even having done this for as long as I have, I still work unpredictable hours, including weekends, and holidays. I’m fortunate to have a very supportive family who understand that this is what I feel I was meant to do and are willing to put up with the time that I am away.

So,to those who are contemplating a career in the medical field, I’d say that if you feel in your heart that this is what you were born to do, you should go for it. No profession is more rewarding. But if you’re not in it 100%, it’s going to be hard to make it to the finish line.