From housing nightmare to reliable residence: How this OMS paved her path to a solution

Away rotations—clerkships in which medical students train at institutions other than their home hospital—provide a valuable chance to explore a specific specialty, gain hands-on experience and build connections within potential residency programs. Participation in away rotations varies by specialty, with 42% of internal medicine applicants completing at least one rotation, compared to 89% of emergency medicine applicants.

As a student pursuing anesthesiology, an away rotation felt like more than just a learning experience. It was a high-stakes opportunity to bring together everything I had learned over the past three years—clinical knowledge, professionalism and communication—into what felt like an audition. For many students, this is their shot to prove they belong in a top-tier program.

So why does it feel so overwhelming?

Long before students set foot in the hospital, the logistics of relocating multiple times across the country start to take their toll. Students apply to rotations months in advance while juggling complex schedules and leaving strategic gaps for their top programs. On top of the stress of applying, they often scramble to secure short-term rentals in unfamiliar cities. It’s overwhelming before the rotation even begins.

That exact struggle is what led me to create Reliable Residence. After going through my own housing nightmare and hearing so many similar stories from classmates, I realized there was a gap in resources for students navigating this process. Reliable Residence helps medical students find safe, affordable, furnished housing near hospitals, taking one major source of stress off their plate during an already high-stakes time.

The financial burden of rotations

Once a rotation is confirmed, the next big question is: Where am I going to stay? After speaking with over 50 medical students, one thing is clear—housing is consistently their top concern when it comes to away rotations. The most common questions asked are:

• Is my housing close to the hospital?
• Is rent affordable?
• Is it in a safe area?

These are basic housing needs any professional would want, yet meeting them comes at a steep cost. While some programs, especially those in rural locations and in family medicine, offer free or discounted housing for students on away rotations, a 2015 survey of over 1,300 fourth-year students found that the majority spent over $2,000 on their away rotations. More than 80% of respondents reported stress related to the overall expenses of away rotations, and in a similar study, at least 35% reported they were unable to accept sub-internships due to financial constraints.

As I’ve researched and talked with other osteopathic students and physicians, these concerns resonated with me, as I’ve personally faced the financial and logistical challenges that come with away rotations.

My personal experience

As a fourth-year medical student in 2023, I was thrilled to be offered a sub-internship at one of my top-choice residency programs. I was pursuing anesthesiology and was ready to continue on my path. I booked my flight and started searching for housing. I looked at every platform imaginable for a rental near the hospital because I planned to relocate without a car. But everything within walking distance was $500 over my budget. I finally found a place offering a room to rent just a few miles from the hospital. I did my due diligence; I FaceTimed the homeowner and avoided paying upfront. 

When I arrived, to my surprise I stepped into a hoarder’s home that barely resembled what I’d seen on video. With an inch of dust covering everything and dirty dishes stacked in the sink, I hid in my room. Reality officially sunk in when I woke up one night to a cockroach crawling on me. I was maxed out on my budget with nowhere else to go. I was stuck. Running on caffeine and adrenaline, I pushed through the four weeks I had committed to, but the stress of my living situation affected my performance. Even after I moved on to a new rotation, the experience lingered. 

The root of the stress

It wasn’t until I started residency that I realized my stressful housing experience was far from unique. I heard other students consistently voice concerns:

“I can’t find housing.”

“It’s too expensive.”

“The drive to the hospital is too far.”

Many students try to turn to their host programs for help, but receive vague advice or a series of unreliable leads. Out of the dozens of medical students I interviewed on this topic, just 23% of students received some form of housing guidance from their host program. When compared to other industries, the lack of support becomes even more apparent. Vacationers, long-term renters and even expats all have housing ecosystems built around their needs, yet medical students are often navigating a chaotic housing market alone. 

Understanding the need

Housing for medical students is a niche market, and a poorly served one. Students need furnished monthly housing that is close to the hospital and reasonably priced. But finding this sweet spot is rare. Short-term rentals prioritize nightly profits from tourists, while long-term landlords want leases students can’t commit to. Without a car, many students rely on proximity, but the closer the rental is to the hospital, the more rent climbs. It made me wonder—what if there was a resource built for this niche group? 

A community-based solution

I decided to test a market need: what if I created a dedicated space in the rental market for rotating medical students? That’s how I discovered the concept of mid-term rentals—furnished stays ranging anywhere from one to 12 months. I began renting out the other half of my duplex to rotating students and health care travelers. The medical students I hosted were grateful to have a safe, affordable space close to the hospital—and I genuinely enjoyed hosting them. They also appreciated the camaraderie that came from living next door to someone who truly understands their profession.

The positive feedback inspired me to scale the idea. I reached out to property owners, encouraging them to adjust their rental options to meet the needs of medical students. By bypassing short-term rental platforms, rent could be offered at a significantly reduced price. As we focused on safe areas near hospitals and worked with landlords to prioritize mid-term rentals, a student-centered network began to grow. That effort led to the creation of Reliable Residence—a new platform that listens to medical students and addresses the challenges they face.

Reliable Residence has grown into a web-based platform that connects medical students with safe, furnished, monthly housing near hospitals. Right now, we’re actively operating in Madison, Wisconsin, but we’ve seen growing demand from students and property owners across the country. Every city presents its own challenges, but the need for student-centered, reliable housing is universal.

Learn more

Medical students in need of housing can sign up for our growing waitlist. The full platform is set to launch by the end of June. We’re actively partnering with property owners who want to rent specifically to health care students and travelers. As we continue to grow, our goal is to bring Reliable Residence to more cities.

As a health care professional, I hold both myself and the platform to the highest standard in providing quality housing to medical students. By removing the chaos of finding housing, students can focus their energy on what truly matters: clinical performance. Let’s equip medical students with the resources and support they need to excel during this critical moment in their careers.

Related reading:

Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts in residency

Professionalism in residency: Managing interpersonal relationships during this journey