Welcome New Matches!

If you have found us because you or your partner have recently matched at Iowa for training, congratulations! We are thrilled to welcome you to the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and Iowa Medical Partners. We are a nonprofit organization run by and for the spouses and partners of medical, dental, and DNP students and trainees. Our primary purpose is to provide a sense of community and camaraderie for those in similar phases of life, and we have resources and events for everyone. We hope you'll join us for the upcoming year once you make your move, and we look forward to meeting you!

If you will be new to the area and, like most of us, find yourself with lots of questions about this upcoming move or transition, please read on!

What is Iowa City like? 
The Iowa City area is the type of town where you am sure to run into someone you know everywhere you go. There is a great scene of local shops and cafes to explore. Throughout the summer and fall, countless festivals and community events fill up the calendar. Even the holiday season is sprinkled with magic to help ease us into the long Iowa winters (but even these are relatively mild, compared to some places!). The libraries in the area are unparalleled. We think you are going to find this area to be a great place to live!

What resources are available for transitioning to life in Iowa City?
We highly recommend getting on top of your to do list early because it is easy to put things off once your spouse has started residency, fellowship, or other training. The housing market is hot and provides options that are affordable - Tundi Brady with Urban Acres is a great resource to help you decide if you should rent or buy and GreenState Credit Union has great lending options for UIHC trainees. Take care of getting your disability insurance (and life insurance if you have kids) as soon as possible! Those companies can be really picky with who they will cover, so get that done as soon as you can! Nathan Brooks with 25 Financial can provide you advice to get the best coverage that is adequate for someone who has invested so many years of their life toward education and training. And finally you will need to get your car insurance pretty soon once you move here (and home insurance to qualify for your mortgage) - I highly recommend reaching out to Nanci Kohl with State Farm. And of course, join IMP! Our group is here to provide support, activities and a group of friends to help make the best of these years. 

Where should we live?
There are a few different neighborhoods where medical trainees and their families typically choose to live, depending on their priorities and property availability. Here are some descriptions from IMP members who live in each area:
West Iowa City:
Living in University Heights or west Iowa City (especially those living east of Mormon Trek Blvd) will place you the closest to the hospital and the football stadium.  Many residents and fellows who live in this area walk or bike to work. The schools on the west side are great, and parks and trails like Willow Creek, Kiwanis and Clear Creek Trail are perfect for a run, a picnic or a play date. It's a quick drive from the west side to get out of town or to jump on the highway up to I-80. Traffic is light except on home football game days and Walmart and Aldi are close, while Hy-Vee and Trader Joe's are less than a 10 minute drive.
East Iowa City:
The East Side is approximately 2-4 miles east of the hospital and about 15 minutes from the Coralville Mall and shopping area; 20 minutes from North Liberty. In this area, you tend to get a bit more house and yard for the price, with newer builds being more common than other neighborhoods, but we’re still very close to several parks and grocery store choices. We have two University of Iowa clinic locations (Dodge Street and Scott Blvd) with some of IMP’s favorite providers. Some favorites in our area include Dodge Street Coffeehouse, Tot Time every weekday morning at Mercer Park gym, Music Together classes at Preucil, and the close proximity to the adorable towns of Solon and West Branch. Favorite restaurants over here include Blackstone, Wig and Pen East, 2 Dogs Pub, and Rapid Creek Cidery. Hopping down to the South Side of town is easy if you’re heading to Big Grove Iowa City, Starbucks, Hatchet Jack’s, or consignment shopping at Stuff Etc.,Crowded Closet, or Kidworks.
Coralville:
Coralville is a great location in the middle of the corridor. You are only minutes from the mall, Costco, Target, consignment stores and many grocery store options. The Iowa River Landing is located in Coralville which includes Trader Joe’s, great dining and shopping, and the IRL UIHC Clinic. Additionally, going to downtown Iowa City or North Liberty is very convenient. Driving to UIHC is approximately 15 minutes (which is mostly due to the 25 mile per hour speed limits); however, you may be able to live along the Research Park Cambus route and avoid driving all together (free to all!). The Coralville Library is a favorite weekly spot for storytimes.
North Liberty:
Many medical families choose to live in North Liberty. There are wonderful schools and neighborhoods filled with friends, and it is very geared towards families. There are many parks like Centennial, Quail Ridge, Beaver Kreek, and Penn Meadows, some fun local restaurants, and the best ice cream around is from a North Liberty joint, Heyn’s. There’s also a pumpkin patch open daily in the fall, and there are many trails and easy access to both I-80 and 380, which makes going anywhere in the greater Iowa City area a breeze. There are a lot of fun events too, from storytime at the library to the big Barbecue and Blues festival that are all held locally. 

How do we survive the midwestern winter?
If you are coming from a warmer climate, you may be dreading the winter in Iowa, but it’s not so bad if you’re prepared. Luckily, since training mostly begins in the summer, you’ll have several months to acquire the supplies you need. Everyone in your family will need warm winter coats, gloves, hats, and warm, waterproof shoes. If you have a car, especially one that will be parked outside, it’s best to keep an ice scraper and an emergency blanket inside. If you’re planning to live in a house (rather than an apartment building), you’ll also need a snow shovel and salt to de-ice the driveway and walkways. This is especially true if you’ll be buying a home, but most rental houses require you to do the snow and ice removal yourself, too. 

What about the weather during the rest of the year?
Now, winter aside, most of the year in Iowa the weather is quite nice, though it can vary widely. The most pleasant months, weather-wise, are usually May through October. Sometimes spring-like weather begins in March or April, but winter usually makes a comeback sometime before we’re in the clear in May. The summers are generally relatively mild, with just a bit of humidity and the occasional heat wave in July or August. Mostly, though, late spring, summer, and most of fall are lovely months to spend doing lots of outdoor activities. We do get quite a bit of rain most springs, so you’ll want rain jackets and umbrellas, especially if parking and walking for work at UIHC.

What is the best way for my spouse or partner to commute to the hospital? Where can they park?
We might as well share the ugly truth - parking can be a challenge around UIHC! The parking options include lots that are within walking distance, as well as some lots that require a Cambus ride. My best advice is to get on whichever waitlist is available to you as soon as possible (Arena is our favorite, or Lot 43 if you are lucky enough to have that option). Each resident's parking situation depends on their specific program. You will hopefully have a card that gives you night and weekend access to the ramps, as well as a few free hours for the ramp each month. The good news is, for those who choose to live outside of walking distance, the actual drive time of the commute won't be very bad, no matter what part of town you live in!

I have (or will have) young children. What kinds of childcare options are available?
        If you, like many IMP members, have children under 5, are expecting, or plan to have children during your time in Iowa City, you’ll be happy to know that there are several different options for childcare. Before getting into those, we want to offer the most important piece of advice if you’ll need childcare starting this year: APPLY EARLY! Most preschools and daycares in the area fill their spots quite a while in advance, so call and send emails ASAP if you know you will need care for your kiddos soon.
        For working parents and/or those with children under the age of 3, there are some great options for full time daycare, ranging from reputable in-home programs to larger centers. There are also smaller centers for those who want structure but with a more family-like vibe. For parents looking for part-time care for one or more of their children, some of the smaller daycares (and certainly most in-home ones) allow attendance just a few days a week or half-day options. This is great for parents who may not work full time but would like their kids to get some socialization (and a little time away!). 
        Many daycares have space for kids up until Kindergarten age, but for those with 3-5 year-olds, Iowa City also has several reputable private preschool programs, ranging from church-based to Montessori and others in between. Check out the Preschool Guide put out by the Iowa City Moms blog if your child is (or will be) in this age range: https://iowacity.momcollective.com/2022/02/20/iowa-city-preschool-guide-2022/
        Another great option for those with kids in the 4-5 year old range is the public Pre-K program offered by the Iowa City Community School District. Check that out here: 


I have (or will have) school age children. What are the schools like in the Iowa City area?
        There are a lot of wonderful choices for families with school-age children. For those with kids in the 4-5 year-old range, Iowa offers free, half-day pre-K. If that works for your family, it’s a wonderful public service to take advantage of. Check that out here: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Preschool
        For K-12 kids, the Iowa City Community School District covers Iowa City, parts of Coralville and some of North Liberty and Hills. You can find their current attendance map for elementary schools here. https://www.iowacityschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=39065&dataid=90162&FileName=Elementary%20School%20Boundaries%20-%20Approved%2011-27-18.pdf 
         Here’s a quote about the schools from one of our own: “My kids and I have loved the schools and teachers here. I really appreciate the individualized attention they receive despite being in large classrooms. My experience has been similar to my overall experience in Iowa City: warm and inviting.”  -Andrea Wilson, IMP Secretary

What options are in the area for gyms or fitness classes?
The University of Iowa Campus and Recreation Center (CRWC) is fantastic! It's an award-winning facility with a big rock wall, an indoor track, an Olympic-size pool as well as the best recreation pool (complete with lazy river), and super fun group fitness classes. Residents can get a reduced-price membership if they sign up and go to one of the many University of Iowa fitness facilities at least 4 times each month. I recommend this! There are also a lot of smaller gym options in the community if the CRWC isn't convenient (and the family membership is kind of expensive). For those with children, a couple local gyms have kid care (sadly, not very many) and there's a local Fit4Mom group that is a great way to exercise with your stroller-age kids in tow." 

What other things are there to do in Iowa City? Iowa City is a college town, so there are actually lots of options for all kinds of interests, and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer, as well. Here’s just a brief list, but you can always reach out to IMP members once you’re here to learn more!
Food - Iowa City and Coralville have lots of great restaurants, including fancier spots for date nights, family-friendly lunch or dinner places, great brunch, and breweries with outdoor seating. There’s lots of great takeout as well!
Nightlife - Downtown Iowa City is always popular during the school year, and not all spots are completely filled with undergrads. Check out bars like Roxxy or the rooftop at Vue. During the warmer months, there are outdoor events downtown (and at other spots in the area) almost every weekend, so there’s always something to do, whether you have friends or family visiting or just want to get out and about on your own!
Outdoor Recreation - Iowa City and the surrounding suburbs and towns are awesome for getting outdoors when the weather is nice. There are lots of great running, walking and hiking trails, water sports on Coralville Lake or Lake Macbride, and the parks and playgrounds are amazing!
Sports - People love all kinds of sports in Iowa City. Besides cheering on the Hawkeyes, there are pickup games you can join where new people are always welcome.
Seasonal Activities - The summer and fall are especially great times to check out places like Wilson’s Orchard, Colony Pumpkin Patch, Sass Farms, Kroul Farms. Some of these offer pick-your-own produce from June through November, and all are great for families or just adults!

We know there is so much to think about when moving to a brand new city, and you’ll likely have additional questions. IMP is truly a fantastic resource for getting questions answered and for finding a community once you are here. In the meantime, though, The Iowa City Moms blog is a great resource for info about all things Iowa City, so check out this post for more helpful tips about moving here:  
​https://iowacity.momcollective.com/2022/04/04/moving-to-iowa-city-the-ultimate-guide-2/

Wishing you the best, and we hope to meet you soon!