After the show, I’ll explore more of the Vegas nightlife. Some of my favorite clubs are Hakkasan at the MGM, Marquee at the Cosmo, Jewel at the Aria, Omnia at Caesars Palace, or XS at Encore. Bottle service is pricey, so residents make sure you take your attendings, and attendings make sure you take the department chair or better yet, the hospital CEO. They owe us!

DAY THREE

I’ll get up early and grab my coffee to prepare for an early session. Between sessions, there’s time to connect with some friends who I’ve been meaning to catch up with. When it gets close to lunch, I know it might be tough because of time, but I’d hope to take in the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Vegas. Fremont street is a pedestrian district featuring retro and revived casinos, open air bars, a zip line, and live music. And don’t forget to check out the Heart Attack Grill where you don a hospital gown upon entry, “nurses” take your order (try the infamous Bypass Burger), and you get spanked if you don’t finish your food.

Dinner on Day Three might be a little fancy. Nobu in Caesars Palace is phenomenal. They have a mix of traditional Japanese dishes with a modern twist. I’m not usually a raw seafood person, but the dishes here are so good they just melt in your mouth. The experience is unforgettable, from the ambiance to the impeccable service.

Make sure to try some of Nobu’s signature dishes, like the black cod with miso and the yellowtail jalapeño. After dinner, I make sure to walk by the Bellagio to watch the famous fountain show. It’s a must-see Vegas staple, with the water show synchronized to music. It’s a beautiful and mesmerizing experience, perfect for a night out on the Strip.

This is the night when I’ll meet up with old friends from University of Chicago residency at our annual ACEP program alumni event. It’s such a great time catching up with the folks I battled in the trenches with and seeing what they’ve been up to since graduating.

DAY FOUR

By day four, I’m usually exhausted. I can’t keep up like I used to, but I’ll still make the most of it. I start with a half-day of conference sessions, making sure to catch any final topics I might have missed earlier. After the conference, I’ll take it easy and spend some time exploring.