Island Med Student

Taken on my way home from the hospital today.

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

This week, we’re back in the OR, my favorite place.

Here are a few things learned today:

1) How to perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (lap chole).

2) Why it’s a bad idea to eat a bunch of curry chick peas and then put on a surgery mask for an hour directly afterwards.

3) How to perform a neck exploration and removal of a thyroglossal duct cyst.

4) Midori is a mean phone thief.

There is more, I’m sure, but it’s not coming to mind right now!

I purchased a severed leg today while shopping in Bushwick. Yeah!

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

As always, I agree with Sarah Silverman wholeheartedly. Everyone MUST watch this. I guarantee it will also bring pee to your pants.

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

Please read this email I received from Midori, and pics.

This is why I love this gal! She literally made me pee my pants.

I just saw a brand new 2nd hand microwave we got today and couldn’t stop laughing. Why does the microwave smell like urine!? I took a pic for a record before cleaning it with surgical gloves and alcohol spray. Oh and I’ll also add another pic of brand new 2nd hand A/C I got for $30 in my room. I couldn’t figure out how to set it up so I just put it there on bricks and held it with the window. The whole A/C is sitting inside the room (the outer half should be sticking out of the window right?) so while blowing the cold air from front it also blows hot air from behind. How productive. Now it’s getting chilly and I want to close the window but I can’t because the A/C is there and it’s bloody heavy.

This is very different from the NY I saw in the TV and movies.

The other day they were filming a movie at our hospital, and they closed off a big section of the floor. A few days ago, apparently they were filming “Royal Pains,” some new television show. I got caught up in the cast and crew and when they realized that I wasn’t a part of their peeps, they kicked me out of the elevator. They even covered up the sign of the hospital on the outside and replaced it with “Mercy Hospital,” apparently confusing some staff and patients.

Anyway, yesterday our chief student gave me the best assignment I’ve ever gotten as a med student. They were making a powerpoint presentation for the new surgery students’ orientation on Monday and they needed pictures of students breaking the hospital rules to add to the presentation. This kind of stuff being right up my alley, I eagerly agreed to accept the assignment. With the help of Midori, Bindi, Farrah, Tao, and Samira, we managed to take some awesome pics. Eric told me not to post the pics on my blog (though I might figure out a way around that), but let me just tell you that they rocked! Some of the highlights included me with a beer and a cigarette in hand, laying sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs and stealing patients’ food to eat.

Okay, none of this has to do with my veins, really.

On Thursdays in my surgery rotation, we have a marathon of sitting, which includes a lecture, grand rounds, mortality and morbidity presentations, tumor board, and journal club. Looking around the room always brings me great joy, as a good 20% of the room is sleeping at any given minute. Last Thursday was no different, and Dr. C did is usual nodding off and passing out. Please enjoy the pic of Midori in her usual cute self, clapping for some unknown reason, and Dr. C asleep with his auction sign.

Note: This post has absolutely no purpose. I just had to have some excuse for posting these pics!

I finally got to hang out with my fellow “Group D” surgery students outside of the hospital. Last night, some of us went to Life Cafe, a bar/restaurant right in the hood to have have food and drinks. I had so much fun and loved getting to spend quality time with my Group D peeps.

Here are a few iPhone nuggets from the evening. Rub you guys!

I just finished reading the book, Better, by one of my favorite authors, Atul Gawande. In the afterword, Gawande gives his list of “Suggestions for Becoming a Positive Deviant.” I absolutely agreed with all of his suggestions, and it inspired me to write my own list for making your clinical rotation experiences “better.” Here are some tips that have worked well for me thus far:

1. Don’t be afraid to complain. Today, at the end of a lecture, a surgeon asked us how our rotation was going. Everyone pretty much replied “okay.” Then (knowing that we were all holding back our negative remarks), he asked us to be honest and speak up about the things that we didn’t like. In true med student form, everyone remained silent. I broke the ice and offered up a piece of constructive criticism. Eventually, everyone else chimed in with their own complaints. He reminded us that we need to be vocal about giving feedback. I actually agree with Gawande, that sitting around with colleagues and complaining all the time is a horrible idea. However, providing constructive criticism to the powers that be shows that you care, and shows that you’re not afraid to take a stand.

2. Introduce yourself to everyone. Of course, in med school we are taught to always introduce ourselves to the patient. This is obviously important. But how often do we take the time to introduce ourselves to the nurses? How often do we just walk up to someone and ask them for something, without introducing ourselves first? I’ve learned that an introduction can go a long way. And as Gawande mentioned in his book, getting to know someone by asking them a more personal question is also a fabulous way of making friends, not to mention making the hospital more of a fun place to be.

3. Stand out. As Ben Bryner pointed out in his recent entry, standing out can come in handy in many ways. Even without my pink hair, I tend to stand out in a crowd of med students. It’s not even always an intentional thing for me. But when it comes to making good impressions on attendings, residents, and patients, standing out can be a great asset. Not to mention when it comes to getting letters of recommendation down the road. Know what is unique about yourself, and use that to your advantage.

4. Smile. Smile. Smile. A smile can be worth a million words. I always try to smile at people as I pass by. When I walk past a patient’s room, even if I don’t know them, I give them a friendly smile. Obviously, there are times when a smile is inappropriate. But for the most part, a friendly smile can brighten someone’s day, make them feel more relaxed, and show them that you care. Even if you’re tired and have had a hard day, try to spread some joy with a nice contagious smile.

5. Get your money’s worth. You’re paying a lot of money to be trained and learn from your clinical rotation. Even though you’re expected to do a lot of work, you’re paying for the experience! Learn as much as you can, and remember that the point of the rotation is not to be tortured or to just “make it through.” You are there to learn, and you’re paying money for that privilege! You’ll never have this kind of experience again, so make the best of it!

6. Make friends with your fellow students. This tip seems pretty obvious to me, but some people seem to ignore it. Get to know your fellow students. Not only can this make the rotation more enjoyable, but it can also come in immensely handy. When an attending asks you a question and you blank, how awesome is it to have a good friend whisper the answer in your ear?!

That’s all I can think of for now. To all you fellow students out there doing your clinical rotations: good luck and try to make your experience even better!

Click Here To View the Original Post on Medscape

The above pic was taken today while part of my surgery crew was waiting for the falafel man to make us yummy falafel goodness. I love you guys!

Yesterday and today I was given the job of collecting all the patient interaction forms. I decided to abuse my power. My new thing is to yell like a drill sergeant at people who don’t complete their forms in a timely manner. I think only Bindi got my steers and queers joke. I really need to find a megaphone! Also, why can’t I do anything in a normal fashion? One of the mysteries of the universe, I guess…