Island Med Student

Today started out very well. I went for an incredibly awesome run with my two doggies into Manhattan. I ran through feet high piles of snow and slush. Many people gave me strange looks for running in my shorts through the snow with two wild-eyed doggies, but I pressed on. What a wonderful way to start the day!

When I returned home, I had to put Scope and Molly in what I call the “drunk tank.” I covered my couch with towels and gave them treats to eat while secretly waiting for them to dry off and clean themselves.

Later on today I walked to my car to go grocery shopping. I found my poor little Del Sol, with her driver side window broken out. Someone had broken into my car, apparently tried to steal my very cheap car stereo (but failed and ended up just breaking it), and rifled through my glove box. The funny(?) thing is that they stole nothing. Really, there was nothing to steal. Apparently, they weren’t interested in my cucumber-melon scented antibacterial lotion or my blue-tinted Elvis-style sunglasses. Lucky for me, I guess.

Under normal circumstances I might have gotten incredibly pissed off and yelled a bit. But I was just in such a good mood that it barely phased me. I took my car to a nearby shop and they tried to find a used piece of glass for it. After many attempts, we realized that I’d have to buy a brand new piece of glass. The total came out to around $400, and my car won’t be ready for 3-4 days. I will deal with it, but mean people definitely suck!

“Later on we’ll conspire
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
the plans that we’ve made
walking in a winter wonderland”
- Richard Smith, “Winter Wonderland”

I woke up this morning and looked out my window to find about one foot of snow on the ground. I was scheduled for pediatrics clinic at the hospital, and although I doubted that many kiddies would be coming in to see the doctor, I donned my boots and made my way out into the winter wonderland. Only one mother showed up with her newborn for a check-up. Even my attending didn’t make it into the hospital. Since the hospital was deserted and all our lectures were cancelled, us med students went home early at noon.

It was nice to have a snow day and I’ve spent my time today cleaning and doing other assorted errandy items. A few hours ago I made my way out into the snow again to take my doggies for a walk. By this point, there was at least 15 inches of snow on the ground, and it was still coming down.

I took the doggies for a nice, long walk and (shhhhhh) let them run around for a while off their leashes in the deserted park. I sat for a while on a bench (my butt rapidly absorbing the cold moisture) and just allowed myself to meditate. Sitting there, with my doggies romping around, the snow coming down around me, was blissful therapy. There is something truly miraculous about snow, and I allowed myself to absorb the peaceful white flakes building up on my head. How lucky I am.

• Books – “We’ve Got Issues,” by Judith Warner – Review – NYTimes.com
  (tags: interesting)
• Stand Up While You Read This! – Opinionator Blog – NYTimes.com
  (tags: interesting)
• When Futile Health Care Is Something More Than Futile – NYTimes.com
  (tags: news)
• Mind – New Research Focuses on the Power of Physical Contact – NYTimes.com
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• Freda Rosenfeld, Helping Breast-Feeding Mothers – NYTimes.com
  (tags: news)

“The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best – and therefore never scrutinize or question.”
- Stephen Jay Gould

Today was a wonderful day of pediatrics clinic. I saw, I learned, I made way too many kids cry with my prodding and poking. During some downtime today started talking with another med student about taking patient histories. He commented how that was his least favorite part of being a doctor. I realized that it was my most favorite part of being a doctor. For me, there is nothing as fascinating as getting to know a person, and hearing their story.

I guess it’s no surprise that I ended up in psychiatry. Psych is all about getting to know the stories that made and make a person an individual. To me, taking a history or listening to someone share their life’s details with me is like opening a gift box. I enjoy peeling back the layers to reveal the gift inside.

Please enjoy the trashy photos along with today’s post. I took them all on my walks to and from the hospital today. It occurred to me as I was snapping the shot of the discarded hotdog that one of the reasons I enjoy (and am possibly obsessed with) taking photos of trash is because I’m interested in the stories they tell. How did that pile of smashed up computer parts end up so non-randomly assembled on the sidewalk? Why did someone discard that hotdog after only one small bite?

Perhaps just as fun as knowing the stories behind the trash, is making up my own stories for them.

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

I wish I had the motivation right now to give you a wonderful, concise list of “stuff learned” during my pediatrics rotation. But alas, I’m just too pooped to do so. I had pediatrics clinic today, which I loved! So, just for fun, here is a very incomplete, random list of stuff I’ve learned thus far:

How to perform a pediatric H&P. How to examine a newborn. Vaccination schedules. Stickers/stuffed animals are your friends. What HSP looks like. How to calculate IVF for kiddies. Positions for breastfeeding. How to perform a well child check-up. How to deal with parents’ concerns. How much babies should be consuming/pooping/peeing. How to test for developmental milestones. And much, much more!

During clinic today, a mother was shocked to learn that I was not the pediatrician. She told me that I seemed like such a natural with the kiddies, that she assumed I’d been doing this for years. How great that made me feel!

I just ate an entire box of Russell Stover chocolates (they were on sale at the hospital…I couldn’t turn it down!), and I’m about to take my doggies for their walk in the pouring rain. I have a lot of thoughts to share, but not the energy to do so. I promise to write more soon, but in the meantime, please enjoy my updated “Pause: For 3 Seconds a Day” video project (days 1 – 54)!

My sister Briana (we call her Bruce) is in the running for top Captain Morganette. Click here to vote for Bruce! (She’s under the East Category…you can check out her photos and video.)

Go Brucey!! Love you!

Ever since I wrote about matching to a residency position, it seems as though everyone was very curious as to where and in which specialty I matched. I’m happy to announce that I’ll be starting my residency in psychiatry on July 1st at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, New York. There, I spilled the beans!

When ERAS opened, I originally applied to three specialties: psychiatry, family medicine and emergency medicine. My “problem” was that I felt truly passionate about all three specialties. I ended up getting interviews in all three. It was a very difficult decision for me to make, because I really could see myself in any one of those fields. I ended up choosing psychiatry, because I ultimately saw it as the best match for me. I really liked all of the programs that I interviewed at, but the SUNY Downstate program really seemed like a good fit for me. I liked the fact that they have a lot of research that I’m interested in, and everything about their program seemed like a good fit. In addition, the location is perfect. I really did want to stay in Brooklyn. The diverse patient population was also an important factor. So, when I went in for the interview, I was already very excited. The interview day was amazing. I loved all the faculty, residents, and program directors. So, when I was offered a pre-match position, there was really no decision to be made. I knew it was a perfect match for me.

So, there you have it. I will soon be beginning my residency in psychiatry. Also, I just made a wonderful discovery a few mintutes ago. I thought that I would be finishing up my electives by April 30th, but I just realized that I’ll be finished on April 16th! So, I will even have to update my MD countdown. In less than 7 weeks, I’ll be a doctor!

I couldn’t be happier right now! I just got home from a day of pediatrics clinic, which I absolutely loved. Maybe it’s a good thing that I’m doing this pediatrics rotation late in the game, because I love peds so much that I could see myself doing this as well!

Note: Photos were all taken with my iPhone on the way to the hospital this morning. My obsession with trash continues. And now that I’m going to be living in Brooklyn for 4 more years, expect much more trash to come!

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

It’s 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. I just got home from my 12-hour pediatrics night call. I had all kinds of fun on my shift. The best part about being a fourth-year med student in a core rotation is that you can really shine. I know what to do. I’ve got skills. And my residents really appreciate the fact that I can anticipate what needs to be done, without having to be asked. I’m too tired right now to share any more than that. But I love the kiddies, and I don’t mind working 80+ hours a week when it means taking care of kids who need it. Now it’s sleepy time for me!

• Come On, Get Happy. It May Help Your Heart – Shots – Health News Blog : NPR
  (tags: news)

I only have a second to type, as I have to go in right now for a peds 12-hour night call. I just want to let the world know that I am happier than I’ve ever been. Everything has just been coming together lately. I couldn’t be happier with the road I’ve travelled.