First Day as a Doctor
I wanted to again thank everyone for their good wishes on my new doctorhood! Really, it means so much to me to hear from everyone. I also appreciate all the feedback, emails, and comments over the years. I really owe my family, friends, and readers of this blog for making it through the four years of med school!
I have received several very thoughtful donations, and I will be publishing the comments and photos as soon as I get a chance.
I also wanted to reply to a few people who commented negatively on my last post. I’m sorry if you were offended! I simply thought it would be a fun idea to ask for $1 from any reader who might be so inclined. Honestly, I would donate $1 to many of the bloggers who I enjoy reading! Maybe some people thought it’s silly for a “rich doctor” to be asking for money. Well, let me tell you that I am NOT a rich doctor. Actually, I have over $300,000 worth of student loan debt! I also have only a few dollars to my name. I’m going to try and see if I can get some sort of job for the next month or two, but I have been unable to work throughout med school. I actually would have loved to work during med school, and maybe could have pulled it off had it not been for the strange hours I spend at the hospital. My schedule is constantly changing, and that certainly makes it near impossible to work a job at the same time.
Anyway, to you readers who were offended, I’m sorry you felt that way! My intentions were benign, I can assure you. And I was by no means demanding that anyone make a donation! I simply was suggesting that it might be nice. (Kind of like when you visit some museums.) Also, the comments did hurt my feelings. I did publish them. It’s difficult for people who do not share their personal thoughts and experiences with the world to understand what it exactly entails. I receive many nice comments and emails, but I also receive mean ones as well. It’s part and parcel of having a blog. I could just NOT share everything with the world, but in all honesty I do it because it really helps me, and it seems to actually help a lot of other people as well! I have received literally thousands of emails from people thanking me for writing this blog, and sharing my experiences with them. And that makes the negative comments and emails sting a little less.
So, what does it feel like to be a doctor? Honestly, it feels about the same so far as it did to be a med student! I have started filling out forms, which require me to put “MD” in the title, and that is a bit strange. I also realized that I will never again need my short white med student coat. I wonder what I shall do with it?
In other news, I will be continuing to write on this blog for a while (even though I am no longer a med student). And yes, I will soon be unveiling a new blog, dedicated to my life in residency! I will also start writing a new residency column for Medscape. So, you have not heard the last from me!
And thanks again to all of you wonderful folks out there. You really are amazing!
Photos: I didn’t have any “new” photos to post, so I posted some old ones. VERY old ones…of me as a child and my family. Love you mom and dad!
My name is Kendra and I am a newly minted doctor about to begin my residency in Psychiatry at 
Some people’s minds are pretty rigid.. they won’t understand fun things like “buy me an oyster”, although they should, by now, have gotten used to your blog and how you think and talk. Guess they aren’t avid readers after all..
No need to feel sad, your an MD now! Those people just need to get a life and stop raining on peoples parades. I can’t tell you how much this blog has helped me with my decision to become a doctor, I look forward to your posts and keep on doing it for the people that care and are interested in your life as a DOCTOR! Anyways congratulations and go out and have some fun, you deserve it
Congratulations!
I look forward to reading more about your experiences when in residency!
Dont mind the other people, Dr. Haisook is right about them not getting your sense of humor.
Hi Kendra.
Thank you for the kind email about who medicine is for and not for. I would have replied back to your email, but I felt the need to post here with the terrible comments on the oysters. Real quick on the email, it is what I thought it would be, but your perspective validates what I thought. It is one thing to have an opinion outside of medicine, but your opinion since you went through med school holds more weight. Thank you so much for the email. I can tell what kind of a person you are by your words, and there’s nothing short of a kind, amazing woman you are.
As for the oysters, I would be glad to donate money, although I think I’m a little late since you posted that request, and I missed the weekend for happy hour oysters. Would you like some money for another day of oysters? People should be thankful that you provide so much information about medicine, your life, Ross, etc., that ONE FREAKING DOLLAR is very little to ask for. I think I have another addition to the “Who is medicine NOT for” question I posed to you. It’s people who are that cold-hearted to respond negatively for 1 dollar. And they are the ones that will be miserable in medicine.
Thank you for all you’ve done, and I look forward for your residency blog. Keep up the good work
Check out the sexy parents in that picture!!!! now I see where we got our good looks! BTW- I hope you aren’t trying to pass off the last picture as you being a cute baby. sorry Kevy, that one is all me
lovers, jorkers
And check out those sexy grandparents too
Such cute, entertaning and smart kids…who have grown up to be beautiful, talented and brilliant women. Makes me cry and smile at the same time! Always keep in touch with your inner child…and you’ll always enjoy the wonder each day can bring!
Kendra – I’m a few days late, but congrats on being a Doc, this is definitely a “First” that beats all firsts haha. I’m looking forward to your future blogs & you definitely should keep this one online for yours and other’s “future reference!” Now, kinda like a good TV show on DVD (excluding some medical dramas), you can look back at your long blog and read it with different meaning.