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

I’ve been thinking about this issue a lot lately. When I told everyone that I had decided to go to a Caribbean med school, some people thought I was crazy and said to me the “but you’re such a smart girl, why would you do that?” This post I wrote pretty much sums up my reply. But the gist is that prestige is not my goal.

Now I’m seriously considering a career in family medicine. When I told a doctor friend of mine he said, “but you’re such a smart girl, why would you do that?” I plan on writing a post to explain my thoughts on this, but I have a million reasons for wanting to pursue family medicine, and not a single one of them involves a desire for prestige.

I’ve been interviewing at different hospitals’ family medicine programs. Some of them are at more prestigious, university affiliated hospitals, and some of them are at financially challenged community hospitals. I’m finding myself drawn more to the community hospitals for many reasons that yet again I will write soon in a blog post. I told a friend of mine about this and she said, “but you’re such a smart girl, why would you do that?”

UGGHH! I just don’t get it. What difference does it make if I am the most brilliant girl on the planet?! I want to be an exceptional doctor. I want to provide excellent, compassionate care to anyone who needs it, and I’m particularly drawn to underserved populations. I just don’t understand why prestige is so important to people. I don’t care about winning a nobel prize or publishing a million articles in prestigious medical journals. I just want to be a great doctor and make the world a better place. The only opinions I really care about are my patients’. I want to give them the best and most compassionate care possible. And I doubt I’ll ever have a patient say, “but you’re such a smart girl, why would you do that?”

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

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The past week or so has been hellish. It’s a long and twisted story, but the gist is that I have begun my residency application. Because of timelines and such, I must decide right now, right NOW, what I want to be when I grow up. In other words, I have to choose my specialty. I was brewing over various options, but I kept hitting various walls. It’s basically been a huge emotional roller coaster (thank you Micah for fastening the seat belt).

The big decision was whether or not I wanted to do family medicine, or psychiatry. I am passionate about both. I can see myself doing both. And then a wonderful person recommended that I look at some combined family med/psych programs.

And then BOOM! I found the absolute most perfect, best, awesome, killer program. As I read the description of the program on their website, I thought YES!! That’s me! That’s it! That’s what I WANT TO DO!

The one problem is that the cards are stacked against me. This is a very competitive program, and to make matters worse, it’s in a very IMG unfriendly state. I probably don’t have the best chances of getting in. But I don’t care. I found the program. I am sure that it fits me perfectly. I have always believed that if you want something enough, you can make it happen. So I am going to try and make this happen. I will also apply to many other programs, but I think I have found one that I will truly be happy in.

I’m just so excited right now. I have something awesome to look forward to, and to work towards. And that’s just what the doctor ordered.

I just signed out for family medicine. Finally, this week is over! It’s currently 65 degrees outside and sunny. There is a soft wind blowing. I’m reclining in a chair, feet up. Scope and Molly are lounging on my bed. I’m drinking a Corona with a lime slice and listening to awesome music. I don’t have to go back to the hospital for a week. I’m meeting up with some family medicine peeps for beers and pool in a few hours. Saying that I’m relaxed and happy would be an understatement. I have achieved nirvana!

I’m pooped right now. Like seriously tired.

Here is an example day for the past 2 weeks:

5:30 a.m. – Wake up/Coffee/Shower
6:00 a.m. – Take dogs for 1.5 mile walk
6:30 a.m. – Walk 1 mile to hospital
7:00 a.m. – Check up on patients/Eat breakfast if I’m lucky
9:00 a.m. – Rounds
11:00 a.m. – Writing SOAP notes, orders, etc.
12:00 p.m. – Round again
1:00 p.m. – Eat, if I’m lucky
1:30 p.m. – More running around the hospital, getting stuff done, chasing down nurses
4:00 p.m. – Round again
5:00 p.m. – Admit patients from the emergency room
7:00 p.m. – More rounds
7:30 p.m. – Walk 1 mile home
8:00 p.m. – Take doggies for 1.5 mile walk
8:30 p.m. – Eat dinner (usually soup from a can because I’m too tired to cook)
9:00 p.m. – Do my sit-ups/push-ups/take shower/review material learned and read up on assigned cases
10:00 p.m. – Pass the hell out

Honestly, I barely sit down all day. I spend a good portion of the day on my feet. I do a butt-load of walking. I’m tired.

I’m not complaining, though. I actually do like my life. As tired as I am, I am happy. I enjoy the hospital for the most part. I love my patients. I learn a lot. It’s just that I barely have a life outside of the hospital. My inbox is way overloaded. I don’t have time to study anything beyond the cases that I encounter during the day. I have zero time for extra-curricular activities. But it’s good. However, I am really, really looking forward to next week, which I have off. Even if I will be spending the week moving crap from Baltimore to who knows where. This is the life I signed up for. And I have no regrets. Dinner time!

I apologize for the lack of posts recently. I have been working fairly long hours at the hospital all week long. Today, I got up early and took the train to a YMCA on Jamaica Avenue, in Brooklyn. They were having a health fair, and all kinds of other cool activities. I volunteered to take blood pressures and counsel people. I had a blast! Meeting people in the community and taking part in group activities is totally up my alley. I met a bunch of wonderful people, donated my blood, got my face painted, and had so much fun!

I forgot to take my camera, but I did snap a few pics with my iPhone. A few other people were also taking photos, and I will post them as soon as I get them. For now, enjoy the ones I have.

Today is absolutely gorgeous! It’s sunny and 74 degrees outside right now. I helped out a friend, cleaned my apartment, started some laundry, and am getting ready to take my doggies for a long walk at the park.

I can’t wait for more summer time activities!

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The frustrations I just described are merely the tip of the iceberg. I could go on for many pages listing the problems I’ve had with obtaining patient information. I’ve worked in quite a few different hospitals beginning around the year 2000, and I can attest that the handling of patient information, and the management of the workflow of the hospital can be as important a component of quality patient care as are the doctors and nurses.

The hospitals I’ve experienced have spanned the whole spectrum of so-called electronic medical records (EMR) implementation. Some have barely even had a single computer, while others have had completely integrated systems for accessing and storing patient information. And I can attest that I have been able to save immeasurable amounts of time and stress because of the ability to easily access the information I needed.

EMR systems have been in the news recently, as Obama included a portion of his economic stimulus plan to include the implementation of EMR systems in hospitals and private practices. Some people are very excited about moving towards a higher-tech way of handling medical information, while others are immensely concerned about the possible negative consequences.

To provide full disclosure, I must admit that my opinion is probably a bit biased by my previous experience. I’ve worked in the IT industry, and have more than a working knowledge of computers. Also, based on my age, I am a part of the “Facebook” generation.

It’s interesting to watch the interaction between us “younger” med students, and some of the older residents and attendings. When the attending can’t seem to figure out how to pull up something on the computer, one of us students always help out. If I need to find some information on a drug or dosage, I whip out my iPhone, while the older resident or attending might pull out a book. I’m not saying that one or the other is necessarily better, but I know that I generally feel much more comfortable using technology.

There are many issues that people have brought up regarding the implementation of EMR systems. The biggest criticism is that it makes protecting privacy incredibly difficult. How can we ensure that doctors and other healthcare providers don’t go digging around unnecessarily in everyone’s records?

Although there are many potential drawbacks to implementing EMR, I will come right out and say that I am a huge proponent of them. I have seen first-hand how patient care can be improved, and a doctor’s workload lessoned by utilizing EMR, and other types of electronic systems. But perhaps this is because of the fact that I am a part of the “computer generation.” I wonder what older people in the healthcare industry think. And I wonder if there are any younger folks out there who just don’t think that we’re going in the right direction. I encourage you all to share your thoughts!

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My resident asked me this question tonight at the clinic. It totally made my day, week, month, year. It’s so gosh dang nice to be appreciated!

Today was another awesome day at the clinic. I’m too tired to make an official “stuff learned” list, so I will just list some things that I did/saw today:

fibroids, nasal flaring and costal retractions in an infant (eventually had to go to ER), hypertension, alopecia, vaginal candida infection, vaginosis, menorrhagia, depression, spinal stenosis, pelvic exam/pap smear, breast exam, hypothyroidism, supra-pubic tenderness, how to do a urine dipstick, hematuria, cocaine addiction, bipolar disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome.

I came home tonight after clinic and went grocery shopping, walked my doggies, cleaned my apartment, and did laundry. I am pooped.

Time for a bubble bath and bed!

Note: Photo is yet another example of the hanging shoe syndrome, taken in Bushwick a few days ago. I love it!

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

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