Frig, I love cardiology. Or rather, the fact that I'm starting to feel like I'm not a total idiot about it any more. My elective is going really well - GREAT preceptor, he's giving me so many opportunities to practice my clinical exams as well as teaching me a lot of new skills. I can now start ECG's, and have a pretty good understanding of at least basic interpretation. I'm learning some more about drugs, and common cardiac conditions. I've even tried to be extra heart-healthy: biking to the clinic every day, more salads, etc. Of course, there are still at least 100000 things I don't know about hearts yet, but this is a good start. Only three days left of this elective, hopefully this new knowledge will last into clerkship and beyond!
On a related note: you know you're a med student when breasts become annoying lumps of tissue that just get in the way of doing a good exam.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Would you like fries with that?
As term is wrapping up, we've been lucky enough to be treated to a few dinners over the past few weeks. Most deliciously, we went to an amazing Brazilian grill place (more about the meal here). While at the restaurant, we were given a little gift - surgical hats (think hairnets made out of scrubs material). Everyone immediately tried them on, and the dude sitting next to me was remarking about how much my classmates looked like surgeons... and then turned to me, and said, "well, except for you. You look like a cafeteria lady!"
Amazing.
Honestly though, it was one of the best burns I've had in a long time... I can't even be offended. He followed it up with a quick "Oh it's just because you're too NICE to be a surgeon!" I hope I'll at least be able to fake the look through my surgery clerkship rotation!
Amazing.
Honestly though, it was one of the best burns I've had in a long time... I can't even be offended. He followed it up with a quick "Oh it's just because you're too NICE to be a surgeon!" I hope I'll at least be able to fake the look through my surgery clerkship rotation!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Learning something after all...
I'm at a school that is relatively (in)famous for its lack of formal evaluation. We do have 'tests' every once in a while that help us track our development and performance relative to the rest of the class. I just took one today, my first since the baseline evaluation during the first month of school. After THAT dismal performance, I was expecting to improve a bit, considering that it would be nearly impossible to go down from that score.
My main thoughts during the first test was that there is SO MUCH to know, and how cool is it going to be to at one point, realize that I possess that knowledge. That point is a long way off, but slowly inching closer. I went through all of my old notes, trying to remember about the heart, the lungs, the blood... and realizing over the past day or so that I feel like I've forgotten about 95% of what I've learned about pretty big things (I keep telling myself not to worry because by the time I get to clerkship and residency, all of these things will be drilled into my head for good).
BUT! I surprised myself by scoring TEN TIMES higher than last time. I was answering a lot of questions, and while I wasn't super confident, I managed to remember a lot of stuff. Please keep in mind that it isn't like me to gloat... I tend to feel that in my group of peers, I am on the very bottom rung of the knowledge ladder. I constantly feel like I am more 'lucky' than 'deserving' of my place in med school. But now, for this brief moment? I'm feeling pretty good, and am excited to get to the point where I can answer most of the questions, and be a good doctor.
Now it's time to go get this new self-confidence smacked down with my practical 'evaluation'.
My main thoughts during the first test was that there is SO MUCH to know, and how cool is it going to be to at one point, realize that I possess that knowledge. That point is a long way off, but slowly inching closer. I went through all of my old notes, trying to remember about the heart, the lungs, the blood... and realizing over the past day or so that I feel like I've forgotten about 95% of what I've learned about pretty big things (I keep telling myself not to worry because by the time I get to clerkship and residency, all of these things will be drilled into my head for good).
BUT! I surprised myself by scoring TEN TIMES higher than last time. I was answering a lot of questions, and while I wasn't super confident, I managed to remember a lot of stuff. Please keep in mind that it isn't like me to gloat... I tend to feel that in my group of peers, I am on the very bottom rung of the knowledge ladder. I constantly feel like I am more 'lucky' than 'deserving' of my place in med school. But now, for this brief moment? I'm feeling pretty good, and am excited to get to the point where I can answer most of the questions, and be a good doctor.
Now it's time to go get this new self-confidence smacked down with my practical 'evaluation'.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Taking a cue from Saroja...
a haiku, in lieu of a comprehensive update!
morning in the morgue
avoiding thoughts of pain, death
hiding from disease
(I have a funny relationship with anatomy and anatomy specimens. I find that I'm fine if I focus on the organ... what is this thing, where is it's location, what does it do. Mostly, I'm fine, I can separate myself. As soon as I think: 'what did this pathology do to this person,' I'm done. I need to sit, gather my thoughts and breathe... hard to do in a poorly ventilated, tiny room surrounded by formalin odors. I'm getting better though, it's a good place to learn how to remove myself from my emotions. I still have a long way to go.)
morning in the morgue
avoiding thoughts of pain, death
hiding from disease
(I have a funny relationship with anatomy and anatomy specimens. I find that I'm fine if I focus on the organ... what is this thing, where is it's location, what does it do. Mostly, I'm fine, I can separate myself. As soon as I think: 'what did this pathology do to this person,' I'm done. I need to sit, gather my thoughts and breathe... hard to do in a poorly ventilated, tiny room surrounded by formalin odors. I'm getting better though, it's a good place to learn how to remove myself from my emotions. I still have a long way to go.)
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