In case you were wondering...

IM is a little more than half over and most days I still like going to work. I may not want to go into adult medicine but somehow I manage to connect with my patients, even if they are 1. homeless,  2. suffer from mental illness 3. are sadly addicted to alcohol + street drugs + cigarettes +/- pain killers  or 4. all of the above. The patient population is definitely "challenging" and the adults often act like kids but the medicine and pathology is amazing. I heart my preceptor and had a great month with an attending that may pick apart every single thing you say but only because she cares about her patients and wants you to become a good and capable doctor. So how can I complain about that?

All in all, I can hardly believe that 3rd year will be OVER in less than 7 weeks. I am a bit anxious about next year and matching and everyone I still need to do: Step 2 CK, CS, personal statement, ERAS, interviews. I am saddened by my upper SGU classmates that did not match this year but am so happy and proud of those that did. I wish I could fast forward and be there already but at the same time I genuinely LIKE being a medical student and wouldn't mind staying right here for awhile longer. I have so much still to learn, I wish time would be slow down and speed up simultaneously.

Most of all I try to be thankful for where I am in life. I am truly blessed that I get to do what I want with my life. Medical school is hard, but it is also very rewarding and I wouldn't change a thing...

Tired, but Inspired

My first day of gen surgery went well.  Rounding was done at warp speed and I've decided I really don't like wounds or dressing changes. Not so fun.

Also I was assigned a SOAP note for a pt that had been in the hospital for three months. I spent 1.5 hour reviewing his chart yet somehow managed to miss the part about him having a stroke. But my Junior resident had my back and my senior resident was quite understanding about it. Other than than it was just more of the same. Consults for the ER, yadda, yadda. Yet somehow the day lasted from 4am to 7pm. I was so tired and yet I am still not sleeping through the night. But at least I managed 4 hours of sleep before I was wide awake. I guess I can go in early and give myself plenty of time to read mammoth charts. I don't know what else to do at 3am. Other than read. I recommend this middle of the night on-line browsing and inspiration: In Iran, A Brotherhood of Doctors

(gulp)

Tomorrow is my first day of third year. I think I am ready but it seems like I can't really be ready because I have no idea what this will be. It feels like the first day of school and the start of first year all over again.

For those of you playing along at home I got my first choice in that I got to stay in California (for now). I was assigned surgery as my first rotation which is 12 weeks long.  And while I am not at a clinical center I am within driving distance of Dr. Boyfriend for weekends, etc. Of course after surgery I will have to most likely move and then move again and again but I don't know what comes next so I really can't worry about it right now. Instead I just have to focus on remembering my anatomy and being the best third year I can be.

The new apartment is set up and unpacked. My fridge and freezer are stocked. I have clean laundry. I guess I'm ready. In the meantime I am enjoying a glass of chilled wine. Cheers to surgery!