Our Medical Lives

Achieving the Dreams

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

Since we have embarked on this journey, I have come to meet so many supportive men and women as they stand by their doctors-in-training and watch on the sidelines as they achieve some of their wildest dreams. I have seen encouragement and love in so many different ways, one of which is constantly moving all over the country for the many different stages that this journey may bring.

In 2011, our family finished up six official years of this journey, from med school to internship and finally, into residency. There have been a multitude of good times and for us, the year also brought on many, many challenges. It was a year that will be cemented in my memory for both extremes.

Back in 2009, we were graced with a guest article by Jayne the Wise. When I read this, I "got it." I loved the advice that she had to give and I wanted to share her wisdom with all my friends and readers. It is all too common that many of us can get caught up in the negative. We become bitter with the every day hassles of training and annoyed with the long hours of being on our own, without our partners, awaiting the day until this training is complete. The fact is that times can be hard and we can get "stuck."

At the beginning of 2011, bad news came with the ringing of the new year. To name just a few ... no dryer for three months (imagine line drying laundry in your basement for this length of time for a family of four!), identity theft, and a tornado sweeping through our neighborhood (thankfully, we did not experience any damage, but many only blocks away were not so lucky). Then, I lost someone very close to me after a wicked battle with cancer. BUT, amongst all of this, I had an opportunity fall into my lap that has left me with a changed state of mind and helped me to recover. For the past four years, I have been writing here on this site and more often, on my blog about books. Writing has always been a part of my life in one way or another, but I never considered it more than just a hobby. This little opportunity turned my little hobby into a little paycheck, and I am now writing part-time as a freelance writer. My secret little dream of becoming a published author one day became a not-so-secret little reality.

As I reflect on this past year, I came to realize that this little dream of mine would not have been even a remote possibility UNLESS we as a family were on this journey together. I never could have imagined that this journey of achieving my husband's dreams could have brought me a bit of my own. As I began to think about more than just this past year, I came to realize that so many other positives have come from this journey . . . Two gorgeous children that are learning so much and becoming so resilient thanks to our hardships and successes. Traveling the country and living in places that I never would have otherwise, and consequently, meeting so many amazing people that have made me a better person and my life richer. I have been exposed to jobs that have helped me to grow in my profession and assist in figuring out where my next step should be. And, of course, I have come to discover that my words can matter and my ultimate dream of becoming a published author of a fiction novel may one day also become a reality. Over these past six years, I have come to discover that this partnership has achieved so many dreams ... some that we have always had and some that have only lay hidden in our subconscious until the opportunity arose and allowed us to see that there was more to this journey then we have ever imagined.

Two years ago, Jayne the Wise shared her advice and I "got it." Today, I truly understand it more than I ever have before and I only hope that this understanding continues to deepen as we finalize this journey and move onward to bigger and better dreams!

Your Turn: I want to hear about your dreams and aspirations! What dreams have you seen come true on your journey? What do you see coming in the future (if you are feeling up to a bit of prediction)?

A New Year, A New Plan

2012-01-02T22:44:00.000-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I know that it has been far too long since I posted here - more than six months to be exact. The year 2011 was a difficult one for our household for a variety of reasons - a crazy work schedule, an increased child activity schedule, and a death in our family to name just a few. Now that it is a new year, I am hoping to start fresh. I have mapped out some great discussion topics, articles that I've been thinking about for a while now, and have even been working to line up some guest posts from others that I have met along the medical journey. My goal is to post only once per week as my other writing habits will be taking up the rest of my free time (the little that I have). In fact, my little hobby of writing was the one positive thing that came out of 2011! I will not go into a lot of details at this point because I am saving those for a later post, but it has become an exciting opportunity for me!

In the meantime, I want to discuss what is to come (besides Our Medical Lives being back in business!). This will be another big year for us. We are quickly approaching the final year of residency, which means the decision of Chief Resident will be made and decisions about what will come next is on the horizon. My hubby is currently debating a fellowship immediately following residency and plans to officially make his decision and begin applying in the spring. Let's be honest ... the decision has already been made! I have had mixed feelings about this decision, but what it really comes down to is moving AGAIN! I am sure that I will be revisiting this topic again in the near future, so I won't go off on that tangent at this point in time either!

What I do want to get to is what you have planned (for those of you still out there following our little site!). What are your resolutions for 2012? Any big plans? Any big beginnings? Any big decisions or events coming your way? Do tell!

Check Out This Giveaway!!

2011-06-29T22:00:00.000-05:00

I meant to get this posted earlier, but I just now have time! We are sponsoring one of the giveaways over on the blog, Lives of Doctor Wives, featuring the following cookbook compiled by spouses and significant others of medical students from A.T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

There are a number of other really great prizes, but you have to hurry! Deadline is tomorrow, June 30th for entries!!

Click over there right now!!

Review: In Stitches by Anthony Youn M.D.

2011-06-20T22:01:00.001-05:00

Meet Anthony Youn M.D., a well-known plastic surgeon, making appearances on such shows as The Rachael Ray Show, Doctors, and The CBS Early Show. When you hear these high accolades, your view of this man grows and your vision may include a pedestal or a mountain. Youn, in fact, is a man that has accomplished many things, but as he shares his life with us in his memoir, In Stitches, the reader comes to realize that this man climbed that mountain, faced many obstacles, overcame them, and all have contributed to the man he is today. And, for many readers of Our Medical Lives, it is a journey that may be all too familiar to you and your family.

Youn begins his life story by sharing his experiences of growing up in a traditional Korean-American home, but as the only minority family in a small community in Michigan. His father is a doctor himself and strongly encourages both his sons to follow in his medical footsteps.

Youn then continues into his college years, sharing his struggles through the pre-med coursework, the MCAT prep, and the continued urging from his father to stay the medical course.

In the final part of the memoir, Youn shares his experiences of the medical school years . . . the late nights, the hospital rotations, the treatment of those above him, and those moments that point him to his destiny.

Overall, it is an amusing and raw story. Youn shares his triumphs and struggles, even those during the awkward years. Though I felt the relationship-craving was a bit much (at least for me), I also believe it was a genuine piece to his journey that he bravely shared. Since my husband has "been there, done that" recently, Youn's story hits close to home, his tales sounding a bit familiar, and to put it simply . . . . real. Pre-med students, those with dreams of being a doctor . . . any kind of doctor . . . should read In Stitches. I even recommend those students who are even in medical school to give the book a try. It can be a great prep of what's to come, a great normalizer of the struggles, and a light at the end of a tunnel signifying a VERY LONG journey.

I will leave you with two quotes that have really stuck with me . . .

Overall, medical school means study. And then study some more. And when you finish all that studying, you will definitely feel the need to study. (p. 94)

It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has. (Hippocrates reference p. 173)

Thank you to Sneak Attack Media for providing a copy of In Stitches as well as sponsoring a giveaway of the book hosted here in April. For more information, visit the following websites:

http://amzn.to/institchesbook

www.institchesbook.com

Definition of Helping

2011-06-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

Last month, I posted a topic titled Helping vs Hindering that focused on if we as spouses or significant others were helping our doctors-in-training or if we were hindering them by being a bit helicopter-ish. I encourage you to read that post before continuing with this one, including the comments. If you have read it, feel free to revisit the conversation.

--Cue Elevator Music--

Now that we are all refreshed and on the same page, let's move on to where I wanted to now take this conversation. Instead of talking around this issue, let's talk about practical ideas of what is helpful and what may have the potential of being harmful. I always like to end with a positive, so let's start with the latter.

THE DON'TS

When a doc can manage
their own schedule,
everyone wins!

Do NOT write a personal statement or complete applications in any way or form. Your student or doctor-in-training needs his/her voice and personality to shine through in written form. If you do it, then there will be a disconnect when it comes to interview time.
Do NOT call potential medical schools, internships, residencies, or practices for information.
Do NOT attempt to schedule elective rotations via phone or email contacts.
Do NOT take care of every single thing around the house. Leave something for the student or doctor-in-training to take care of. (Many may gasp at this one, but keep reading because I address this one in more detail below!)

THE DO'S

DO assist your student or doctor-in-training behind the scenes to enhance an application. This can mean proofing and providing feedback on his/her written work.
DO quiz your spouse or significant other for upcoming interviews. Google common interview questions and start throwing questions out there at random times of the day. Not only will this ready him/her for the interviews, but it will also prepare for "pimping" during the training years!
Do your research! This journey is not just about the doctor, but the entire family. The decisions can affect each and every member of the household. You can research the programs, but this can probably be more effectively done by the student or doctor-in-training him/herself because it is his/her day-to-day experiences. You, on the other hand, will be experiencing everything else on a daily basis . . . the city, the job possibilities (if applicable), the things to do when s/he is gone for endless hours/days/weeks at a time. ALL of this will be an important piece of the puzzle when trying to figure out the next step!

An example dish created by my Doctor Chef!

DO your household chores ... but, do NOT do them all as I mentioned above! And, this is why ... You want to make sure that there is still a place for him/her at home. Don't do everything so that s/he does not feel that there is no longer a place for him/her. This "leftover" stuff may be small, but the message will be so very important. (At our house, my husband cooks whenever he has the chance. He loves to cook and it can serve as his stress relief. And, the added bonus ... I don't like to cook!)
DO involve the student or doctor-in-training in as much stuff as possible, even s/he is gone. With the long hours of a resident, my husband is rarely home, so he tends to miss a lot of stuff with our children. Therefore, turn those absences into new opportunities! On those long days and nights, I still send lots of pictures and texts and leave voice messages for him to listen to when he has the chance. It could just be the kids making funny faces. It could be the kids telling Daddy good night. It could even be just boring notes that incorporates him/her into the daily life and allows the feeling of being a part of even the little things.

These are just a few things that I can come up with. Now, it is your turn. Do you have any thoughts to add to what I have listed? Would you add anything to the list yourself for either a DO or a DON'T?

Helping vs Hindering

2011-05-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Are we as spouses or significant others helping or hindering our students/interns/residents? This is a question that I have been pondering for quite some time as I have had conversations with fellow advocates or eavesdropped on others, but it is now that I have decided to try to put this into words and share a few thoughts with all of you.

I think I will start with a little background on myself from the professional standpoint. I work in higher education and have almost 10 years of experience with students in one capacity or another. Over the past few years, the habits of generations have changed, and the largest thing that I have noticed is more involvement from parents. This involvement of parents is often referred to as "helicopter parents." Throughout my studies on this topic and my own experiences, I have firmly come to believe that as a "helicopter," a message is sent to the students or children that they are not capable of doing things on their own, unless that parent is right there to correct it or fix it for you. As someone in higher education, I literally dread interacting with these "helicopters." I want to work with the student directly because it is his/her education and s/he should take charge of his/her own college career. This topic alone can be controversial, but stay with me for a moment.

As I have been going through this medical journey, I have often seen fellow spouses and significant others wanting to be helpful to their students, particularly during fourth year when out-rotations are being scheduled and applications for residencies are in process. I hear of spouses and significant others being the ones to set up out-rotations, making the phone calls, being the ones to talk to the multitude of programs. And, I ask you . . . Are you being a "helicopter" spouse or significant other?

Let's take this a step further . . . Have you ever considered how this supposed helping may portray your student to the possible rotation site or internship/residency program? Are they thinking the same thing that I'm thinking when I talk to my "helicopter" parents . . . Why the heck isn't this student taking charge of this situation him/herself? Is s/he not capable? How much is this truly helping the student to be a responsible citizen if s/he is having Mom or Dad do everything? Are the prospective programs thinking . . . Why is this med student having someone else do his/her dirty work? Is s/he incapable of doing it? Will s/he be able to handle our program? As an intern or resident, a doctor in training needs to be able to handle many, many details at once, including the paperwork and phone calls that come with it. S/he is not even able to multitask as a student!

This may be taking it a bit to the extreme, but I want to leave you with these thoughts. You may be thinking you are helping your student or intern/resident; however, you may ultimately be hindering them with the unspoken message that is being portrayed. In a competitive world, do you really want to take this chance?!?

As a spouse or significant other, what is your opinion on this topic? How about from the doctor or student doctor perspective? Are these actions helping or hindering?

For more information on helicopter parenting, you can visit Wikipedia or read this TIME magazine article. In fact, The Examiner has a great article featuring the above comic with ways to determine if you are hovering and how you may be more helpful. It is meant for parents, but can easily be applied to us as spouses or significant others supporting the (student) doctors!

Giveaway Winner of In Stitches!

2011-04-26T15:23:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to announce the winner of In Stitches by Dr. Anthony Youn! Drum roll please . . . .

Jonnie

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You have until 5:00 pm on Friday, April 29th to respond to my email. If there is no response, then a new winner will be drawn!

If you didn't win, but are interested in owning a copy of this book yourself, today is your lucky day as the book is now in stores!!

Choosing A Residency

2011-04-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

How do you choose a residency program?

We have received this question from multiple people over the years, so here is our official response . . .

Tif: I really think that it is going to be different for everyone!! Different people look for different things. For some it is the area, for other it is the benefits. Maybe moonlighting is not an issue and some places will not allow you to moonlight (and I would caution against this anyways, particularly as a family because the hours are already long!). The number of attendings may not matter compared to the attendings' personalities and how it molds with your student's (or soon to be intern's/resident's)! Someone with a family may have different requirements compared to someone who is single.

Craig: In looking at programs I was looking for a place that felt comfortable first and foremost. At 90% of the programs for any specialty in this country you will get a quality education. Yes, there will be differences between them all, pluses and minuses for each and every one, but in the end you will come out being a competent resident. For me, I knew I had to be someplace that I (and my family) could live and be happy with. The number of hours is a big deal but not everything. With most programs your going to have easy and hard months and they vary. It's a residency and you will be working hard no matter where you go. Moonlighting wasn't a big deal to me as I didn't plan on doing it. I knew I was going to be working a lot and didn't want to be away from my family any more than I had to.

--------------------------------------------------

Overall, a great place to start in narrowing down locations for residencies is to know all of your options: do a search of all the residencies for your desired specialty! This alone should be the first place to start!

From here, we recommend the following steps:

Sit down with your student and write down all possible things that could contribute to your decision in where you will go for residency (i.e., location, number of residency positions, benefits, salary, support, things to do in the town/city, school systems, moonlighting options, etc.).
Create your own ranking of what is important to you from this list of possible contributions.
Have your student create his/her own ranking separately.
Compare your lists! How do they compare? Do you find that there are similarities? Are there large discrepancies? If there are discrepancies, talk through them! Can there be compromise? If so, what will this compromise look like? Remember, you are in this together!
Based upon your rankings, then begin going through the list of available residencies! How do these locations fit into your rankings?
Apply to all possible positions that fit into your rankings (if feasible)! Out rotations at these top locations are also a good idea!
Once you interview and explore the cities, then you can continue to have conversations regarding how the locations fit into the rankings. You will discover hidden gems and those that may have been high on your list will no longer be!
Your student should trust his/her gut! S/he will experience some locations that will produce very strong feelings, either positive or negative. These reactions can be a great indicator about what your time at the location will be like!

This is a very general idea of how we chose our residency programs and ranked our list! Use what you would like! Throw the rest out the window!

Do you have any additional tips or thoughts to add to ours?

GIVEAWAY: In Stitches by Dr. Anthony Youn

2011-04-16T22:15:00.000-05:00

I am so very excited to announce a GIVEAWAY featuring the soon-to-be released book, In Stitches by Dr. Anthony Youn! Here's a quick synopsis from the book's website:

Dr. Tony Youn grew up one of two Asian-American kids in a small town where diversity was uncommon. Too tall and too thin, he wore thick Coke-bottle glasses, braces, Hannibal Lecter headgear, and had a protruding jaw that one day began to grow, expanding to an unthinkable, monstrous size. After high school graduation, while other seniors partied at the beach or explored Europe, Youn lay strapped in an oral surgeon’s chair where he underwent a life-changing jaw reconstruction. Ironically, it was this brutal makeover that led him to his life’s calling, and he continued on to endure the four horrific, hilarious, sex-starved, and tension-filled years that eventually earned him an M.D. Offering a window into a side of medicine that most people never see, Youn shares his bumpy journey from a shy, skinny, awkward nerd into a renowned and successful plastic surgeon.

Now, Youn is the media’s go-to plastic surgeon. He appears regularly on The Rachael Ray Show, and his blog, Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery, is widely read and the most popular blog by a plastic surgeon in the country. But it was a long road to success, and In Stitches recounts Dr. Youn’s misfit adolescence and his four tumultuous years in medical school with striking wit, heart, and humility.

As many of my readers are aware, the journey through medical school and beyond can be a rough one, and this new book may provide some insight and humor from someone who has been there and done that! We will be reading this book as well and sharing our own thoughts in the near future! Be watching for it and feel free to join in the conversation!

Thanks to Sneak Attack Media, I am excited to announce that you can be one of the first to read this memoir. Simply fill out the form (linked below) by 11:59 p.m. CST on Monday, April 25th. One lucky entrant will be chosen using random.org and will be notified of his/her win on the day of the book's release . . . Tuesday, April 26th! The winner will also be announced here on the same day! US and Canada residents ONLY please.

GIVEAWAY ENTRY FORM

For more information on the book, including excerpts, be sure to visit the following websites:

If you wish to pre-order the book, you can even enter to win a FREE iPad, Nook, or Kindle! For more information, click here!

Unexpected Events on a Resident's Schedule

2011-04-12T06:00:00.004-05:00

The last month or so has been a difficult one in our household. One of my family members has been battling cancer for the past two and a half years. Last month, the battle came to a close. I traveled 1500 miles to be with my family during those final days and to say my good-bye to this man that I was very close to. A couple of weeks later, we packed up everybody to be with family and attend funeral services.

A situation like this is difficult in and of itself, but add to this mix working around a schedule for a resident. It complicates matters in a multitude of ways, and even when you are able to work the schedule out, you have absolutely no wiggle room or flexibility.

Here's our story . . .

After a number of discussions between my husband and myself, the decision was made that I would fly out on a Thursday with our two children to be with my family sooner rather than later. The plan was for my husband to fly out after leaving work a couple of hours early on Friday afternoon. Everything was originally going as planned, but unfortunately, the plane had mechanical issues and he did not end up arriving to our destination until an hour prior to the start of the funeral services on Saturday. He made it to the important part (in brand spanking new clothes because our luggage didn't make it)!

When this decision was made, my husband had worked it out so that he only missed a couple of hours of work and only had to reschedule one shift . . . not bad for the resident schedule.

Then we come to the trip back home. Our flight was delayed. We missed our plane. The airline could not get us home until late on Monday night. My husband was scheduled to be at the hospital early on Monday and was on call in-house until Tuesday morning. Now, what do we do?!?

As soon as we knew we were going to miss our connecting flight, he called his attending. It was a stressful time for EVERYONE involved. We tried everything to get him home sooner, but he was between a rock and a hard place. Pay more money for an additional ticket to get home earlier . . . Money we don't necessarily have to spend, especially on such a short term notice. Abandon the family in an airport and unfamiliar town and let them fend for themselves . . A decision he did not feel comfortable with either.

The end result . . . We were stuck overnight. The attending had to re-work the schedule for the entire month because of this one missed day that was completely out of our control. My husband was able to get out on an earlier flight thanks to being on standby to ensure he actually got home this time. The kids and I hit the late night flight. We all made it home. We didn't do it together, but we were all home safely in the long run.

This trip confirmed a number of things for me . . . I HAVE to share my husband with the hospital, even in the rough times, whether I like it or not. (For the record, I don't like it.) My husband will work hard to confirm that both his family is okay and still do what he needs to do to be successful at his job. This situation has proven to me more than anything the importance of compromise in our type of marriage. And, last but not least, times can be tense . . . times can be stressful . . . times can be demanding and pulling you two different ways at once. In the end, it all works out. It makes an impact on the relationship. I may not have been proud of some of my actions or comments, particularly in front of my children (yes, I yelled at airline officials!). BUT, I hope that we as a couple will grow from this experience.

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, right?!?

{Insert Kanye West's song, Stronger here! I would, but I don't like the video as much as I like the song!}

REVISED: The Journey in a Word

2011-01-30T22:25:00.000-06:00

Since I posted the Wordle featuring The Journey in a Word a couple of weeks ago, I have received a multitude of other submissions of words to add to the image. Because of the dramatic change in the number of words, I have decided to redo the image completely and this is the new one (click on the image for a larger and more easily read version or scroll down to the bottom of the page) . . .

I really love the increase in positive words since the last one, but the combination of both is a true peek into the life of a medical journey. I love it!

Thank you to all who shared their words! I truly appreciate every single one!

And, thanks to Wordle for making this image possible!

The Journey In A Word

2011-01-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

Last week, I asked you to share your experiences thus far in one word. I am a huge fan of words and believe them to be so powerful and even beautiful. Let me demonstrate with a Wordle image.

Would you add any words to this image? Do you agree or disagree with the words currently used?

As you contribute more words, I will add them to the image. You can view the most up-to-date image at the bottom of this page.

Thank you to all who contributed!

One Word

2011-01-10T12:21:00.000-06:00

I posed the following question over on our Facebook page and thought I would pose it here as well. Tell me what you think!

If you were using only one word to describe your medical journey so far, what would it be? Feel free to post multiple one word descriptors.

FYI: I will be summarizing them here for everyone once I have enough words to do it!

2011: Here We Come!

2010-12-28T23:10:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe that another year has come and gone (well almost)!! This past year has been a crazy one and we have not had the opportunity to post much over here at Our Medical Lives. Just a quick recap . . .

The hubby completed his internship and officially started his residency in Anesthesiology! In fact, I don't even think that I shared the good news that this past fall, he even was named Resident of the Month! He has had a multitude of amazing experiences and often comes home talking about what he got to do and participate in that day! We anticipate 2011 to bring even more amazement to his plate, as well as very long hours!

The kids have amped up their schedules with my oldest starting team sports this year! Amazingly, we only each missed one soccer game this year, which we find pretty darn amazing with our schedules these days! This winter will bring even more games on the basketball court and we can only hope that we are able to make just as many, if not more!

I have stayed busy working full-time, volunteering for the AAOA (Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association), chauffeuring my children around town for school and activities, and trying to squeeze in a bit of reading and writing time if I'm lucky. I've even been considering a return to school myself in the next few years, or maybe in the shorter term, a class or two in the semesters to come. To be quite honest, I have felt so stretched that I have been thinking I need to downsize my load a bit in the new year. Sooooooo . . .

Here at Our Medical Lives in 2011, I am not sure how much I will be posting or not! I refuse to shut down the site because of the wealth of information and advice shared through my research and our guests. I may or may not pop in. I may or may not have others share their thoughts. The resident may or may not pop in as well. Feel free to subscribe to us and follow us. You never know what you may get while we continue to adjust to our crazy schedules. I've got a list of things to share. Some writing on this list of topics has already been done, but it is currently sitting in queue awaiting the final touches. I've got a lot to share and write about . . . just not the time to do it. However, we are ALWAYS available to answer emails and ALWAYS answer every email that we receive!

Long story short . . . Don't give up on us. We are still here, surviving the residency years! And, we will stop in every now and then . . . just not on a regular basis!

We wish you the best of luck in 2011, wherever you may be in the journey!

These Peeps "Get It"

2010-11-10T21:03:00.000-06:00

Once again, it has been far too long since I have posted, but I really do have a good excuse this time! At the end of last month, I traveled out to San Francisco for the annual OMED Convention (for osteopathic medicine). During this time, the Advocates to the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA) also have their annual House of Delegates meeting, and since I am active in that group, I was in attendance!

There is really lots to report from that time spent in the city, from a night trip to Alcatraz to the amazing seafood that I ate and even to the night where I walked on Lombard Street (aka, the crookedest street in the world . . . and dang steep!). However, there was something that I experienced during that time that I can say that I rarely experience on a regular basis . . . hanging out with people that get me and my situation!

When I talk about being in temporary poverty, having moments where I feel like a single parent, or having to deal with the mistress, or what is more well known to many of us as the hospital. I don't have to try to explain myself to these people. I don't have to explain that my husband is not making the big bucks and that when he does that we will have such a large sum to pay in student loans every single month for the next 30 years. There is such an unspoken understanding among us, that more time can be spent just having fun, being myself, and not worrying about being judged or stereotyped for being a doctor's wife.

My family understands me more than most people . . . I tend to be quirky and my family gets my quirkiness! BUT, the peeps that I got to hang out with in San Francisco get the situation and circumstances better than anyone else . . . even family! No explanations, no judgments, no preconceived notions . . . just understanding. These peeps just "get it!"

And, all I want to do is say . . .

THANKS!!!

DO vs MD: Do You Know The Difference?

2010-09-21T23:28:00.000-05:00

More than 6 years ago, my husband began exploring the application process to medical schools. Along the way, we discovered that there are actually two different routes a student can go as a potential physician . . . allopathic and osteopathic. We ended up going the osteopathic route, which resulted in my husband becoming a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy).

The majority of you probably are already aware of allopathic medicine . . . those doctors known as MDs . . . but, many are not aware of the DOs. According to the latest statistics announced on the AOA Daily Report, 7% of the entire physician population in the U.S. are osteopathic physicians. Osteopathic physicians have the same exact practice rights and can be found in every single specialty of medicine. The question often arises, however, about how DOs differ from MDs.

Let's refer to the American Osteopathic Association website to answer this question . . .

DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system - your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of your body mass.

Osteopathic medical students do have additional training in what is called OMT or Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. Referring back to the American Osteopathic Association for definitions . . .

Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is hands-on care. It involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Using OMT, your osteopathic physician (DO) will move your muscles and joints using techniques including stretching, gentle pressure and resistance.

Despite the differences, here are a few tidbits when discussing allopathic and osteopathic care . . .

MDs and DOs work side-by-side in caring for patients!
DOs can actually be accepted into allopathic internships and residencies, but MDs are NOT eligible for osteopathic programs due to the lack of training in OMT.
ALL medical students must pass comparable board exams . . . DOs take the COMLEX, MDs take the USMLE. It is also not uncommon to see osteopathic students taking BOTH exams if they intend to apply to allopathic residency programs (though this is not always required).
ALL medical students complete 4 years of medical school and complete comparable training in all specialties.

Whatever the case may be, I firmly believe as the spouse of a DO working in an allopathic (MD) training program, that by working together as a team, better care can be provided to the patient. The differences are important to note, but it is these differences that can create infinite possibilities in the field of medicine!

For more information on DOs, I recommend that you visit the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) website or DO-Online. If you are a spouse, significant other, or supporter of a DO, then I would also recommend that you check out the Advocates to the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA) website.

For more information on MDs, you can visit the American Medical Association (AMA) website. If you are a spouse, significant other, or supporter of an MD, then check out the American Medical Association (AMA) Alliance.

In fact, let's not be biased! How about you check out all those sites because each one has a multitude of benefits and great information!! In fact, it is my understanding that both will accept members, no matter the designation of MD or DO!

Celebrating 3 Years!!

2010-09-14T22:35:00.000-05:00

Last week, we marked 3 years of writing on Our Medical Lives! Despite the periodic absences, we are still here going strong. We are no longer in medical school and are in the trenches of residency. There are still hard times, but they are balanced well with the good times. And, in those three years, we have lived in two different states and even added a member to our family!

In honor of this blogiversary, I have been highlighting some of our favorite posts over the years on our Facebook page. Feel free to "Like" Our Medical Lives and check out the highlights, the most controversial, and the posts with the highest stats. And, in case you are interested, we have also been featuring a Question of the Week, to help spur more discussion among those on this journey.

Last, but not least, we cannot sign off on this post without saying a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our readers! Thank you for your support! Thank you for your comments! And, thank you for your encouragement along this journey! We truly appreciate every single bit of it!

Residency Pack Giveaway Winner!!

2010-08-20T22:15:00.000-05:00

I am sooooo sorry that it has taken me so long to get this posted! Our household got a bit crazy this last week and I am just now getting to posting the winner of the Residency Pack Giveaway!! Since I have already made you wait long enough, let's get down to business . . .

The winner is Farrel!!!!

I have contacted the winner and am currently awaiting her response. She will have until Wednesday, August 25th to contact me with her mailing address. If I do not hear from her, then a new name will be drawn.

Thank you to all who entered and provided your thoughts regarding topics you would like to see featured and discussed here. Many of the topics were related to finances and since I already had a few of those posts planned, you will see these coming first! If you have more requests or ideas you would like to share with us or would like to be a virtual guest, please contact us using the link on the right sidebar.

Some Hard Inspiration!

2010-08-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Photo courtesy: stock.xchng

I came across this quote from one of the books I was reading and felt it fit us perfectly . . . even as hard as it is may be to accept at times! Anyways, just wanted to share with all of our readers too!

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"We cannot be magically transported from where we are to a better place. We must forge the path ourselves, for in knowing how we arrived in that better place and what we had to go through to get there, we will have developed the knowledge, the wisdom, and the maturity to know how to sustain it."

~David Spangler~

GIVEAWAY: Preparing for Residency Pack

2010-07-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

As we were going through our possessions after we moved, we came across a couple of books that we are no longer in need of, but feel that one of our readers may be interested in! Therefore, we have decided to hold a giveaway of these very books! Both of these books are gently used with some pencil markings throughout the text. I have included a picture of each book as well as a brief description that has come from Amazon . . .

How To Buy Your First Home, Expert Advice from an Attorney, 2nd Edition by Diana Brodman Summers, Attorney at Law

"Making the right decisions about buying a first home can help you save money and worry. This easy-to-understand guide written by a real estate attorney walks the reader through the entire home buying process-from deciding what you can afford, to types of special financing for first-time buyers, to the actual closing on your dream home. This book can help any anxious first-time buyer become a confident homeowner!

The title includes sections on valuable government financing information available for first-time buyers; helpful checklists and charts for evaluating properties; as well as a complete glossary of terms that will relieve some of the anxiety that new home buyers have. Appendices include Internet resources and questions to ask when selecting a real estate agent and when identifying a mortgage lender."

Iserson's Getting Into A Residency: A Guide for Medical Students, Fifth Edition by Kenneth V. Iserson, M.D.

"Univ. of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson. A step-by-step guide through the process of selecting a medical specialty and obtaining a residency position. Numerous charts included which illustrate the specialty selection process. For medical students."

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Now to enter . . . please complete the

Preparing for Residency Giveaway Pack Form

(that's right, click on the link!).

Entries will be accepted through Friday, August 13th at 12:00 Midnight CST. Only US addresses please. Winner will be announced no later than Monday, August 16th.

We're Baaaaack!!!

2010-07-26T10:36:00.000-05:00

I know that it has been far too long since the last time we posted anything. Far. too. long! Life has been very busy and thankfully, I am on vacation this week and finally able to get caught up on some needed tasks, including this blog! So, what have we been up to the last 7+ months?

Craig is now officially a resident! We have completed that much dreaded internship year and are about to complete the first month of true residency. I think that the one thing that he appreciates the most of this transition is his call time. Now when he is on call, he gets to actually be home first thing in the morning. For example, this morning, he walked in the door at about 7:30 am. No more being told that he will be done at Noon and walking out of the hospital hours after that! It is also nice to have him home more often on the weekends and evenings.

I (Tif) have also been busy with trying to adjust going back to work full-time, still spending time with our kids, and of course, spending time with my husband. There have been some down times, but there have also been many good times. And, for those who are keeping track, I still believe that our 4th year of medical school was the most difficult on me personally. It prepared me well for internship year!

I have also been very busy advocating for my husband and other spouses across the country. I have been reluctant to share this in such a public forum, but it is now out there publicly, so why not?!?! In November last year, I was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Advocates to the American Osteopathic Association in a newly created position titled Intern/Resident Advocate Liaison. What this means in a nutshell is that I have been in the midst of working on creating "chapters" across the country to support those like me who are supporting their physician through internship and residency. It's been a daunting task because I am starting from scratch and building the organization from the ground up, BUT it has also been very rewarding! I have been working hard on spreading the word, discovering current resources already established, and organizing our first national event to take place in San Francisco this Fall! In fact, I have recently returned from a trip to Chicago that really energized and inspired me!

I am hoping to get back into posting once a week now that I have been able to get a little better acclimated to our situation and ever-changing schedule. I've got a lot of hot topics coming up soon, from looking at internship/residency hours, discussing the controversy about the different kinds of medical schools (i.e., allopathic, osteopathic, foreign), the discouragement of medical school loans, possibly some guest posts and so much more. I am also going to try to get my hubby to share his latest point of view on a few things as well . . . whenever he can spare the time! Oh, and have I mentioned that I also have a couple of GIVEAWAYS coming up?!?! In fact, I may announce the first of them later this week!

In the meantime, I want to leave you with a list of resources that I have discovered during my absence. Check them out and feel free to share if you have any others to add to the list!

Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA), including the chapters of Intern & Resident Advocates Association (IRAA) and Student Advocates Association (SAA): A national organization designed for spouses and significant others, as well as those who advocate for the field of osteopathy in general, to support those in the field of osteopathy and educate the public in general. A FREE monthly newsletter is available, including one that I organize and distribute quarterly for the intern and resident advocates out there! I highly recommend that you sign up and just as a teaser, here is the latest issue of The Resident Reader. You can also find AAOA on Facebook, and groups for the sub-chapters (just search for their name under groups).
American Medical Association (AMA) Alliance is the group designed for those advocating for the allopathic route of medicine. I have recently discovered that they have a Facebook page!
The International Medical Spouse Network is a forum for all spouses and significant others of physicians "in training and beyond." It's a great place to chat about a variety of topics. I only wish I had more time to keep up with it all!
I also have been following a blog called Lives of Doctor Wives. A multitude of writers contribute to this site and it is quickly growing. They have branched out to create Medical School Reviews by Families, Residency Reviews by Families, and they have also recently created a forum to chat in more detail as well. And, last but not least, you can also find them on Facebook in groups by searching for "Lives of Doctor Wives."

Okay, I think that is it for now! I will be back later this week for a giveaway announcement!! In the meantime, how have you been doing? Do you have any requests of topics to appear in future posts?

Surviving the Holidays

2009-12-29T22:38:00.003-06:00

Wow!! It's been awhile, hasn't it?!?

The last few months . . . okay, let's actually say the last year . . . has been very hectic for us! With moving (twice!), graduation, traveling, my hubby starting his internship year, myself going back to work for the first time in two years, and everything in between . . . you could say it has been a difficult transition for us! Who knew that I would neglect such things as balancing my checkbook for six months or just leaving boxes upon boxes unpacked. (Just a piece of advice here . . . don't neglect the finances!!)

There have been times where I have felt that I am barely holding my head above water! I feel that I have taken on too much, but yet upon reflection, I cannot find a thing to cut out of my schedule! So, needless to say, I am slowly working on finding my balance in life, adjusting to my hubby's every-changing schedule, and getting my checkbook balanced!

Luckily, I feel that the holidays is what has saved me this year! Somehow, my husband was able to get both Thanksgiving day off as well as the entire week of Christmas. We combined forces to unpack the boxes that have been sitting in our basement and garage for months and were able to get a lot of work done. More importantly, we were able to spend some time together as a couple and as a family . . . to reflect on how we have been adjusting and make up for the missed time during the especially hard months. Thanks to this time together, I am beginning to feel rejuvenated!! I am working on a plan for the new year to stay more organized, more on top of my multitude of duties, and still maintain the happiness and ultimately, the sanity! I've had to re-prioritize some things. I'm working on a schedule of sorts for myself and the kids (fitting my hubby in where we can!). I'm hoping that it will work! I guess time will only tell on this one . . .

This year, we survived and were replenished by the holidays, but I know that in the years to come, we will not be so lucky! Craig will have to work those special days and we will have to work around this schedule. For those that were not as lucky, how did you survive the holidays? Do you have any tips or advice to share with me in preparing for next year? If so, please do!! I'm hoping to incorporate it into my plan of attack for 2010!! :)

The Controversial Widow!

2009-10-23T21:40:00.010-05:00

It's been too long since I posted! To be honest, life has been beyond crazy for me and I have once again bitten off more than I can chew!! Thank heavens for Friday nights with all the kids in bed and the hubby as well! It makes for a quiet night to attempt to get caught up on all the many things that I am behind on!!!!

Anyways, a while back, I received a comment from a reader addressing my use of the term "widow" in MSW (Medical Student Widow). I felt that the comments were legitimate and they really got me thinking about the term and the use and possibly the controversy surrounding the very word. Too be exact, here are the quoted comments . . .

Although I've never commented on a blog entry before, I'm compelled to respond to this one because I so strongly disapprove of the W in MSW. The title seriously underestimates our spouses and significant others, who are far from dead, diligently working toward a career that can facilitate a wonderful life for their families. Of course, it also makes light of the plight of actual widows, with whom we cannot begin to identify.

My spouse just began his first "real" job as a hospitalist after completing his internal medicine residency this summer. It's been an adventure, at times a struggle, but never have I felt as though my husband was deceased.

I propose some alternatives: MSA (Medical Student Affiliate or Medical Student Advocate) or MSS (Medical Student Supporter). Of course, none of these acronyms applies to me anymore. I'm just a plain, ol' DW (Doctor's Wife), a proud, loving DW.

I want to say thank you to Tracy! Thank you for addressing your concern and commenting here! I truly appreciate your thoughts! Your comment really got me to thinking and I have come up with a few thoughts that I wanted to share . . .

When I referred to the term "widow," I was truly referring to it in the informal sense. According to dictionary.com, widow means "a woman often left alone because her husband devotes his free time to a hobby or sport (used in combination)." After much thought and based strictly on this technical aspect, I do feel that I am often left alone (with the kids!) because my husband is devoting all his time to the hospital! In no way did I mean any offense to those who have truly lost a spouse and I apologize if I have offended anyone because of it.

On a deeper level though, do I feel this same way? I originally used the term loosely, more in a joking manner. However, I truly feel at a loss. When viewing "widow" in the truest sense, a woman looses her husband and she goes through the grieving process . . . (1) shock & denial, (2) pain & guilt, (3) anger & bargaining, (4) "depression," reflection & loneliness, (5) the upward turn, (6) reconstruction & working through, and (7) acceptance & hope. As I began to examine this angle a little more, I realized . . . some of this sounds all too familiar to me!

I did go through a bit of denial . . . when my husband was gone for two straight months immediately following the birth of my daughter, I denied his absence with constantly scheduling something for my kids and I to do. I knew that if I sat at home, it would be all too obvious that he was not home and that I was on my own. Did it really help? Nope! I was simply in the midst of avoidance!

Lately, I have honestly be going through some bouts of anger . . . Since my husband has started residency, I have discovered that I was very understanding of his long hours during clinical rotations. He would be gone overnight, 20+ hours at a time, and it simply didn't bother me . . . maybe that was a bit more denial as well?!? Whatever the case, in the past months, I have not been as understanding and I have found myself getting angry with my husband for the littlest things. Why does he have to work so hard and then come home and do NOTHING?!?! I work all day too, then pick the kids up from school, head home to cook (well, honestly, that is only sometimes!), clean, put the kids to bed, and go to bed to get up and do it all again the next morning. Why can't he help out? Why must I do it ALL? Seriously . . .

But then I had an epiphany a couple of weeks ago . . . As I was sitting on the couch with my husband after he worked 14+ hours in trauma, I was attempting to have a conversation with him. Then I realized, he was not able to process one thing I was saying. His mind had shut down for the day! My counseling background kicked in and I realized something . . . he has been operating in crisis mode ALL day! His mind simply needed to shut down and prepare for the next day of operating in crisis mode once again. Being the sarcastic one that I was, I simply said . . . "Wow!! You are simply a marshmallow!! Go to bed!!" I did not mean it to be offensive at all! He simply needed his downtime to rejuvenate and I finally realized this!!

However, I'm not moving into the upward turn quite yet! I have my tendencies to move towards loneliness and depression at times. I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if we hadn't chosen the doctor route. Would I be as lonely? Many of my friends and family members simply don't get what the kids and I have to go through at times. The hardest times for me are when my son is whining about wanting to see his Daddy. I am then the one that has to explain to him that Daddy is helping people get better at the hospital. I have to explain to him that Daddy loves him, despite the fact that we haven't seen him for than an hour a day for the last month. There are those times that tears are in my eyes as I am telling my son this . . . simply because I am missing my husband as well!

Then, of course, I do have those moments of hope . . . I see those rays of sunlight at the end of the tunnel. I tell myself that there are days in the very near future where we will get to see Daddy again! I feel the hope and I want to accept this new life, but to put it simply . . . I'm just not there yet! I'm getting there . . .

To get back to the point of the controversy behind the term "widow" . . . I would be open to using another term . . . BUT, I have yet to find one that can accurately represent what we as the spouses and significant others of these doctors and future doctors go through. We make sacrifices. Our children make sacrifices. And, simply, the man I married is not the same man that I am married to today. A bit of an evolution does take place. We do suffer losses. We do grieve . . . whether it is simply due to the absences or something more complex. I intend to stick by the term "widow" simply because I think it more genuinely portrays who we are and what we do . . . and we stick by our students/residents/doctors still! We DO advocate for them. We DO support them. We ARE proud!!!

I just feel that it is also important to advocate for each other, support each other, and be proud of what we as "widows" have also done along the way. We have loved, we have lost, and we simply have to share . . . whether we like it or not! I am always hearing that there is a strong woman behind every doctor. I now know why . . . and I stand TALL!!

So Tracy . . . thank you again for your thoughts! I think on this one we will just have to disagree! But know this . . . I will still continue to be here as your support and your advocate if and when you are experiencing those hard times. I will understand despite our differences in opinion . . .

A Month in the ER

2009-10-20T23:00:00.002-05:00

**This was actually written a while ago, but we keep forgetting to post!**

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Well, my first month of internship is now over and done with and looking back I can easily say it wasn’t as bad as I figured it would be. It was tough however. I spent the month in the ER in the downtown of one of the worst violent crime cities in the country. I had a total of 20 shifts, 10+ hours in length on average, and busy the entire time. Eight of those shift were nights, 10 pm to 8 am. Intermixed with these shifts were lectures on Tuesday and Thursdays lasting from 2-4 hours (didn’t matter if you had the day off, you had better be there). It was an unusual month in that during my time in the ER all of the actual ER residents were staffing during the month as well. However, the thing that bothered me the most is even though I worked 20 shifts, the most that any one ER resident worked was 11 shifts TOTAL. Also, I (or the other non-ER intern), were always scheduled for working the night before lectures. So even after working our busy shift we had to try and sit through up to 4 hours of lectures afterwards, go home and try to sleep, and then come back again that night for more. With that rant out of the way I felt that I did learn a lot during my month and that I had a lot of flexibility in my medical decisions. Towards the end of my rotation I was ordering tests, and not just basic labs, without the attending overseeing it. That’s not to say I wouldn’t staff the patient with the attending it’s just that if he/she was in seeing a different patient I would at least get some of the testing started in the mean time. Procedures were never an issue either. I had more than enough suturing. Enough so that I was more than happy to pass some of it off to the medical students that were rotating. I also was able to intubate on several occasions as well as run my own conscious sedation for a joint relocation. The majority of the attendings were good to work with but there were a few that weren’t. For those I would groan when I saw their name on the schedule and just power through it. Even the ER residents couldn’t stand some of them. Oh well, that’s going to happen in any department I guess.

To be honest I could never see myself doing that the rest of my life. There is a lot of variety in the work but at the same time there isn’t. Nothing made me unhappy like seeing the triage diagnosis of “dizzy” or “weak all over” in an 85 year old on the paperwork. 90% of the time these people have had this chronically and just wanted another opinion. Being in the ER we had to oblige that and consult someone to look into it (as most of the time it was nothing we could fix). It’s not that these people don’t need relief; it’s just not realistic to think that the doctors in the ER can solve this problem. Then there were those people who used the ER for clinic work. There were a lot of these folks. They would have a sore throat, diarrhea for two days, vomiting since this morning, etc. Yes, these can be signs of more important and serious disease processes but most of the time (over 99% of my cases) they were young, relatively healthy people with gastroenteritis, or a viral URI. It doesn’t make me wonder why the ER is backed up for hours on end.

I won’t be writing about my ambulatory rotation as it was laid back and doesn’t seem worth writing about.

We ARE Still Alive!!!

2009-10-04T00:39:00.002-05:00

Craig and I have not posted anything for the longest time here! We wanted to let all of our readers know that we are still alive and kicking!! Things have been hectic since I have returned to work full-time. The hours as an intern have been especially brutal these last couple of months. We still have tons of boxes to unpack. And, my personal list of things to do has pretty much grown to the length of a short novel.

I do have good news, however!! Personally, I feel that I am finally getting the hang of things. The schedule and routine are still chaotic, especially with Craig's ever-changing schedule . . . BUT, I do feel that I have more time to work on more enjoyable things like writing for my blogs! (I will NOT speak for Craig on this one though because that is simply NOT true for him!)

Anyways, just wanted to post a quick note. I've got a lot of things planned to appear here. And, Craig has some that he has written, but has just not gotten around to posting yet. Starting tomorrow, I am going to make it a goal to post a minimum of once a week on a variety of topics. We may even have a fun giveaway in the near future!! If you have requests or would like to write a guest post yourself, send me an email. We love to hear from our readers!!

"100 Blog Posts You Should Read Before Going to Med School"

2009-09-07T09:10:00.002-05:00

This morning I woke up to an email informing me that one of our posts has been featured in a list of medical school information resources!!! What a great way to start out the week!!! As I read through the article, however, I discovered that this is a great wealth of information and I encourage all of you to check it out!!

100 Blog Posts You Should Read Before Going to Med School

It contains information on getting into medical school, as well as a lot of additional information in regards to finances, residencies, advice from medical students, and so much more. Check it out and enjoy!!

Oh, and in case you were wondering which of our posts was chosen . . . Residency Relocation Loans was the lucky one!!

Connect With Us on Twitter!!!

2009-09-05T17:15:00.002-05:00

These days, we (well, maybe I should actually say me!!) are all about the social media and trying to connect with other medical families out there. We want to chat with our peers, commiserate over the experience, and support those that may need it. A few months ago, we hooked up with fellow spouses and significant others in OUR MEDICAL LIVES Facebook group. Now, we have yet another way to stay connected. We are now on Twitter!! I don't know how much we will actually update there, but our intention is to update it as we update posts as well as when we come across interesting articles on the internet. It is an open account, so feel free to follow us and join in any conversations! We love to hear from our readers, however it may be!!

How Will Obama's Healthcare Plan Affect Us?

2009-09-05T11:30:00.007-05:00

I'm going to be honest here . . . I have been completely ignoring this whole controversy surrounding Obama's proposed healthcare plan. But then, I got to thinking . . . this plan could affect our family more so than just your average citizen. We may be affected because my husband is a doctor! So, I decided to do a little research to learn a little more about it. In my very simplied and neutral terms, the following is what I have discovered . . .

According to Barack Obama's website, Organizing for America, he believes that the current system is simply not working . . . those who are uninsured are becoming a larger number every day, people who are insured are being denied claims, and insurance premiums are out of this world. His solution is trifold:

Reform the system
Promote advancements
Improve prevention

How is this going to be done? According to Health Care Full Plan by Obama and Biden,

The Obama-Biden plan will improve efficiency and lower costs in the health care system by: (1) adopting state-of-the-art health information technology systems; (2) ensuring that patients receive and providers deliver the best possible care, including prevention and chronic disease management services; (3) reforming our market structure to increase competition; and offering federal reinsurance to employers to help ensure that unexpected or catastrophic illnesses do not make health insurance unaffordable or out of reach for businesses and their employees.

To highlight a few of the pieces within this plan that may have a greater impact on the doctor's themselves . . .

Align incentives for excellence. Both public and private insurers tend to pay providers based on the volume of services provided, rather than the quality or effectiveness of care.21 Barack Obama and Joe Biden will accelerate efforts to develop and disseminate best practices, and align reimbursement with provision of high quality health care.

Reform medical malpractice while preserving patient rights. Increasing medical malpractice insurance rates are making it harder for doctors to practice medicine22 and raising the costs of health care for everyone.23 Barack Obama and Joe Biden will strengthen antitrust laws to prevent insurers from overcharging physicians for their malpractice insurance. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will also promote new models for addressing physician errors that improve patient safety, strengthen the doctor patient relationship, and reduce the need for malpractice suits.

The plan claims "affordable, accessible coverage options for all" in the following ways through a multitude of mediums, including individual responsibility, integrated prevention in school systems, different levels of government, and within the work force:

Guaranteed eligibility.
New affordable, accessible coverage health insurance options with comprehensive benefits; affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles; simplified paperwork; easy enrollment; portability and choice; and quality and efficiency.
Tax credits for families and small businesses.
Employer contribution.
Required coverage of children.
Expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP.
Flexibility for state plans.

**Please note that this information was retrieved using the above links and it is encouraged to read the full report to acquire a broader knowledge base on the subject. All verbage in italics are direct quotes.**

With all this in mind, I'm curious . . . how do you, as someone who will be greatly affected by this change, believe this plan will affect our everyday lives? Though from much of the talk and through a multitude of conversations, I have gathered that many in the medical field do not agree with this piece of reform for various reasons. If you are of this population, please share what these reasons may be. If you are in agreeance with the plan, please share your thoughts on the strengths that have won you over.

After reading this, have I formed an opinion of my own? Not at this time!! I still do not believe myself educated enough currently as to how it will affect the lives of doctors! I think that there are pieces that, in theory, can be very well intentioned. However, in reality, how will it truly play out? As I am still gathering all the details, I encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions. And, even if you do not have anything in particular to say, please still take a few seconds and vote on my poll in the sidebar. I want to know the general consensus of our peers!! Thanks in advance!!

Osteopathic vs Allopathic: The Superiority Debate

2009-08-29T12:27:00.003-05:00

I've been doing some reading lately of some online articles related to the field of medicine. The main subjects vary, but upon reading the comments, the focus always ends up on what seems to be the ultimate debate: Is osteopathic medicine or allopathic medicine superior? Two examples can be found by clicking on the links below (and don't forget to peruse the comments as well!):

Doctor Shortage Looms as Primary Care Loses Its Pull (USA Today)
Caribbean Medical Schools: A Good Option? (Student Doctor Network)

I don't have a lot of time to write at the moment, so I will be coming back to this topic. For now, I just want to ask . . . Why the debate? Why must there be a superior field? Both have equal rights in practice for a reason. Why can we not just work together in healing?

What are your thoughts?

Casual = Business Casual

2009-08-12T21:17:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we headed out to our first official social function with a DOCTOR in the family!! We were very excited to meet fellow Anesthesiology professionals (interns, residents, practicing physicians, etc.). I asked my husband for about the hundredth time what the dress code was supposed to be. I wanted to make sure that we were all dressed appropriately because we always hear how important first impressions can be. He insisted that the invitation said casual dress. So, I decided to wear my trusty old jeans with a dressier shirt. No problem, right? That's casual! Well, there is one more detail that I'm going to disclose . . . . as I look back on it, I really don't know what I was thinking . . . my jeans did contain a hole in the knee! But, in my defense, that isn't exactly un-fashionable in some circles!! :) My husband was dressed in khaki shorts and a nicer t-shirt.

As we pulled up, we were faced with a couple dressed at least business casual . . . maybe more . . . a trusty black dress (and heels!) for the girl and for the guy, nice khaki slacks and a button down shirt. I immediately look at my husband and say . . . "I thought you said that it was supposed to be casual!" He assured me that we were just fine! As we walk around the corner where the group of professionals stood, I quickly realized that we were the first intern group to arrive and we were definitely the most dressed down of them all!!! I felt a little uncomfortable, but reminded myself that we would get through this night (and quickly)!

As more of the interns showed up, I began to see a recurring trend . . . all of the interns were dressed casually . . . as the invitation suggested! BUT, we were really the only ones!! So, I've decided that I have a new rule for myself during these occasions . . . Dress just a little nicer than what the invitation indicates! In this case, casual must have meant business casual!!

Lesson learned!

Working vs. Staying At Home

2009-08-10T21:02:00.000-05:00

Apparently, word has gotten around about a little something that I wrote on Facebook and my personal blog and I've had a few requests from those that do not have access to these mediums to read it. After much thought, I have decided to post a version of this little rant here. I do not mean to offend. I am not judging. At the time I wrote it, I simply wanted to defend my CHOICE. So, why do I post this randomly (and probably controversial!) article here? Because it has been my journey through medical school that has offered me the opportunity to experience both sides of this issue. Without my experiences, I would NEVER have made this discovery about myself! And, I would NEVER have the highest respect for those that CHOOSE differently than me! It has been my experiences that just re-affirms why I LOVE the diversity that one will find on a journey such as this . . . and the challenges! So, read on, share your experiences, share your opinions, and know that as always . . . I THANK YOU!! :)

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Since we have had children, I have had the opportunity to work as a mom and I have also had the opportunity to stay home with the kids. I receive a lot of questions about why I have decided to return to work when I am blessed with the opportunity to stay home and raise my children, the best job a woman can ask for. To be honest, these questions are hard for me! When I'm asked this, I feel that I am being judged and that my mothering grade has just been moved down to a low C! But, here's the thing . . . I LOVE to work! I LOVE what I do! I believe that my life has a higher calling above and beyond raising my children . . . and because of this, I feel that I am being a wonderful role model to my kids by following my dreams and helping others through my profession. Despite the possible judgments of being a "bad" mom, I actually feel that I am personally a better mom as a working mom. I may spend less time with my children, but the time I do spend with them is of higher quality. I don't feel that I am neglecting them, I feel that my life is more in balance. It's the age old debate of quality vs quantity, and what it really comes down to is an individual's choice, with neither being "wrong." Some stay home with the kids (moms and dads). Some go to work. Some work for the money. Some do it for just the love! I fall into the latter category and I am PROUD to admit this! My children know that I love them with all my heart and above all else. That is what truly matters!

So, for all of you asking me this question or for all of you who want to ask me this question, here is your answer! I CAN be a mom AND a professional and I CHOOSE to do just that!

Residency Relocation Loans

2009-07-25T22:49:00.000-05:00

I've recently received some questions regarding Residency Relocation Loans and thought that it would be a good idea to cover some information here on this topic. I am sharing only information that I am aware of. I cannot guarantee that this information will be correct for each specific loan (i.e., different companies may have different requirements and processes), but it may provide you with the basic information to get you started.

First things first, I've discovered through personal experience that this loan can tend to be a bit controversial. Just like any financial decision, I highly recommend that you do your research and make sure that you are making the best decision for your personal situation. Some people can get by without taking out this loan. Others simply would not be able to manage fourth year without them. Whatever you decide to do, as long as you have done your research, you will be making the right decision for you!

Through thorough research, we decided that this loan was for us. With a new addition to our family at the time, out rotations, interviews all across the country, testing, and all the associated costs, we simply did not have the funds to cover all the expenses. Therefore, we did apply and receive this type of loan and have no regrets at all whatsoever at this time!

What is a Residency Relocation Loan?
A Residency Relocation Loan is a private loan for fourth year medical students, either DO or MD. Funds received MUST be associated with relocation for residency. Examples include out rotations and associated travel and housing costs; interview travel costs; and actual physical relocation. If I remember correctly, you CANNOT technically use these funds as a down payment on a home, however.

How do I apply for a Residency Relocation Loan?
Because this is a private loan, your financial aid office will not be associated with this application process. You will need to contact a lendor on your own time and apply using their specific requirements. Some examples of lenders include Sallie Mae, Graduate Leverage, Wells Fargo, Chase, CitiAssist, among others. (Click on each of these to find out more information.) I would personally suggest contacting your campus financial aid office to determine if they have any personal recommendations for you. From there, find out the different requirements and parameters for the different loans available to you and identify which one will best meet your needs at the lowest cost to you.

How much money can I receive from these loans?
Again, it depends on the lendor, but I believe the maximum amount available is $20,000. I would personally recommend that you do not take out the maximum, but rather sit down, determine your expected expenses, put in a little wiggle room, and determine your amount from there.

What expenses should be considered when determining if this loan is right for you?
I believe that there are many hidden costs during your 3rd and 4th years of medical school. I have listed which expenditures that I can remember that we personally considered when making this decision.

Testing: Between your 3rd and 4th year, you are required to take Step 2 boards. These can include the COMLEX (osteopathic) and/or the USMLE (allopathic). In addition, if you are an osteopathic student, you will be required to take the PE exam in Philedelphia. Travel costs, including flight, hotel, and meals may also need to be considered for each of these depending on your situation.
Out Rotations: The number of out rotations, or rotations done away from your base clinical site, may also impact your finances. Are there application fees for out rotations? Will you have to travel for your out rotations (flights, commuting costs, etc.)? Is housing provided and if not, what additional costs will this include (rent, meals, rental car, subway fees, etc.)?
Residency Interviews: Are you planning on participating in the osteopathic match or the allopathic match, or both? Fees are associated with each match. Where are your interviews located? Can you drive or will you have to fly? Will the different programs provide you meals during your interview? Are hotel rooms covered? These questions will often depend on your specialty! How many interviews are you planning on budgeting for? (Do you plan on setting a limit for the number of interviews you will accept or will you plan on attending all interviews that you are invited to?) Do you intend to travel for second looks for those that are your top choices (or if this is even possible)?
Relocation: What is the current going rate for a moving truck or company for your top choices? Do you intend to move yourself or hire movers to transport your things for you? Do you intend to rent or buy and what additional costs may be associated with each of these?

When can I expect to receive the money in my hands?
You will need to expect some time for processing and mailing, but I do remember our loan went through pretty quickly. The nice thing is that you can choose when you receive your money by specifying a specific date or dates. We received our loan in two installments, the first being in November to cover the interview related expenses and was the bulk of the funds, and the second being at the end of March to assist with our relocation costs.

As you can see there are many things to consider when making the decision to take out additional loans! Some people believe that this chunk of change is not going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Others believe that it is going to be another loan payment that one is going to need to worry about when it comes time to pay them back. My opinion: It truly is an individual decision! Do your research, weigh your pros and cons, and you will make the right decision in the end!

Do you have any additional information that you would like to share about your recent experiences with these loans? Please share by commenting!

Graduation!!!!!

2009-07-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

AAAWWWWWW!!! Graduation Day!!!

On May 16th, my husband experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity . . . he graduated from medical school!! It was an absolutely amazing day for all of us!! We had such a mix of emotions that it was so difficult to name them. However, now that I look back, here is just a peek into some of what I was at least feeling . . .

Happiness

Thankfulness

Sadness

Anxiety

Pride

Some of these emotions may seem a bit weird to be to some of you, so let me tell you why . . .

Happiness: I was so happy to have actually made it through this journey of medical school!!! There were many times that I would wonder if we would make it . . . not necessarily the school part, but rather the stress it put on our relationship and our family. To see my husband standing in his graduation gown, to have completed the first big step, I was one happy wife!!
Thankfulness: I am so thankful that our marriage and family survived this step of the journey!! I cannot tell you how much I appreciated the support that my husband gave me through this process. He understood that our family had to make sacrifices, particularly me (who can be a very independent and driving individual at times . . . in other words, stubborn!) and throughout the whole weekend, he would not let me forget that WE did this TOGETHER!
Sadness: This may be one of the strangest of my list, but it was truly a sad moment. We started with a class of students back in 2005, including their many spouses, significant others, and children. Many of us went our separate ways in 2007 to begin clinical rotations spread across the country, but with the knowledge that we would see each other again in two years at graduation. As we all returned to where it all started, I did feel a sense of sadness for the loss of my friends. This group of people were there for each other, sometimes with just a smile or nod of understanding. Now, we were all going our separate ways and I do not know if I will ever see some of them again. If I could say just one thing to ALL of them . . . THANK YOU!! I may not have known some of you very well, but your presence was a support in and of itself. I wish you all the best of luck and know that I will always be there for you and you will always be there for me as we continue on to the next chapter. Though you may not be there in location, you will still remain there in presence . . . I will know that I am NEVER alone!
Anxiety: We had made it!! BUT . . . there was always that BUT in the back of my mind. Everyone who came before us always said that internship and residency IS harder than medical school. I honestly tell myself that I made it through August and September this past year . . . those two months where my husband was hundreds of miles away doing out rotations while I was home with a newborn and preschooler. My baby wouldn't sleep at night, but preschooler refused to nap, and I often felt that I was losing my mind! It made me anxious to hear some of these comments repeated again during graduation weekend and it made me wonder . . . Will we be able to make it this time around?
Pride: Most importantly, however, I felt pride!!!! I was proud of my husband. As I reflect back on the years before medical school, the hesitation to even apply, the worries that a school would never accept him . . . I was proud!! He made it and he did it with grace!! He always made time for us, his family . . . he studied hard . . . he even kissed a little butt!! He got good grades and was in the top of his class. He graduated with style and all of us were proud of his accomplishments!!! After such a long journey . . . HE IS NOW A DOCTOR!!!!!! AND, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROUD FOR A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME!!!

Internship Orientation

2009-06-26T21:37:00.000-05:00

So we just finished a week and a half of orientation as I prepare to become an intern and most of it was tough to sit through. There were numerous talks on privacy, how not to get sued, the mission of the hospital, several “hand-holding” discussions, and more but nothing really stuck with anyone. This fact was even acknowledged by the lecturers themselves. They knew we wouldn’t remember any of it but the lectures were given anyways because they had to be given. In addition, it was a poor use of time. We were done early most days and on two of the days we only had to be at the hospital for ½ to 1 hour total which could easily have been combined into our other days some where. However, it doesn’t matter at this point since it is all completed and all that we have left is to wait for the first day of internship.

I feel that I am fortunate at this point however. I start with emergency medicine as my first rotation. As an anesthesia intern our first year is a clinical based year, and we will be spending time in the ICU’s, on the IM floors, as a cardiology consultant, and others. I was happy to start with ER. During my fourth year of medical school I really enjoyed it (for the most part) and being as how I knew a lot of the residents at my home institution it was a smooth month. However, I didn’t have anywhere near the responsibility that I will have here. It will be odd to actually have to prescribe medication and develop a treatment plan for these individuals, and I am sure it will take some time getting used to it. It could always be worse. One of my colleagues is starting on the NICU and to say I feel for him is an understatement. During the tour both of our tour guides (both second year anesthesia residents) were honestly surprised that he was put in the NICU first. It sounds like it will be a difficult month for him so we’ll see how he does.

Overall, the group of anesthesia interns seems like a good one. They all seem to carry the traits of most anesthesiologists that I have met. They are fairly laid back, they don’t seem cocky or arrogant, and they are all respectful. I feel I will have a good four years with this group of doctors. This is different than the ortho residents that I met during orientation. I wouldn’t say they were overly smart (as I don’t know them that well yet) but they had a surrounding cloud of arrogance that was tough to ignore. It was very annoying to see that they were at the exact same stage of training as I was but had the attitude of an attending. I can’t wait to work with them in the OR.

It should be an interesting year and I will do what I can to write more during my course of being an intern.

Tornado Pictures FINALLY!!!

2009-06-21T17:50:00.001-05:00

The last time I posted, I wrote about the tornado that hit Kirksville, Missouri as we were pulling into town for graduation. Since then, much has happened (and I have every intention of writing much more to get everyone caught up), but I really wanted to share some pictures that people have sent on to me for this very blog. I have also included some commentary for many of the photos as well.

(Photo Courtesy of Andrea M.)

This is what we saw as we were driving into town for graduation, which just happened to be the exact moment that the tornado was touching down on the north side of town. We thought it was just the front of the storm, but discovered later that it was the actual tornado.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)
Another shot of the storm/tornado, taken from one of the neighborhoods hardest hit.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)
A VERY ominous photo of the storm minutes before the tornado hit one of the neighborhoods.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)
One of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the storm, immediately following the tornado. This street in particular is very popular with the medical student families.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

One of the duplex homes hit by the tornado.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

The inside of one of the homes hit by the tornado.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

More homes hit by the tornado. I believe all of these were homes to medical student families.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

Another home hit by the tornado. You can also see all the grit and grime distributed by the storm on the back of the van in the corner of the photo.

(Photo Courtesy of Andrea M.)

Another neighborhood heavily hit by the tornado. One of the Deans of the school lived in this neighborhood and his home was completely destroyed.

(Photo Courtesy of Andrea M.)

Another shot of an earlier photo above, but from a different angle.

(Photo Courtesy of Andrea M.)

Another home hit by the tornado.

(Photo Courtesy of Andrea M.)

Yet another shot of the same home featured in two above photos.

(Photo Courtesy of Andrea M.)

Another perspective of medical student family homes destroyed by the tornado.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)
Clean-up begins in the medical family neighborhood.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

More clean-up of the medical family neighborhood.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

Another clean-up shot.

(Photo Courtesy of Melinda B.)

Bringing out the big machines to begin the big clean-up of the homes. Many homes were completely destroyed and needed to be re-built.

(Photo Courtesy of Tif)

The one shot that I am able to share because I did not want to get in the way of the clean-up crews.

So, what happened with graduation due to all this damage and tragedy? The school decided to move on with all graduation activities. And, they were all pulled off successfully and beautifully! I was very impressed!! However, I will say that there was one thing that made just as much of an impression on me . . . the amazing support of the community (locals, fellow medical students, staff and faculty of the school, and even those in town for graduation) that came out to support, clean-up, and genuinely care for all those affected by the storm. I'm talking more than just the physical clean-up too. Fellow spouses and significant others did laundry, prepared meals, and so much more for all those families affected. It is times like these that make me very proud to be a part of a group like this!

Reflections From A Student

2009-05-22T00:23:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting!! The crazy bug has definitely hit in our household and I have not had as much access to the internet as I would like. I actually feel like I am experiencing withdrawals by not being as plugged in!! I have tons and tons of information to post . . . pictures of the effects of the tornado that hit Kirksville and directly impacted many medical families, the excitement of graduation and watching and listening to my husband take the osteopathic oath, and dealing with some of the final details on buying a new home using Physician Loans. Since my time online will continue to be sporadic until we can get into our new home next month, I cannot guarantee that I will be posting regularly, but I will sure work on it whenever I get the chance. I just have so much that I want to write about!!!

In the meantime, I wanted to share this powerful email from a student currently placed in Kirksville. John sent out this email shortly after the tornado hit the north side of town and I am reprinting it here with his permission with a few minor edits upon his request. Read it and contact me if you want to know how you can help these families. I will forward on the email that ATSU sent out regarding the different ways one can help out in this crisis. Thanks!

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To the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine at A.T. Still University Family:

This is an informational narrative written as a reflection and memoir of the events from May 13, 2009.

First of all, to my knowledge, all of the families are safe and sound and have housing for the evening. The demonstration of support has been wonderful. All of our classmates that have been affected tonight had an entire crew of people helping to move, cover, lift and do whatever was needed to assist their families tonight. Also, Home Depot came out tonight and dropped off tons of supplies to assist in the recovery operation. There were random neighbors from the city of Kirksville that walked up and down Bobwhite Drive (the street name that all our students live on) offering pizza to all of us. I wish that I would have documented all of the people that were there helping, but in the end that did not matter. All that mattered was that we were there for our friends in their time of need.

Tonight I saw strength in community. For once, it was not an idea, but a reality. There are no scripts for nights like tonight. Seeing the damage firsthand was surreal. My heart sank when I could not tell the home of a classmate that I had visited many times before. Huge downed trees and power lines really altered our progress as we trudged through the mud on our way to Bobwhite Drive. Many of the homes had lost their roofs. Some of the homes had the roofs cave in on their beds. Glass was everywhere. Pink insulation was strewn across cars and houses alike. Dogs maintained a nervous yet hopeful demeanor. I felt the need to cry. I am sure others did as well. There was so much strength from all of those that had lost things in the tornado. I can only imagine what the families were going through as the tornado raged through their homes. However, I can say that the steely resolve in friends, old and new, demonstrated that for at least a night, we will get through this. I remember when I interviewed here that there was something different about this place. We students can complain about the details of being in medical school, but the one thing that remains true is the compassionate and humane person that decides to attend KCOM. Tonight, compassion was not an idea, but a reality as well.

There is and will be much work to do for the families affected by yesterday’s storm. Much support and giving has already been demonstrated by many of us. In the coming days we will need to consolidate our efforts to ensure that we are helping those in need. The e-mails that everyone sent last night are the first great steps in the recovery and healing process. Ron Gaber and Lori Haxton are working tirelessly to support those in need. PSR has already offered their support for everyone. Please do not hesitate to use all of the services that are available.

I sign off now and leave you with these two quotes as we move forward:

“When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it's bottomless, that it doesn't have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space.” – Pema Chodron“

I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it.” – Thomas Aquinas

Very Respectfully,

John R. Thurman, Jr., OMSI

Class President 2012

ATSU-KCOM

jthurman@atsu.edu

Please Keep In Your Thoughts & Prayers!!

2009-05-13T23:55:00.000-05:00

This evening at about 6:00, we pulled into the south end of Kirksville, MO for the beginning of our graduation weekend. Just shy of pulling into our hotel parking lot, we were hit with torrential rain and rushed into the hotel. From there, we were told that the area was currently under a tornado warning, that many tornados had touched down just west of town and were heading in our direction. Minutes later, we began hearing rumors from our friends that a tornado had hit the north end of town. We witnessed a multitude of emergency vehicles rushing to the north end. And, my worry meter sky-rocketed as I not only worried about those directly hit by the devastation, but many of our friends that may have still been traveling and on their way into town for graduation as well.

Over the last few hours, we have learned that there has been much damage and many medical families have been affected. Our little family is just fine; however, many families are shaken up and a handful have had their homes destroyed. I would love to have all our readers out there to please keep these families in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I will try to post updates and pictures of the damage as I can get my hands on them or take the pictures myself, but in the meantime please check out the local news station for more information (click here). And, thank you in advance for your support for my friends!

Buying a Home

2009-04-15T07:37:00.000-05:00

For many that may be interested, if you are about to start residency and want to buy a home, there are special loans out there for people like us called Physician Loans!! Due to the economy, I know that some banks are doing away with these loans (i.e., Bank of America), but there are still some in which they are still available. We have decided to go this route for buying our home this year! Here are just a few things that we have discovered so far . . .

You may not be required to make a down payment!!! This is one beauty of the doctor's loans when you are strapped for cash coming out of medical school in particular and into residency!
You will be required to show proof of closing costs and multiple months of mortgage payments in advance. As for us, we actually wrote in to our contract that the seller will cover a portion of the closing costs (and it was accepted!). This could be a great way to help save some cash up front!! Also, as an example, we are required to show 2 months of mortgage payments because we are closing within 60 days of my hubby's official start date. If you close before this, you may have to show proof of up to 4 months!
Interest rates may be a little higher than FHA loans, for example. I highly recommend that you explore all your options to see which will be better for your family. Unfortunately, we don't have the cash to make a huge down payment, pay closing costs, and show proof of a certain amount of mortgage payments, so we were unable to go this route.

These are just a few things that I have learned so far about these special loans, but we are still in the midst of buying a home!! Once the process is complete, I will post more of my thoughts about them. From others that have taken advantage of these loans, I have heard mixed reviews. Only time will tell for us what we really think!! I will keep you posted!!

Are You On Facebook?

2009-04-09T21:50:00.001-05:00

Since the big day of March 19th, life has been crazy in our neck of the woods. We just got back from a trip to our new hometown last night where we spent four days looking at homes. I think we saw somewhere between 30 and 40 homes in all. We have submitted an offer, so we will see how that aspect goes. In addition, we are scheduled to move April 30th. I'm realizing how much I have yet to do before this big day and am a bit anxious that we will be homeless for a while. I just have to keep reminding myself to take it one step at a time . . . actually one hour at a time!! . . . and I know that things will work out they way they are supposed to!

In the meantime, I have had time to create a new group for all our spouse and significant other fans on Facebook! It is a closed group for all of us to share our stories and experiences and to not feel so alone, particularly at times like these!! If you are interested in joining, please search for our blog title . . . Our Medical Lives . . . and request to be a member! Within the request, please share with me your school affiliation and year just as a verification. Hope to see many of you there soon!

Words From "The Wise"

2009-03-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

The article written below was originally written for my local advocate group newsletter (March 2009), but I have received permission from the author to publish it here as well!! It is a very inspirational read and I highly recommend that everyone in medical school, internship, and/or residency read it!!

Allow me to introduce the author . . . Meet Jayne the Wise. Jayne is the wife of a current Anesthesiology resident. Jayne and husband are in their final days of residency, about to begin "the real job" in a few short months. She has been through this journey from day one and has much wisdom to share with us. Though she may shy away from my own personal pen name and title of this article (for the original did not have an actual title!), I know that I (along with many others) do find her full of wisdom and respect what she has to share.

Thank you Jayne the Wise! :)

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Words from "The Wise"

I remember when we first pulled into Kirksville. I was so excited because we had finally "made it". After the white coat ceremony I really felt like we had done this together. Then reality set in. Classes started and life got hard. I had a 20 month old son and a newborn daughter. I lived in a place where I knew nobody, and my husband all of a sudden was carrying the stress of the world on his shoulders.

That year I fully embraced SAA. I met a lot of people who are still dear friends of mine. But, it was really hard. I found myself living for the breaks. And when the breaks finally came, anticipating the end of them when Shawn would once again go into what I liked to call "the zone". I was always saying things to myself like "when he’s finally a 3rd year..." or "once he’s a resident." I was living for tomorrow. And it wasn’t coming fast enough.

Between my 1st and 2nd year I became acquainted with a lady whose husband was already a practicing physician. I remember her saying, "This is your life. Too many women depend too much on their husbands that they aren’t living their lives for today. It’s so sad. I wish they would just realize that they need to live for the here and now. It might not get any better." Wow. I was shocked. 1) Because I totally fit this description and 2) because the thought of it not getting any better made me want to run away right then and there. I mourned my life for a few days.

Then I decided to change. I decided that I was going to live in the here and now so I didn’t look back with any regret. Medical school isn’t just a phase of life, I realized it IS my life. Life is still happening. It’s not standing still. My babies are only going to be babies once. I’m only going to be surrounded by this many people in my exact situation this one time. I needed to embrace it. And I have to say that I am so very grateful for that decision. It made my life better. It made my marriage stronger. I have learned to depend on Shawn for nothing. I just take care of the things that need to be taken care of. Then, when he is home, we embrace the time we have together instead of him doing all those things I could’ve done myself.

I feel like I can say these things without anyone saying "but she doesn’t really know.." Shawn has been in St. Louis doing a cardiac anesthesia rotation since January 2nd. He won’t be home until April. I have 5 kids. Trust me. I know. It’s hard. I don’t want to sugar coat it and say that life is just a bowl full of cherries since I’ve learned to be independent. Sometimes there is not a cherry in sight. Just a bunch of pits sitting on the counter because all the bowls are dirty.

Sometimes I just need to cry and feel sorry for myself. Then I pick myself back up and realize how lucky I am to be married to a man willing to work so hard to support us. Lucky that even in times when the economy is in the toilet we found a job. A good paying job. Yes, there is an end in sight. But I have mixed emotions about ending this phase of my life. Medical school was hard. Residency was hard too. But I’ve grown so much as a person. As a mother. And as a wife. I can say that I don’t look back with any regrets. Except for maybe that first year when I lived for tomorrow. I’m so grateful for learning early on that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Sometimes you are standing in the greenest grass there is available. You just need to open your eyes and see it for what it is.

Interpreting Interview Feedback!

2009-03-25T12:54:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have learned through the match process this year that we can NEVER put too much trust into feedback that we received prior to match results being released. Thankfully, we did not put too many eggs in one basket before we learned our placement, but we have known and heard of many that do. Therefore, I wanted to share with each of you some of the feedback that we received. Please note that we matched to our fifth choice and each of these examples below came from programs ranked as one of our top two choices. I have removed all identifying information, but it may be good to note that this may be common practice among many of the programs out there.

Example 1:
It is great to hear from you. We were also very impressed by you during your interview and during your rotation. I would be thrilled if you matched to our program.

Example 2:
Thanks for the email. I enjoyed meeting you and I know that everybody thought very highly of you. I think this place is "ideal" for someone with a family to do a residency. Hope to see you in late June. Good luck.

Example 3:
Thanks for the note. Although we don't have our final match list together yet, you should end up in a competitive position. At our match meeting there were many favorable comments regarding your application. I appreciate the note, and I wish you the best of luck in the match!

Example 4:
Thank you so much for your email. I am delighted to hear of your continued interest in XXXX! It is an exciting time for everyone! I look forward to the possibility of working with you in the future.

Example 5:
I am pleased to inform you that you will be ranked very favorably on our matchlist. I feel strongly that if you wish to be here, you are high enough on our list to make it very probable. We were not only impressed with your credentials but thoroughly enjoyed our interview sessions with you. We all feel that you would fit well with our department, and it would be a pleasure to assist you in this next phase of your professional training.

That's it!! I do not mean to scare you and crush any hopes that you may have!! I do want to forewarn you though of what to expect! To sum up my moral or advice . . . Get excited about your possibilities . . . Don't assume you will match in a specific location . . . Wait on the moving plans until you know for sure where you are going!! In the end, all will work out the way it is intended! :)

Match Results . . . . Finally!!

2009-03-23T08:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to post about the official match results that were released last Thursday. I feel like our life has been a whirlwind since receiving the email and I am just now having a chance to come up for breath before diving into packing more boxes and exploring more housing options. Anyways, before any further adieu . . .

We matched to our #5 spot!!!

Are you wondering what our reaction was to this? Well, I will tell you . . . Initially we were very shocked and speechless!!! Not because of the location itself, but because it was our fifth choice!!! That was a little bit of a blow to the ego in a way!! Afterall, my hubby has good board scores, ranks very highly in his class, had outstanding letters of recommendation, had received very positive feedback from his interviews . . . we pretty much thought we had a really good chance of at least getting our #2 spot!! Maybe it was just the great competitiveness of Anesthesiology this year?!? I don't know . . . Anyways, as you may remember, we actually ranked 12 programs on our list. Our top choice was a small chance of acceptance, simply because of its high standing and ridiculous competition for only four spots. Our second choice we thought we would be matched at, particularly considering the feedback we had received. Our third thru seventh choices really were about equal in our minds, but we really felt that if we did not get our #2, we would get our #5. So, in the end, we ARE happy about our placement!

As for the issue with #2 . . . we had received very positive feedback from this program. Right now, we are just left with . . . "What the heck happened?" I wish we knew. BUT, we cannot play the what-if game and we must move on. We move at the end of next month (April) and we need to just concentrate on packing, finding a house, etc. We do not have regrets. I do firmly believe that this is where we are meant to be and that is what matters in the end!

Finally, be watching this week for my next topic . . . interpretation of program feedback! We have learned that you cannot trust what everyone tells you!! I will be sharing feedback we have received from different programs (with all identifying information taken out, of course!). After talking to many of my classmates and those who have come before us, we have discovered that this type of "game" is not uncommon!! I also have a guest post coming as well from a spouse of a resident about to complete their residency. It's very inspirational!!

In the meantime . . . where did you match on your list? Any thoughts you would like to share?

Reach Out and Read Celebrates 20 Years!

2009-03-17T14:41:00.000-05:00

I recently posted about a great program known as Reach Out and Read. I chose to begin adding information on this website about this program because it is so near and dear to my heart and because it fits right in over here!! Anyways, I wanted to share the latest press release with you. I have copied it here in its entirety, but you can click here to find the original document along with additional news on the program.

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Reach Out and Read Celebrates 20th Anniversary: Early literacy program has distributed more than 20 million children’s books since 1989

(BOSTON, MA) March 11, 2009 -- In March 1989, Boston City Hospital pediatricians Barry Zuckerman and Robert Needlman began handing out books to their youngest patients, offering advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud, and employing volunteer readers in their waiting room. That was the birth of Reach Out and Read, one of the most successful early childhood interventions ever developed, which currently serves 25 percent of the nation’s at-risk infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

More than 20 million books have been distributed to children in the 20 years since Drs. Zuckerman and Needlman and early childhood educators Jean Nigro, Kathleen MacLean, and Kathleen Fitzgerald-Rice first developed the Reach Out and Read model: a brilliant, yet simple strategy to promote childhood literacy and school readiness.

Every child who participates in Reach Out and Read (ROR) starts kindergarten with a home library of up to 10 brand-new, developmentally-appropriate books and a parent who has heard at every regular checkup about the importance of reading. Proven to improve school readiness, ROR focuses on those children at greatest risk -- children living at or near poverty -- during the critical years before they enter kindergarten.

More than a dozen research studies demonstrate Reach Out and Read’s powerful impact, unmatched among other early literacy interventions. Studies show that parents who get books and literacy counseling from their health care provider are more likely to read to their young children, read to them more often, and provide more books in the home. Children who participate in Reach Out and Read score significantly higher on vocabulary tests and show improved language development -- the single strongest predictor of school success.

Since that first Reach Out and Read book was handed out in 1989, more than 50,000 pediatricians, family practitioners, and pediatric nurse practitioners have been trained in the ROR model. Today, Reach Out and Read partners with 4,121 hospitals, clinics, health centers, and practices in all 50 states to serve more than 3.5 million children ages 6 months to 5 years old, including more than a quarter of America’s most impoverished children.

One of Reach Out and Read’s greatest strengths, especially during challenging economic times like these, continues to be its cost-effectiveness. The cost of the full, five-year ROR program is just $40 per child.

Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read is the model of a successful public-private partnership, drawing funding support from the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Defense, 14 state governments, and individuals, corporations, and foundations nationwide.

Reach Out and Read’s National Center, Coalitions, and Sites plan to celebrate the program’s 20th Anniversary with a yearlong campaign aimed at boosting nationwide awareness of the importance of early literacy.

After 20 years, Reach Out and Read’s goal remains the same: that every child grow up with books and a love of reading. Reach Out and Read’s website includes information for all parents including how to select age-appropriate children’s books, reading tips, and developmental milestones. For further information, visit http://www.reachoutandread.org/.

We Matched!!

2009-03-16T11:47:00.000-05:00

We have officially been notified that we have matched!!! One of the most anticipated emails of the year and this is all it said . . .

Congratulations! You have matched.

Now, we wait until Thursday . . . 3 MORE AGONIZING DAYS . . . to find out where!! Wish us luck!!!

Awaiting Results . . .

2009-03-06T13:33:00.000-06:00

It's been awhile since the last time I posted anything, and though there has been a lot going on, all it really is is the waiting game!! On February 25th, we officially submitted our rank list to the allopathic residency match. Our list was pretty much complete a couple weeks before the deadline, but we did make one change on that official day . . . we had forgotten to put an advanced position down!! Oops!! We had ranked the categorical one at that program, but the advanced somehow slipped our mind until the last minute!!

When it came down to it, we ended up ranking a total of 12 programs!! From others that we have talked to, this is a lot!! Many of our friends typically ranked 5-7 for this match. Why did we rank so many? We felt that we would rather match to any of the programs on our list than to have to worry about scrambling!! It was that simple!!

As for our list itself, I do not intend to post the full list here simply due to privacy issues. However, I will tell you that all of the ones that my hubby posted about earlier are on the list, plus quite a few more. Ultimately, we could end up anywhere in the US!! Makes things a bit difficult when we are trying to plan for the move as we speak!! We were very pleased with the final list though and cannot wait for the results to be released!

The last thing that I wanted to address was how we choose to rank our options. Issues that we considered were a family-friendly environment, the quality of the program, the cost of living, and job opportunities for myself. Though I am currently a stay-at-home mom, I do intend to go back to work as long as the economy will allow it!! Though we considered all of these issues listed above, we also really trusted our gut on a couple of the options. By doing this, we had a couple of surprise twists on our final rank list . . . one ended up way higher than we ever expected and one ended up way lower than expected . . . however, we felt very comfortable with the final result.

Now, all we can do is wait!! It is completely out of our hands now!! We mark off every day and will continue to do so until March 16th. We will find out if we matched or not on that day. Then, we have to wait until March 19th to find out our location if we do match (don't get me started on this one though!!). So, we wait and hope for the best! Right now, our gut is telling us that we will probably end up at our #2 choice, but who knows!! I will keep you posted!!

University of Missouri - Kansas City

2009-02-28T11:20:00.000-06:00

There haven’t been too many programs that have been pushed to the bottom of my list so far, but UMKC is going to be one of them. I had a few things that just didn’t strike me right and if I am fortunate we won’t be going here. That’s not to say that it isn’t a good program and that I am sure I would get a good education, it’s just that I don’t think I would fit in as well here as I would in other places.

First, I had to get my own hotel room and transportation (it sounds like something I shouldn’t be complaining about but when you have to be at the hospital by 6:30 am and you don’t know where your going it is very nice to have a shuttle to drop you off and pick you up). We started the day with their normal conference (which happens EVERY day at 6:30…strike number one). It was informative, however. We then talked with various residents throughout the morning and were pulled out periodically for interviews with faculty. Again, the interviews were very laid back with program information being the main theme. The residents did seem happy, always a good sign, so I am sure it can’t be that bad. The ICU experience is about what it is at other programs (four months if I am not mistaken). However, most of the residents had to live a ways away from the hospital with one telling us she had to commute 30 minutes to the hospital and 50 minutes home. I’ll be honest, when I am done with my day the last thing I want to do is drive home for an hour before I see my wife and kids. Granted, that’s probably not the norm (as some single folks had condos really close). The hospital itself is located about 2 blocks from the crown plaza area (with all the shopping and such) and I didn’t even realize it. We didn’t get dinner the night before but one resident took us to a steakhouse in the plaza area for lunch, which was very good.

Overall, this program will probably be in the bottom three programs ranked. KC is expensive, not a fantastic program, and not really a major airport hub (a consideration if we have to be a long ways away from family). We’ll see how it plays out though.

University of Vermont

2009-02-20T11:22:00.000-06:00

Burlington, Vermont is a great city. I loved my time here and really wish I could have brought Tif and the kids up with me. When I say that it is the Portland of the Northeast I mean that (maybe just a tad colder). The people were the same, the ideas were the same, and the atmosphere was the same. I had a really good time the night before as we went to a homemade pizza place (pizzas made in a brick oven) with several of the residents and applicants. The food was great and they had a great selection of micro-brews (finally). The residents are happy here and they love the program which is big to me. Again, it is a smaller program, only taking 4 applicants per year, so I am not holding out a lot of hope as to being placed here but it was worth the trip anyways. The attendings were great to talk with and the conversations were relaxed as well with only one “pimp” question on cardiac physiology (a little bit of a softball). The residents weren’t too stressed and the hours were reasonable. The internship year is challenging (but it’s internship right). The housing is a little bit more expensive in this area as compared to others that I have interviewed at (with the exception of Portland, Oregon) and most houses are heated by oil (I will have to dig into the costs in a typical Winter) so that could be a deciding factor as to where to rank it. However, it will be in the top 7 for sure, where at I am not sure as of yet. That will be hashed out at a later time. In the end, my flight leaving Burlington was cancelled and I was switched to a different airline for my flight home. It all worked out and I got home within 2 hours of my original time that I was due in. The airport in Burlington is fantastic with most of the major airlines flying into it. Also, it is small and convenient. I have never been through an airport where going through security I was the only person there besides the TSA agents. I liked the program and we’ll have to see come match day where it ends up.

Maine Medical Center

2009-02-16T11:18:00.000-06:00

I went to Portland, Maine during the month of January and I was very impressed (a running theme with my interviews). They have a great program and a great location. The town is very nice and reminds me a bit of the Northwest. I know I would fit in with the people of the Northeast (democratic, very blue, a little more liberal, etc.), and I know that my wife and kids would do well here as well. The program is set up nicely and none of the residents really had any complaints. The education up in Portland, is a little different in that the anesthesiologists are actually a private practice group that takes care of the education. Now, we’re not talking about my base clinical site here, these guys want to teach and they are there to help you learn. My last interview of the day was with one of the attendings, and since I was the last applicant to interview with him he let me hang out with him for about an hour. We went through the OR’s (again as we had already had a tour), and he sat down and talked with me at length regarding the program and the town. They were all very friendly here (as usual with all anesthesia interviews) and I had a really good time there. We were put up in a great hotel the night before (I only had to pay for one hotel room on all of my interviews…another bonus) and as usual we had a great dinner the night before. It’s a small program, I think they only take 5 people per year, but that can be a good thing. Our call isn’t increased because of it (they employ CRNA’s to help out as most programs do) and they have a good number of didactics.

Overall, I was very impressed with everything at Portland, Maine and it will be ranked in my top 7 somewhere (as there are 6 programs tied for #2 right now).

Penn State

2009-02-12T11:15:00.000-06:00

I went to Hershey, Pennsylvania during the month of January as my last official anesthesia interview. I went to this interview happy that it was my last one, not overly optimistic, and not necessarily impressed with what I had seen online. However, my attitude quickly changed once I finished the interview.

It was a two day interview and that was new to me. It made scheduling tough and I had to take another day for the interview so I was not excited with that at all. On top of that, everything we did during these two days could have easily been incorporated into one day. Either way, it was very informative or I am giving it high marks. It is a very family-friendly program with probably half the residents having families. Most people own a home and it is usually affordable. It’s not as cheap as St. Louis but not as expensive as Burlington, Vermont. The town of Hershey is not that big itself (I would have to look up the actual population) and I would assume that the hospital comprises the majority of jobs. However, there is the chocolate portion as well. The schools in the area are fantastic, as I heard from several faculty and residents. It does mean a lot to me that the attendings keep their kids in the public schools (a good sign). There is a lot of ICU experience in the program (7 months total…the most of any program I have interviewed at) and that could be a little tiring but I am sure I would learn a lot.

During the interview I got a lot of positive feedback from the faculty and especially the chief resident. The interviews were laid back (I only talked about anesthesia on three of my five interviews) and very informal. Also, they are extremely DO friendly. Of the 11 categorical spots filled last year, 5 were DO’s. The program director is a DO and one of the interns is from Kirksville. Overall, I was very impressed with this program. I will be ranking it very highly. It has all that I am looking for….a good education and, just as importantly, a family-friendly environment.

I do have to say that I don’t think that my interviews could have been any easier than the ones I have had in anesthesia. I had one “pimp” question during all of my interviews and that is amazing to me. They truly do want to get to know you.

Rotation: Nephrology

2009-02-10T11:13:00.000-06:00

I did this one month elective to fulfill my requirements. I was told that these were some of the smartest people in the hospital and that I would learn a lot during my month on the service. This was partially right and partially wrong. Again, the day was started with morning report and then we would page the attending doing rounds to divvy up consults. Rarely was I responsible for seeing my follow-ups (as they had one attending doing consults only and one doing follow-ups). These patients were a little more complicated than GI patients in my opinion. The kidneys are very, very interesting organs and I used to have a firm grasp on basic physiology of them but had since lost a little bit of it. Usually they had a complex history and course of disease. However, by the end of the rotation I began to see a couple of major patterns. One of our main consults was acute kidney failure in patients with no kidney failure in the past. These were usually patients there with dehydration, post-surgical, hypertensive, etc. and by checking trends in blood pressure you could actually see when they became hypotensive kicking them into renal failure. Most of these patients were monitored and fluids balanced with resolution of symptoms. The other people on the service were chronic kidney failure patients requiring dialysis. After a quick history and physical, dialysis was ordered and our job as a consultant was left to monitoring only. One particular doctor was one of the smartest guys I had ever met. I started my first week with him and he taught me (refreshed my memory) on the basics of physical exam and checking patients fluid status. He knew as much about cardiac and liver problems as he did about kidney function. He would take his time and teach as well, going over the interplay of all of the kidney hormones, their abnormalities, and lab tests to monitor these patients. He would know what to do before he even stepped in the patient’s room to meet them for the first time. It happened that he was my favorite to round with. The other two attendings on the service were not quite as good with medical students in terms of teaching. We were still responsible for consults and some of our follow-ups but had no real responsibility. Also, the teaching was sometimes lacking as they were always very busy. Overall though, it was a great learning experience and made me realize I had no idea what I was thinking during my second year of medical school when I thought I wanted to do IM with a fellowship in nephrology.

Rotation: Gastroenterology

2009-02-08T11:11:00.000-06:00

I did this one month elective to satisfy my requirements. I had been told it was a good experience and a great rotation. I wasn’t disappointed. First, and most importantly, there was no call or weekends. It sounds lazy but being a fourth year and with internship year around the corner I was all for this. Most days I was done by 5, some by 1-2 pm depending on the attending for the week. The day began with the typical morning report in the modular and then you went to the medical procedures unit to divvy up the patients/consults for the day. Depending on if they were on staff service for the week or not, you might see anywhere from 1-3 new consults and then your follow-ups. Being a specialty service was nice in that I didn’t have to track every single disease that they had and I didn’t have to modify blood pressure, blood glucose, etc. Not that this wasn’t important but they had a primary internist that dealt with this. We were responsible for the GI issues only and that made it nice. The attendings were some of the nicest I had met in the hospital. They were very smart, very patient and taught a lot during the rotation. I can’t tell you how many times that one particular doctor actually apologized for not having us out of the hospital by 5 pm. How many attendings actually do that? I can’t think of too many. We were responsible for all of our patients including coming up with a differential and we were expected to explain what testing we wanted to order and why. If the patient got an EGD or colonoscopy as in inpatient, we were expected to watch (and you could watch other cool ones as well if you wanted to). Overall, this was a great month in terms of hours as well as teaching. I learned a lot and wish I would have read more on the service.

Rotation: Family Medicine

2009-02-06T11:10:00.000-06:00

I had the pleasure of a second month with a previous family practice doctor that I worked with last November. This month was even better than the first. I got to “do” more than before, had a lot of flexibility, and had more say in treatment options. The unfortunate thing was that I had a lot of interviews during this time, and Christmas was at the end of my rotation so I only ended up doing about 10 days total, but it was good regardless. The doctor is a friendly guy. He took me out to lunch numerous times and we had a number of pleasant conversations outside of medicine. He has a wonderful office staff and has a local connection to the community (he went to school in the area) and a dedicated following. His office is always busy with patients routinely being seen well past 5:00 in the evening. He does a lot of his own procedures there (sigmoidoscopies, sutures, vasectomies) but not OB (I wasn’t complaining at all). In fact, I didn’t have to do a single PAP smear or pelvic exam. However, the number of rectal exams more than made up for it.

Rotation: Emergency Medicine

2009-02-04T11:07:00.000-06:00

I just finished my ER rotation and thought I would summarize briefly. We are required to do 20 shifts over the four week period. The shifts are only 8 hours long (a nice change from other rotations) but the downside is that they change a lot. The chief residents work on getting your shifts in blocks so that you are not working days one day and then nights the next and so on. You will have an orientation at the beginning of the rotation (I didn’t and I think it threw me off a bit) that will explain everything from the didactics to expectations. Overall, I really had more fun on this rotation than I thought I would.

So, I was a bit nervous for this rotation. I always hated going down to the ER on my other rotations. Things always were so chaotic down there and confusing on top of it. The computer system can be a challenge at times and just finding your patient could be a chore. However, once I started working there it was not that bad. There actually is a system down there and you eventually tune out the chaos (after a couple of shifts) to focus on your work. As a medical student, they let us do just about everything that we want to. Within the first 45 minutes of my first shift, I was intubating (a little unusual) and it was nice from there on out. On the second day, I got to intubate again and thought that the rotation might just work out well (I wouldn’t intubate again after that as there were no more to be done on my shifts). It’s not all codes and death down there. About 90% were non-acute cases that provided a good learning experience. The residents in the ER really impressed me. The majority of them were very patient and took the time to teach a lot. You’ll get a good experience for sure. There are lots of laceration repairs to do, I and D’s, occasional lines, occasional blood gas draws, etc.

The one thing that shocked me was the amount of primary care/family medicine work that was done there. I saw a lot of kids with ear infections, adults with diarrhea, etc. It seemed like a real waste of resources and time to have them there. These people ranged from uneducated with no insurance, to smart individuals with insurance. The most frustrating thing to me on this rotation was dealing with patients that, for instance, had diarrhea for 3 weeks, was in no acute distress, was young, no fevers, etc., and then they come into the ER at 3:00 am on a Sunday night because they “were just getting tired of it.” I got to the point of repeating the question “So you mean you haven’t seen your family doc in three weeks for this?”, and “What made it so bad that you decided to come into the ER at 3 in the morning on a Sunday night?” Some people baffle me. That’s not to say there weren’t a lot of sick people there that should be there.

Overall, I had a really good experience and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be (even the nights were doable). You’ll enjoy your time there.

Rotation: Emergency Medicine

2009-02-04T07:25:00.000-06:00

Reach Out and Read

2009-02-03T08:37:00.000-06:00

Over at my other public blog, Tif Talks Books, I have recently posted my comments regarding the online chatter regarding the importance of reading aloud to our children. Upon my perusal of others comments and my own surfing, I have discovered this great organization that relates to both of my blogs!! How cool is that?!?! Anyways, it is called Reach Out and Read. It is a program that discusses and encourages parents to read aloud to their child(ren) every day via the pediatric exam room! Isn't this great?!?!

I not only wanted to bring this to all my readers' attention, as well as to all the future doctors and their spouses and sigificant others as well, but I also wanted to share the latest piece of federal legislation from this great organization. It is called the Prescribe a Book Act! According to the Reach Out and Read website . . .

The Prescribe a Book Act (H.R. 4449/S.1895) would authorize a competitive grant program to support pediatric early literacy programs under Title I, Part B of the No Child Left Behind Act. We currently have 40 Senate cosponsors and are now working to secure cosponsors in the House for H.R. 4449.

For more information on how you can make a difference by writing a letter or getting a pediatric office near you involved, visit the Reach Out and Read Advocacy Center. What a great way to ensure the success of our children today and the leaders of tomorrow!!

Interviews Are Done!!!

2009-01-29T10:23:00.000-06:00

As of yesterday afternoon, my hubby has completed his residency interviews!!! Woohoo!!! We are so excited to finally have him home with us, for him not to be traveling, and of course, to be one step closer to finding out where we will be for residency! Here are just a couple of things we discovered along the interview trail . . .

Interviews can get very expensive!!!! With my hubby traveling ALL over the country, flights, gas, meals, etc. really add up. Thankfully, many meals and lodging were provided by a majority of the programs. I can't even imagine the additional expense if they were not!!
Some programs surprised us!! My husband had many options in regards to interviews, and therefore, we were able to be a little choosier in places where he even interviewed at. With that said, there were still programs that we thought would be lower on our rank list. Come to find out, some of these said programs we ended up loving and will ultimately, be higher on our list than we had originally planned!!
Interview season can be very long! My husband's first interview was in September and his last one at the end of January. He went on a total of 11 interviews when all was said and done! Whew!!
The wait is horrendous!! I am a planner and not knowing where we are going in a few short months has been hard. As our friends participating in the DO match submitted their options last week, all I could think was that we were not even done with the interview process yet! By the time these classmates know where they will be going, our rank list will probably not even be finalized, yet submitted! I hate the wait!!
My hubby discovered some other tips along the way in regards to the interviews themselves, so be sure to check out his post below for his interviewing tips as well!!

Now, we get to begin the discussions of how to rank our list!! And, we thought that the hard part was over!!

Residency Interview Tips

2009-01-28T20:55:00.001-06:00

This is more for those that will be traveling by plane (and hence leaving your state for interviews), and those applying to allopathic programs during the next year. A lot of what I am telling you is stuff you already know I am sure, and stuff that you plan on looking into/already know but I thought I would pass on some information that might be useful when looking at programs and trying to schedule interviews.

Do ERAS early. Submit on the first day (or within the first week if possible). I got interviews within 2 weeks of submission so I know it makes a difference.
Apply broadly depending on your field of choice and your scores. It sounds vague but it’s better to apply to many than to wish you had later.
Take your step 2 early as some places won’t rank you if you don’t have a score in by the time they do their rank list.
TAKE THE USMLE (Step 1 and Step 2 depending on scores…explained in a second). I can’t emphasize this enough. I can guarantee that this is a HUGE factor in getting interviews. Taking step 1 isn’t really an option for the third years at this point but you might want to consider taking step 2. I would say over ½ of the program directors thanked me for taking the USMLE as a way to compare scores. I didn’t do stellar on the tests (USMLE step 1=229, step 2=253) but good enough that it caught their attention in anesthesia. I remember at Kirksville hearing over and over again from third years (based in Kirksville) and attendings not to take it. It was their opinion that if these programs wanted you to take it then the program was “anti-DO” and wasn’t worth it because “if they don’t want me then I don’t want them”. WRONG. Think about it, you have 3rd/4th year medical students at Kirksville (who mainly plan on going the DO route) giving bad advice as they have no intentions of going the MD route. I am not hammering on them as I think their intentions were good (I surely didn’t want to spend an extra $1000 on tests), but they just weren’t informed at all. I don’t think they had anything against allopathic programs, it was just that they didn’t know much about the MD route as they didn’t plan on pursuing it. Plus, if you’re thinking Western states for residencies I would almost insist on taking the USMLE. I thought they were wrong when I was listening to them at Kirksville at first, and I am glad I didn’t listen to them (a number of my classmates and others from MSU are seriously regretting not taking it). Now, this is only if you’re applying for the allopathic programs of course. If you do well on step 1 (depending on the field you’re going into) then you probably don’t need step 2. If you do bad on Step 1 then you might consider rocking Step 2. However, if you do really well on the Comlex, you can not take either as I am sure you will get interviews. A little confusing I know and a little bit of a gamble on your Comlex 1 scores. Be warned though, I had a lot of program directors ask me what my scores meant, what the average was, and if I had a good score or not with regards to my Comlex score. It’s not that most of the program directors at the places I interviewed don’t like DO’s, it’s just that they haven’t taken the time to understand the scoring system for our testing. It makes sense though. They get hundreds of qualified applicants a year….why should they take the time to learn our system? A little lazy on their part but you sometimes have to be adaptable to the system. All of the programs I interviewed at had taken DO’s in the past so it wasn’t that they were “anti-DO”, they just didn’t know. Enough on that.
Schedule your interviews as soon as you get the email. You will get a list of dates available, pick a good one and go with it. Try to group interviews together if possible (a lot easier said than done as you get interview invites from different programs at different times). I was not fortunate enough to schedule more than one interview at a time per flight. It may have worked better if I worked harder but it was tough to organize these as it was. I did meet several applicants who were able to cancel/reschedule interviews throughout the season to accommodate travel so it can be done.
Put off interviews that you might consider canceling until January. This is a personal choice but I had the option (fortunately) to cancel a number of interviews in January (the programs are expecting this so don’t feel too bad).
Always call/email the places that you cancel interviews at. It’s a common courtesy to say the least. There are also rumors that certain programs call your school and let them know that you no-showed.
Attend the dinners the night before (if offered). You get good time with the residents with no faculty and usually a really good dinner. Take advantage of it.
Have a list of questions (and some standby's) for the faculty.
Ask questions even if you have none. I can’t tell you how tired I am of “so, do you have any questions?”. However, you should still be interested.
Get flights early. They are usually cheaper early (unless you wait for last second deals which my stress level wouldn’t handle well). I actually canceled aninterview at the University of Minnesota simply because the plane ticket was too expensive. Sign up for low fare alerts from all the major sites (orbitz, Travelocity, kayak, airfare watchdog, “ding” alerts from Southwest, etc.). It makes a difference. The average cost of my ticket was around $270 and I flew all over the country. Yeah, it added up quick but the damage could have been a lot worse for sure. Plus, I didn’t want to be in the Midwest so if you stay local or you are able to drive to your interviews then it will obviously be cheaper. It drives me nuts when people say they only spent $200 on interviews and they have no idea how someone could possibly spend over $2000 on the interview trail.
Send out thank-you notes soon after you return home. Email is a bit tacky in myopinion but if you have no other option send them a quick email.
Follow-up with programs that you would really like to go to.
Ask about housing, schools, “fun stuff”, etc. while you're there. Seek out residents that are in a similar situation as yourself and quiz them on local life. If your spouse is working consider asking about employment opportunities.
Have fun with it and be ready for an endurance test.

2009 ALLOPATHIC (M.D.) MATCH SCHEDULE

2009-01-17T15:35:00.000-06:00

August 15, 2008
Applicant registration begins at 12:00 noon eastern time.

September 1, 2008
Institution / program registration begins at 12:00 noon eastern time.

November 30, 2008
Applicant registration deadline
Note: Applicants may register after this deadline by paying an additional late registration fee of $50.00 when registering after 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

January 15, 2009
Rank order list entry begins.
Applicants and programs may start entering their rank order lists at 12:00 noon eastern time.

January 31, 2009
Quota change deadline.
Programs must submit final information on quotas and withdrawals by 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

February 25, 2009
Late registration deadline
Rank order list certification deadline
Applicants and programs must certify their rank order lists by 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Staff will be available to answer your questions during the final deadline hours. CERTIFIED applicant and program rank order lists and any other information pertinent to the Match must be entered in the R3 System by this date and time.
Withdraw Deadline (Independent applicants who have accepted a position through another national matching plan or by agreement outside the Matching Program must withdraw by 9:00 p.m. eastern time.)

March 16, 2009
Applicant matched and unmatched information posted to the Web site at 12:00 noon eastern time.

March 17, 2009
Filled and unfilled results for individual programs posted to the Web site at 11:30 a.m. eastern time. Locations of all unfilled positions are released at 12:00 noon eastern time. Unmatched applicants may begin contacting unfilled programs at 12:00 noon eastern time.

March 19, 2009
Match Day! Match results for applicants are posted to Web site at 1:00 pm eastern time.

March 20, 2009
Hospitals send letters of appointment to matched applicants after this date.

Retrieved from www.nrmp.org.

2009 OSTEOPATHIC (D.O.) MATCH SCHEDULE

2009-01-17T15:32:00.000-06:00

JUNE, 2008
Beginning in June, students can download the Agreement form for participation in the AOA Intern/Resident Registration Program (the AMatch@) from the Match web site at www.natmatch.com/aoairp. Alternatively, Agreement forms can be mailed to students on request. To register for the Match, each student must return a signed Agreement to National Matching Services Inc. accompanied by the appropriate registration fee.

JULY, 2008 - JAN., 2009
Students must apply to programs independently of the Match. Programs receive applications and interview students independently of the Match. Application deadlines for programs vary; therefore, students should check with programs regarding their deadline dates.

AUG. - SEPT., 2008
Each institution offering osteopathic OGME-1 internship and residency positions beginning in 2009 must provide to National Matching Services Inc. information on the program(s) being offered by the institution in the Match.

OCTOBER 10, 2008
Recommended date by which students should return their Agreements and registration fees to National Matching Services Inc.

NOVEMBER 1, 2008
By this date, a Listing of Programs participating in the Match will be available on the Match web site at www.natmatch.com/aoairp.

NOVEMBER 26, 2008
By this date, instructions for submitting Rank Order Lists and obtaining Match results will be provided to registered students and programs.

JANUARY 23, 2009
Final date for submission of student and program Rank Order Lists. No Rank Order Lists or Agreements can be accepted after this date.

FEBRUARY 9, 2009
Results of the Match are released to all participants in the Match (students and institutions), as well as to the colleges of osteopathic medicine and OPTIs.
Institutions must complete an institutional contract for each matched student, and send it within 10 working days after receipt of the Match results to the student for signature. Each matched student must sign and return the contract to the institution within 30 days after receiving the contract from the institution.

Retrieved from www.do-online.org.

Residency FAQs

2009-01-17T15:19:00.000-06:00

This is another topic that I wrote about for my personal chapter of SAA and am once again, sharing it here for all of our readers. Just for our readers information, my hubby will be graduating as a DO; however, we are applying to MD residencies for a variety of reasons. I will save that topic for another post!

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RESIDENCY MATCH FAQ’s

From your first day in medical school, you always here about the infamous residency match. Though many of us do not begin to think about it more until clinical rotations begin or even later, it is always there looming over us because it is such a mystery! How exactly does it work? When do we find out exactly where we will be going for internship/residency? Which match will we be participating in? WAIT . . . There is more than one match?!?! Well, hopefully, some of your questions will be answered below!

Q: What is the residency match?
A: The residency match takes place during your final year of medical school and offers a uniform, impartial way to place students in an internship/residency program. It can be a complicated process, but to put it in simplified terms, it helps students and programs to be matched to their preferred choices. Your student can participate in any of the following matches, depending on his/her circumstances: military, osteopathic, or allopathic. The National Matching Services, Inc. is the organization that performs the match for osteopathic programs (http://www.natmatch.com/aoairp/index.htm). The National Resident Match Program (NRMP) is the non-profit organization that actually performs the match for the allopathic programs (http://www.nrmp.org/index.html). However, please note that these programs are strictly used for the matching process. Students still need to apply to the specific programs via Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), a central location which sends applications on to the specific programs (http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/). Once applications have been submitted, student will then participate in interviews. When the time comes, the student will then enter their rank of the different programs (similar to the rotation match) within the required match system mentioned above.

Q: Where can I find residencies available to my student?
A: Osteopathic programs are listed at http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/index.htm. Allopathic programs can be found through the FREIDA program at http://www0.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/srch/.

Q: What are the categories available for the match?
A: Some residencies include an internship year and others do not. In the case that an internship year is not included, then your student may have to find a separate intern program. Please note that each program and specialty is different, so this may not apply in all cases. I have included some definitions for you below that you may hear in regards to these cases:

Traditional Rotating Internship: An internship year in which the intern will rotate through different specialties, similar to the clinical rotation years. Some flexibility in scheduling is possible.
Categorical Programs: Programs that include the first year internship/residency (also known as PGY-1).
Advanced Programs: Programs that do not include the first year, but instead begin the second year (known as PGY-2).
Preliminary Year: The first year of training (PGY-1) that provides the pre-requisite training for the above mentioned Advanced Programs.

Q: Can my student be withdrawn from a match?
A: Yes! If a student is placed in a residency in an earlier match, then s/he will be removed from all later matches. For example, let’s say a student registered with both the military match as well as the osteopathic match. If the student is matched via the military match, then they will be removed from the osteopathic match. Or, let’s say a student registers for both the osteopathic and allopathic matches, but is matched via the osteopathic match. The student would then be withdrawn from the allopathic match. The match results are binding for both the student and the program!

Q: Can you provide me with a timeline of what to expect for each of the matches?
A: To put it simply, the military match takes place in December, the osteopathic match in February, and the allopathic in March. The complete match schedules for the 2009 osteopathic and allopathic matches have been included for your information and reference. (I will post these schedules in separate posts.)

Q: What does it mean to scramble?
A: If a student does not match through one of the matching services mentioned above, then s/he must scramble. The scramble is a designated period of time in which those that have not matched or that have not completely matched attempt to obtain an unfilled internship or residency position.

Q: What are the statistics out there regarding the different matches?
A: According to the website, www.medschoolready.com, in 2002, 94% of M.D.’s matched and 71% of D.O.’s matched. However, 10% of the residency positions were not filled that year! If one does not include the International Medical Graduates (IMGs), there technically are more residency spots available then there are U.S. graduates, including both M.D.’s and D.O.’s. For more statistics, the match websites listed both above and below contain many numbers for a multitude of years, including specialty programs.

References and for more information, see the following websites:
• www.do-online.org
• http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/index.htm
• http://www.natmatch.com/aoairp/index.htm
• http://www0.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/srch/
• www.nrmp.org
• www.aamc.org/students/eras/

How Do We Advocate?

2009-01-15T15:15:00.000-06:00

Back in October 2008, I wrote an article for my personal chapter of SAA on what our role as an "ADVOCATE" of a medical student really is. I thought that I would post the article here as well to share with my other readers beyond the confines of this group!

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How Do We Advocate?

As graduation is quickly approaching for myself and fellow Class of 2009er’s, I have begun to reflect on my medical school journey thus far as well as what is expected to come. Throughout this entire process, I have been involved with the Student Advocate Association, and have often wondered what exactly it means to be an “advocate”. Am I supposed to be an advocate for my student? Am I an advocate for the field of medicine and/or osteopathy in general? I have even sometimes wondered . . . should I be advocating for myself to survive this journey?!? And, as May 16th looms in the near future, I wonder . . . how is my role as an advocate going to change?

One thing that I have discovered through my own experiences as well as discussing this very topic with others, is that my role as an advocate really is a developmental one. As my student grows, I grow as an advocate. My role changes from first year to third year to internship and residency to finally as a practicing physician.

During your first and second year of medical school, the challenge arises of simply adjusting to the journey. Heidi Couch, spouse of 2004 Graduate of Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine, describes it well when she says, “Initially during first and second years of medical school my personal challenge was to support my husband as he adjusted to the heavy study schedule and course load. This was a challenge because my husband studied in groups and not at home, resulting in extremely reduced couple time. I found myself alone and struggling to understand my husband’s demanding study schedule.” Heidi was not alone! You may find yourself becoming jealous of those Anatomy and Histology books too!!

As third and fourth year approach, the challenge changes! You are no longer giving over the precious time with your student to the books, but rather to the hospital and/or clinic. Depending on the different rotation that your student is currently on, you may not see your student because of his hours and on-call schedule. And, depending on the program and possible location change, your support network may have decreased and staying connected with your fellow spouses or significant others may become more difficult.

Then there is internship and residency! I personally cannot speak on the experiences here; however, it is a time that I dread! The hours are going to be longer than those during rotations. My support network may decrease yet again. As Heidi Couch reflects, “Again, I found myself alone and we were both trying to adjust to the call schedule. My husband got into an allopathic residency program and we moved to a state without an advocate group. As residency progressed . . . we made friends with other residents and the call schedule got easier each year.”

The journey through medical school is constantly changing, which in turn results in our advocacy responsibilities to change. I have often found myself wondering, “How am I supposed to advocate when I can barely keep up?”

As I mentioned before, advocating truly is developmental. During those first couple of years, you can simply encourage your student during those crazy study hours. If you were as unfamiliar as myself when the journey began about the field of osteopathy, educate yourself on the field. You can then spread the word to your friends and family about what your student is pursuing. In fact, during my first year, I even included in my holiday newsletter the definition of osteopathy and how it compares to allopathic medicine! As time progresses, advocating will become second nature. Whether a conversation is evoked at the grocery store because you are wearing an osteopathic shirt or you are volunteering your time as an individual or a group in the community, you are advocating by simply getting the word out and being present. Deborah Murphy, Immediate Past President for Advocates to the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA), believes that when you are doing your community service activities, you are working “as a group to show that the osteopathic family cares for their community” and “spouses and significant others advocate in a very personal way by showing compassion to those who are in real need.”

As time permits and as you become more comfortable in your new role, other opportunities arise. You can not only join your fellow advocates at the local level, but also at the state and national levels. State advocate groups and the Advocates to the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA) provide a variety of connections to further education and community service programs. And, understanding and advocating for the key issues that your student and future physician will face is of great importance, particularly to the leaders of our country through DO Day on the Hill. Deborah Murphy puts it perfectly when she states, “When you advocate for the profession to our leaders, then you support your student and the osteopathic profession in general. A student doctor will one day be in practice and legislative medical reform will be of paramount importance.”

Among the many important ways to advocate, do not forget to advocate for yourself and others like you!! If you do not take care of yourself, you will not be able to support your student, future physician, and the field in general. Surround yourself with fellow spouses and significant others in the same situation, discover that you are not the only one experiencing this difficult and unique journey, and know that you are not alone! You can survive, thrive, and champion for a great cause!

I want to close with words from Deborah Murphy that are truly inspiring and empowering . . . “Wave the flag of osteopathic medicine proudly. There can be no finer way to support your medical student. Advocacy is your present and your future. Advocate for the profession and at the same time you will advocate for yourselves and your family. Most importantly, you will advocate for millions of patients who in the end rely on you!” Start now . . . put on those osteopathic shirts, volunteer your time within the community, cheer on your student, and never hesitate to spread the osteopathic word!

Budgeting for Medical School and Beyond

2009-01-10T15:10:00.000-06:00

A while back, I found this great website on budgeting for medical school and beyond! If you have not yet checked it out, I would highly recommend that you do so! It has information for the premedical years, actual medical school, as well as residency and the beginning years of practice.

Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors

Six Months of Utter Chaos!!

2009-01-04T20:48:00.001-06:00

We have been horrible about updating this blog lately! Since the arrival of our sweet baby girl in July, our life has been in utter chaos!! It's so interesting . . . I have heard over and over again that the 4th year of medical school is so nice! It's relaxing, a great way to spend time with your student before the dreaded internship and residency begins. Well, for us, I will have to say that we disagree!! Fourth year for us as a family and in financial terms has been HARD!! I sometimes wonder if it is because our second child was born at the beginning of it, but the more and more I talk to my classmates, the more I hear agreement with the difficulty of it.

Let me sum up the last six months for you . . .

July: Our second child is born and my hubby leaves for his first out rotation when she is 3 weeks old! We greatly discussed whether or not he should even go on this rotation, but we came to the overwhelming conclusion that it would be better in the long run to go . . . to get a better idea of one of our top choices for residency and to get a foot in the door at the site.
August: Hubby gone for almost the full month for out rotations! He did have one week at the end of the month at home with us.
September: Hubby gone again for the full month on another out rotation. To save my sanity, I took the kids to visit family for a couple of weeks! Oh, and my hubby had his first residency interview!
October: Another interview!
November: Lots and lots of interviews! He was gone at least once a week (except for the week of Thanksgiving) traveling for interviews!
December: The first two weeks were once again filled with interviews!! The second two weeks we were actually able to spend some time together as a family again!

That's it in a nutshell!! You could say it was utter chaos!! I am ready for my hubby to be home, to be done traveling so much. I am about 99% percent certain that he feels the same way! When he has a chance, I am sure that he will post more info about the last six months as well! He has had some pretty interesting rotations, including Nephrology and GI.

This month, he is rotating in Emergency Medicine. He continues to have interviews, three to be exact. By the end of the month, the interviews will be done and we can begin discussing how we will be ranking our choices!! We pretty much have the top two set in stone, but the next few are going to be hard to choose from. Really, we will be happy with wherever we go on our list at this point in time. We would really like to get closer to family, but we may have to wait for another four years. I guess we will see come March!!

I have a lot of things that I would like to blog about these days! For example, I have written a couple of articles for my local Student Advocate Association chapter that I would like to share as well as some budgeting and interviewing resources. I would love to chat more about the differences between the DO and MD matches. My husband will be graduating as a DO this May, but he is applying to MD residencies. Those are just a few things! Blogging has become a hobby of mine since becoming a stay-at-home mom and I have a few different blogs that I update. Now that I have those two updated, I really do not have an excuse not to post things here. Afterall, writing on this blog really is a form of therapy for me during this difficult year . . . to be able to vent and get my thoughts out instead of letting them well up inside of me. I wish that I would have done more writing these last few months for that reason alone. Anyways, I guess that is my way of saying that I will at least be posting more these days!! Have faith in us and keep checking back!!

OHSU

2008-12-13T21:36:00.000-06:00

Well, I am not a blogger. I doubt I ever will be but I will write about what I have been through so far on this trip. I interviewed today, December 13th here in Portland and loved it as usual. It is still as great as I remember and there is not going to be a program that tops it (although the Mayo clinic and the University of Vermont are a close second). It's nice when I come back and people remember me from this past summer because I know they have a lot of students come through here for interviews.

I got in yesterday and stayed in one of the nicest hotels on the trail yet in downtown Portland. I got in early enough that I could go out and around town for a few hours before dinner which was nice. Dinner was at a very fancy place here in downtown (maybe to much for me) but it wasn't bad. As a side note....I hate wine. I LOVE beer, especially microbrews and when I am in the microbrew center of the US I want a beer....not wine. However, it seems it is the "in thing" to have wine with dinner. So, when the waiter asked if I wanted white wine...I said no. Then he asked if I wanted red wine....I said no. At this point I was really hoping he would show me a beer list...didn't happen. So, I gave in and thought I would try the red wine if nothing else. Guess what....I still hate wine. It tastes like something I would take paint off of old furniture with. So, after the interview today I went down to the Deschutes brewery in downtown and had a pint to make up for it.

Back to the interview. There were twelve of us (biggest group that I have been with so far). As usual, the students are from all over....Dartmouth, U. of Iowa, U. of Oklahoma, etc. and all were well qualified. OHSU received 700 + applications this year and they will interview around 130 people for 6 categorical and 6 advanced spots. I guess I felt lucky to be in the group. Overall the interviews were extremely laid back as most of my others have been. I can't say I have ever been stressed on any of them so far. It was not secret that this will be my #1 spot and I made it known today. I will also be making it well known in my thank you notes as well.

In summary, I love Portland, the anesthesia program here, and the quality of residents that come out of here and I would love for the opportunity to come here with my family. At the same time I need to be realistic, this is a very very well known program and there aren't that many of the West coast that can boast of the accomplishments that this program has so I know it will be tough to get in. I guess we will see where everything falls this Spring.

Welcome to Our Blog!

2008-12-08T22:35:00.000-06:00

I originally began writing about my experiences as a medical student spouse under another blog. I was a first time stay-at-home mom at the beginning of this blog and needed an outlet to talk about our experiences and something to do in my newfound free time. Since then, both my husband (the student) and myself began writing about our past and current experiences. Most of the detail began during rotations since that is when we began the blog; therefore, our time before then is not as thoroughly covered. I also began writing about many other things on this blog and decided after much thought that I would completely devote my blog to just the medical experiences. Another change has recently occurred . . . instead of my posting my husband's thoughts and experiences, he has decided to become an author himself! My original blog, Whimsical M.S. (Medical Student) Widow, no longer seemed to cover the purpose behind our writings and along came the birth of this website! I intend over time to copy all of our original posts to this website with their original publication dates (so they will appear below this post!) as well as with their original comments. During this transition period, you may see these old posts or new ones, so in the meantime, please be patient with us and continue to visit our site and share your own thoughts and experiences!!

UPDATE: All posts have been imported (LOVE this new Blogger feature, by the way!) and can be found prior to this post! I have made one change from the old site in that my hubby's thoughts are in blue text to help our readers sort thru the information. If you have any questions, comments, etc., feel free to email us using the link on the sidebar.

Out Rotation #1

2008-12-08T21:47:00.000-06:00

I know that I am super behind on my blog and I apologize profusely to all my readers! I am now back to get caught up, and to announce the news that I have decided to make some additional changes to this site! I am making more format changes, but the most exciting of all is that I am adding my husband to the site as an author!! He has always had contributions (as noted by the different color of font), but they will be completely under his name now! He may be posting on a regular basis or just a few posts here and there; it all depends on his schedule! So, this site will no longer be the medical student wife's rantings and ravings, but the medical side as well!! Please continue to enjoy and come back for more!!

Now, on to out rotations!! The first out rotation that my hubby did was during the month of August in Portland, Oregon. You can find his point of view below, but from my point of view . . . it was DANG HARD!! We had just had our second child at the beginning of July. When he left for the rotation, our baby was only 3 1/2 weeks old. It also happened to be during the month he was gone that our older son decided to quit taking naps! I was not getting a lot of sleep, I did not have family around to help, and I was very, very tired. I did finally have a bit of a breakdown with about one week left. I was in complete and utter tears, I was worried that my poor kids were not getting the attention that they deserved from a mother, and I felt that I was just barely getting by. Despite the chaos of the month, I did survive, partly due to my fellow MSW's that helped to support me along the way and check in on me every now and then. I owe them a big thank you, more than I can ever repay!! I can now look back on that month and I am proud of the accomplishment of doing it all on my own. I have always considered myself to be an independent woman, but it was a rather different story considering the circumstances! We made it!! And, I firmly believe that if we can survive that month, we can survive ANTHING!! Afterall, during internship, my husband will at least be sleeping in the same house though we may not see him as often. He will not be thousands of miles away!! Just knowing that he will be there is more encouraging to me than I ever thought it would be!! I am still nervous about the next couple of years, but I am also empowered and believe that we can definitely make it through!! Now, enough about me . . . on to my hubby's perspective!!

I spent the month of August in Portland, Oregon doing an elective rotation through the anesthesia department at Oregon Health and Sciences University. It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed the rotation a ton. I learned a lot on the rotation and had a lot of hands-on experience. I got to do a lot of intubations, IV’s, and even got to do my first arterial line placement (not as easy as it looked). I had great interactions with the attendings and residents and on one occasion it was just the attending and I doing the surgeries (a little stressful as he usually expects the residents to do the work and I was a bit unsure of what I was doing during the case at times). As a student they worked hard on getting us into a large number of cases throughout the rotation. I got to see emergency surgeries as well as routine cases. In addition, the didactics were really really good. We would spend an hour with the first years and an attending (with food of course so that made me smile) during the first two weeks going over the basics that they should know. It really is amazing how much general medicine plays in this field. I know I made the right decision as I love medicine but just can’t stand the thought of rounding all day (it brings back flashbacks to one of my IM rotations when I just wished it would all end). Overall, I was very pleased with the rotation and was ready to come home by the end of it. One month away from my family, especially with such a young child at home, was not easy on me, and surely not on Tif but she pulled through well. We’ll see how everything works out with interviews for residency coming up right around the corner.

What About Us?

2008-09-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been surfing the web looking for blogs that are similar to my own . . . a spouse or significant other perspective on the medical school experience and beyond. In my search, I have come across quite a few med student blogs as well as intern/resident blogs and those written by physicians themselves. Here are just a few of those that I have found . . .

What, Me Worry?

Medical Student Musings

The Chloroform RAG
Notes of an Anesthesioboist

I know that there is quite a community out there along these lines. In fact, as I find more that I personally enjoy to peruse, I will post them on the sidebar as I have done for these ones. However . . .

WHAT ABOUT US?????

So far, I have yet to find any public sites that are fellow MSW's!! Are there no others out there willing to discuss their experiences? Afterall, it is more than just the student who embarks on this journey and makes sacrifices along the way? Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places.

Whatever the case may be, I'm curious . . . what are some of your favorite medical blogs? I'm particularly interested in blogs or websites of fellow "widows", but am always up for a good blog by anyone in the medical field, particularly med students, residents, and physicians. Please share . . .

Expanding Your Family

2008-08-20T14:24:00.000-05:00

I remember during the first months of our first year in medical school, we attended a panel that discussed relationships and how they are affected during this journey. One of the questions asked that night of the panel was . . . for those of us wanting to have children during medical school, when is the best time? I thought that was a very interesting question at the time. My husband and I had one child already less than a year old and planned to have another sometime prior to residency. So, what was the answer? Most recommended third year of medical school. Since then, we have expanded our family and I wanted to share with others out there my personal experiences on the matter!

We had heard from many that third year or the first year of clinical rotations was the perfect time to have a child. We took this recommendation to heart and we planned accordingly. Our second child arrived at the beginning of July, technically the beginning of the fourth year. My opinion (and I'm sure my husband will agree with me) . . . BAD TIMING!! Why? Between the third and fourth year, students are required to take the Step 2 exams. My husband took both the COMLEX and the USMLE. He scheduled these towards the end of my pregnancy, ensuring that they would be complete prior to having a newborn at home. Very good planning on his part. Unfortunately, I tend to have babies early! During the day he was gone for the USMLE, when I had absolutely no way of getting ahold of him, I began to have contractions! Thankfully, they slowed down and we were able to be together at the time our precious little one was born! In addition to the tests, this is the prime time to be doing elective rotations. We do not intend to stay in our current location for internship/residency. In fact, where my husband is doing his out rotations is thousands of miles away!! When our child was at the early age of 3 1/2 weeks, my husband left for a month for his first elective rotation. Did he have to? No! BUT . . . it will increase our chances hopefully in getting into our ultimate residency program, a more long-term decision . . . a sacrifice that we are willing to make at this time to save family time in the long run. Having a newborn at home with a preschooler, no family within thousands of miles, a limited support system in our current location, and no husband has been VERY difficult! My husband is planning on doing another elective rotation thousands of miles away. Am I nervous? No . . . simply because I am leaving and going to stay with family for the majority of the time! Two full months away from his kids, particularly his new one has also been very difficult on him.

So, my recommendation . . . if you are going to have children during medical school, third year is really the best time! Third year meaning between July and May AT THE LATEST of that year!! Things then begin to get crazy with tests, elective rotations elsewhere, and then residency interviews, sometimes scheduled last minute. Having a baby seems very possible the first two years, especially if you are attending a family-friendly school. Fourth year may even be a possibility before you have to move for residency and after your interviews are complete. In the end, do NOT have a child between June and November of your fourth year if at all possible!! I would not change anything if it meant I could not have our sweet little addition, but I would recommend and warn others that this is a busy and chaotic time. Do not add more stress at this time if you do not have too!

Boards AGAIN!!!

2008-08-11T21:07:00.000-05:00

I remember back to about one year ago when my husband was studying away for the COMLEX and USMLE. I thought it was horrible that we never saw him!! He was always stressed out and this went on for weeks and weeks and weeks!! Even after the tests were complete, that feeling was still hanging over our heads because we had not yet received the scores. Ultimately, my husband did just fine, having a very competitive score for the specialties that he was interested in.

Half way through this year, I realized that the COMLEX and USMLE came around AGAIN!! I had no idea that Step 2 boards came around so quickly!! And, it definitely snuck up on me!! I was so worried that it was going to be the same story . . . absent husband, stressed husband when he was around, waiting impatiently and anxiously for the scores to be released . . . but I was completely wrong!! Don't get me wrong, there is definitely stress, but it is nothing compared to Step 1!! And, we had a lot going on immediately after the exams (the birth of our second child and beautiful baby girl!!!) that we were shocked to see the scores in the mail so soon!! And, to top things off, he did better the second time around!! GREAT JOB!!! I am so proud of him!!

Here's my hubby's point of view on the exams . . .

Step II is one of those tests that sneaks up on you a little bit. We all know it’s coming but we have so many things on our minds at the time that we put it off until we absolutely have to study. I took my boards on June 17 (Comlex II) and June 21 (USMLE II). I’ll start by saying that I studied for three weeks straight (weekends, 12 hour days) for Step I and for this I had seven straight days of studying and two weeks of afternoons to study (when I could) for the test, and everything turned out fine. No matter how you did on Step I this is just a different test in terms of content. Step I was all about memorization-pathways, pathology, bacteria, etc. This test tested your ability to put it all together. This was definitely a clinically-based test. In the long-run I studied for half as long and did better on both (which I think is the norm from my understanding). When I finished the Comlex Step II, I came out thinking it was one of the easiest tests I had taken in a long while. I honestly didn’t feel it was that bad and I know 99% of my classmates could have or did do just as well as I did on it. USMLE Step II was a different story. Unlike the first step where I felt I did about the same on both Comlex and USMLE, on step II, I felt that the USMLE was a much more difficult test overall. However, in the end, I did better on the USMLE that the Comlex…go figure. Anyways, the content of the Comlex was what was to be expected. We all have different tests but mine was OTM light and gastroenterology heavy with a mix of everything else in between. There were still the questions in the block format (2-3 per stem) and still had the matching (but I lucked out as 4 or 5 of my matching sets were clear-cut microbiology questions). I used First-Aid for Step II CK, USMLE Secrets, and USMLE World Question Bank. That was it. I would study the first-aid book throughout my rotations and it was helpful. Honestly, the majority of the test is in that book in some form. USMLE Secrets was well worth the money and I read it twice before the exam. I would highly recommend it. USMLE World wasn’t as helpful as I had thought. I finished a bit over ½ half of it (didn’t have much time with rotations and all) but didn’t feel that the questions were as helpful as question banks were for Step I. It did help with getting your mind in the right “mode” for the test but if I had to do it again I would probably not buy the questions. I can’t say anything about Kaplan or the Combank questions for this test as I didn’t use them and haven’t had a chance to talk with anyone that has. I think that one of the big things for the test is just paying attention during your rotations. You really do pick up a lot from them and from all your reading. You will be surprised how much you have learned during your third year. Overall, find 2-3 good resources for the test +/- a question bank and that should be all you need. It is tough to find 2-3 weeks straight for studying so that is up to the individual person. Good luck, and don’t stress (yes, I understand that it is easier said than done).

Rotation #10: Pediatrics

2008-08-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh . . . pediatrics!! The FINAL rotation of the third year of medical school (at least for my hubby) and the finale of it meaning that we are officially a 4th year medical school family!! It may not seem like a big deal to many, but this was a huge milestone for me personally!! We have completed 75% of medical school, the light at the end of the tunnel is becoming brighter and brighter every day, and I am excited to think that we will be settling in one place for at least four years! Who knows where that someplace will be, but we are almost there!! Woohoo!!

Since this milestone is complete, it has been interesting to reflect back over the year or even since the start of medical school to see how we have grown. I say "we" because our family as a whole has truly grown in so many ways!! My hubby, the medical technologist, has grown into a student doctor, learning so much each and every day. I have personally developed patience and learned to live by the seat of my pants (which tends to be a bit difficult for me!). And, physically, our family has grown from a family of three to a family of four! Wow!! So much has changed in the past three years! And, I truly believe that it is for the better!! There have been hard times and good times, but I can say with the utmost confidence that WE do not regret this decision one bit! Though this may change (ask me again during internship/residency!), I feel that this journey has made our personal relationship stronger, it has exposed us to so many different people and ideas, and we have both become better people through these experiences.

And, now most importantly for me, the countdown to graduation begins!!!

Moving back to peds, here is what my husband, the student doctor, had to say . . .

I should start out by saying that I had no interest in pediatrics but I ended up loving this rotation. In fact, I am doing my fourth year pediatric elective with this particular pediatric group. The days usually go from around 8 until around 5 in the afternoon. I will usually go to morning report at 7:15 and then report to the newborn nursery at 8:00. I will get a list of all the newborns and begin seeing them first thing. Usually there is at least one other medical student and sometimes an intern on the rotation which helps out a lot. The attendings are fantastic to work with and very patient. They will walk you through the newborn exam and tell you what you are looking for and help you to identify any abnormalities. This can be especially useful for all the students who don’t have kids and for those that are tentative about examining someone else’s newborn. It can be a little delicate at first but you get the hang of it. You’ll present to the attendings all the newborns that you saw and then go over the exam with them all the while writing your own notes of course (no different than any other rotation). After you are done with the newborns you’ll see the older pediatric inpatients. Usually there are only 1-3 patients for this particular group but that can be more than enough. We don’t have a pediatric ICU at the hospital where I am placed, so most of the kids are fairly stable. You’ll see your fair share of asthma exacerbations, diabetic kids, and diarrhea induced dehydration. When done with the older kids you will usually sit down for a presentation given by one of the medical students. After the presentation, the attending will usually add to the talk and give some tips and tricks. On certain days the attendings themselves will give lectures which are VERY good. They cover the basics-fluid management in kids, bilirubin, diarrhea and constipation, etc. These can be very useful. The afternoons are spent at the clinic with this group. To say this is a busy clinic is an understatement. There are 16 rooms and they are always full. You can see as many patients as you want during the afternoon and you will see a good variety of illnesses. Of course you will have a lot of diarrhea, viral infections, strep throat, etc., but you will also have a fair number of uncommon illnesses as well. Every one of the attendings are fantastic to work with and I would do this rotation again if given the chance.

Rotation #9: Anesthesiology

2008-08-11T20:46:00.000-05:00

It was so good to finally be able to experience Anesthesiology!! Afterall, this is the field that my husband has chosen to pursue!! Though my husband's current placement is not with a teaching program and it may not have been completely reflective of what is to come, he still received some good experience. The thing that I enjoyed the most about this particular rotation is that he came home happy and excited to talk about what he did that day at the hospital. He was so excited to try new things, practice those that he was still learning, and just get somewhat of a feel of what he will be doing for the rest of his life.

Here's what my husband had to say about the rotation . . .

This was a 2 week rotation with no call. This is one rotation where it could be as difficult or as easy as you wanted it to be. It was not uncommon for several of my classmates to be in at 7:00 and leave by 10:00 (or not show up at all). It was a bit unique and a bit of a disappointment in that there was no real oversight or guidance to the rotation. There was no “checking-in” in the morning and you were responsible for your own education on this rotation. A typical day for me began between 6 and 7 a.m. where you would either check in on the 3rd floor and participate/watch line placements for cardiac procedures (central venous lines, radial arterial lines) or I would go straight to the second floor and begin cases with the anesthesiologists. Cases would usually start at 7:15 every morning. There are a total of 28 OR’s at the hospital I'm currently placed with “routine” surgeries (gallbladders, colon resections, breast biopsies, etc.) taking place mainly on the second floor and orthopedic and cardiac cases occurring mainly on the third floor. During my rotation I mainly hung out on the second floor. This was because I would have more interaction with the anesthesiologists and I would be able to intubate more (shorter procedures and quicker turn-around-time than cardiac or orthopedic surgeries). My day would usually only last until around 2-3 at the latest because the majority of cases were done by then. After that I would go study or head home. During my time I would interact with the anesthesiologists mainly with intubation as they had to be present for every one. However, after that I wouldn’t get much of a chance to be with them as they were each monitoring 3-6 rooms. The exception to this was with bypass surgeries where I had anesthesiologists walk me through several transesophogeal echo’s and discuss a large number of topics with me. The majority of my interaction was with the CRNA’s. Being as how the hospital does not have an anesthesiology residency program and the anesthesia is provided by a private practice firm with a lot of CRNA’s employed I did spend a lot of time with them. As I want to go into anesthesiology I felt that I did learn a lot from the CRNA’s as well as the anesthesiologists during my two weeks on the rotation. Overall, the majority of my classmates did not enjoy the rotation. A few of the anesthesiologists are a little tough to be around and some of them don’t like to teach at all. However, if you put the time in and show some interest there are a few that will take you under their wing and help you learn a lot.

Rotation #8: Radiology

2008-08-03T21:20:00.000-05:00

I've only got a few words for you in regards to my opinion on this rotation . . . a VERY nice change!! My hubby was usually home early and it was not a stressful rotation at all! It was so good to see him in a relaxed mood . . . though it did not last long since Step 2 Boards snuck up on him!! :)

Here's what my hubby had to say . . .

This rotation was set up a little bit like anesthesia, as a two week rotation. There are ten areas of radiology that they like us to rotate through (CT, nuclear, mammography, etc.) over the two weeks and during this time we are to work with different radiologists. During my rotation I spent a lot of time with one radiologist in particular and then a smaller amount of time with several of the other radiologists. My day would start around 8:00 usually and end when I wanted it to-usually early afternoon or earlier depending on the workload. A number of the radiologists are happy to teach and a number are not. I (and my classmates) had to find who was willing to teach and then tag along with them. I spent a lot of time with the radiologist reading CT’s, doing CT guided biopsies, and doing PICC lines. I also spent some time with the ultrasound techs doing vascular studies. This was a good rotation in that I was able to see how the particular studies are done after they are ordered. It is easy to make the order for a particular test when you are on IM or surgery, but it really helps to see the process through on this rotation. Overall, I got out of this rotation what I had expected. I can’t say that it really helped me with my x-ray reading skills but it did help with my CT reading skills a small amount.

Sorry for the Delay!!

2008-07-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

I am soooo sorry for the delay in posts!! I have a ton of stuff to post from both my hubby and myself, but just have not had the time!! We actually just welcomed a new addition to our family at the beginning of the month, so we have had to work on the transition of having one child to now having two! So, keep checking back to read our thoughts on the rest of the 3rd year rotations, thoughts on having or expanding your family in med school, elective rotations, residency applications, boards, and much, much more!

Rotation #7: Family Practice Again!

2008-06-24T13:29:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's right . . . another family practice rotation! And, for some reason, my hubby was assigned to a location that required lots of travel time. Okay, not a lot . . . maybe 20-35 minutes one way depending on weather or traffic. Whatever the case, on a limited budget and high gas prices, it was a lot to me!! :)

For me, as the spouse, I really didn't think this rotation was that bad. Though my hubby was home a few evenings around 6:00 or 6:30, it was definitely a nice change from the previous month! However, I can see that my hubby definitely does not want to work as a family practice doc! I do not think that it is the best fit for him for a multitude of reasons! All these rotations make me so thankful!! He has really had the opportunity to discover where his strengths and weaknesses lie within the practice of medicine and without them, would not have chosen a field that would have fit him as appropriately!

To digress slightly . . . When people hear that my hubby has decided on Anesthesia, I think that they immediately think the money is the whole reason that he has made this choice. Honestly, this frustrates me to no end!! He has not chosen this area because of the money. Though money is a nice perk, it also does not happen to rule our every thought and action like we have seen it done in others. He has chosen this specialty for a variety of reasons . . . the science involved, its connection to other areas that interest him, the way it seems to be the perfect fit for him and his personality, and yes, even the schedule! But, just to make it clear . . . it was NOT because of the money!! Okay, enough ranting and raving . . . back to the family practice rotation and my hubby's thoughts . . .

My second family medicine rotation was with a physician about 25 minutes away from my base site. I have to say that this rotation was not as good as my first family medicine rotation in several ways. It may sound bad but the days were longer than I would have expected for family medicine. This physician didn’t start until late in the morning and it was the norm to not be finished until 6:00 or later. Part of this has to do with the current environment in medicine today. Family medicine docs (as well as IM, Peds docs, etc.) have to see more patients than they ever had before just to continue their current income level. The days did go by quickly though. However, I didn’t feel that the teaching was quite to where it was with my first FM rotation. It usually involved me seeing all of my own patients and then he would follow me in later. We rarely discussed patients before we went in unless I found something to be extremely unusual, but at the same time he would review my notes with the patient and agree or disagree with them as he went. He has been known to be a little bit of a tougher doctor to deal with as a student but I didn’t feel that it was an issue at all as he was very professional during my rotation and provided good tips at times.

As a side note, it is nice to see how you develop throughout the course of your third year. With my first family medicine rotation I didn’t know much as far as when to initiate treatments for common medical conditions (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.), but by the time I had this rotation I had a general idea of what to do with a number of common illnesses. Overall, this wasn’t one of my better rotations but it could have been a lot worse.

Speaking From Experience . . .

2008-06-16T16:26:00.000-05:00

A couple of posts back, I had shared the article, "Reasons Not to Become a Doctor" along with my personal response to it. (See below for the original post.) Since then, I have heard a multitude of opinions, including the response copied below that was emailed to me by one of my readers. All identifying information has been removed, but her full perspective and points remain. I specifically asked her permission to reproduce this information, so that I can share it with all of you. Obviously, she has agreed! Thank you Anonymous! I think that your perspective is very important and I really appreciate you allowing me to share it with so many others that are just beginning this journey as well as others who are in the midst of it!

Just a quick background, Anonymous and her husband were married before the medical journey began. The husband started the journey approximately 30 years ago with the beginning of the application process and the matriculation of med school approximately one year later.

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One day a gal who had taught at the school where I taught came back for a visit (her husband was in FP residency). I told her that my husband had been accepted into med school. Her reply was, "Medical school ought to be grounds for divorce." (an exact quotation.) We have made it 32.5 years tomorrow. I will not guarantee that we will make 33 years, even at this point.

My husband does regret his decision to become a doctor. I do not regret being married to him. I told him before we were married that I did not want to be a doctor's wife. He said he didn't want to be a doctor. He changed his tune 3 years later and told me that he had always wanted to but didn't think it was remotely possible because of his family's financial and educational status. I married the man, not the doctor. It is still difficult.

From my husband's perspective, most everything in the article is true.

Loans, most of ours were forgiven for practicing 5+ years in a rural county. It was still a drain to pay the remaining thousands to the federal loan program. We were student and residency loan free by the time we left our home state. We have never had the kind of income that people think doctors have. Family practice is not lucrative. We are comfortable this month (year) for the first time. We have begun to travel and can buy most of the small things that we used to have to consider very carefully. We still have to think about how much a new roof and new windows for our aging house will cost, and how to pay for them. We bought a new riding lawn mower a couple of weeks ago. This was possible because John Deere offered 12 months interest free. We will be able to pay it off in that time span. We do not eat expensive foods, go to expensive restaurants, dress in high dollar duds, get new cars every year. My husband does have some expensive hobbies, but his boat was used, and he got it for basically the price of a new boat motor. He has had a lot of work to do to get it usable.
From reading the article and comments, I think respect is one of the key reasons that there is so much dissatisfaction or the lack of respect.Yes, the comments about having to wait, the criticism of treatment, the arguments against paying, and the general attitude of many of the patients really make it hard to go on. Another problem for my husband are the patients who come back for chronic problems (depression, etc) and whine. He likes helping the patients who need the help and who he can help. It is depressing to treat people who will never get well. The best that the doctor can do is make them comfortable for their remaining years. Some are really quite young, but have chronic illnesses that will not be cured. And then their is the liability/malpractice situation to consider. I think that many of these cases are really a lack of respect for the doctor. Without the legal liabilty, the doctor can still be adversely affected by a bad outcome to his treatment. Doctors frequently have a lot of emotional investment in their patients. They genuinely like the people/patients and care about them as individuals.
Lifestyle--always being on call. Well, not really, but everywhere we go people ask for medical advice or tell their horror story. He is never just a person in a social setting. He is always a doctor. The limits on family time were hard on all of us. Our son hardly knew his father until he was 5 years old. Many activities were interrupted by phone calls from the answering service or the hospital. Even family meals out at a restaurant were interrupted by patients stopping by the table to ask about their meds or something. The boys' perception (as well as mine) was that the patient comes first. This is fine for the truly ill patient. But sometimes the interruption made us feel truly second class, unimportant. My husband regrets this and he cannot change what happened in our private lives for the last 21 years. He has made some changes, but that doesn't change the past.

So if the motivation to be a doctor is really to help people selflessly, then all of this should be unimportant. Well, doctors are human and need some kind of reward for their work. If respect is lacking (malpractice suits included here), then there should be ample financial compensation. Asking a person to give up a personal life for a job with little respect and having to live hand to mouth gives no incentive to do the job. I think that we were very naive. The bankers in the town where we did residency kept letting us borrow because after all, my husband would be able to pay back everything when he began making the big bucks. We thought he would have respect in the community because of his job. We didn't realize that for the first 7 years (while he did OB) that he wouldn't have proper call coverage. We didn't realize that patients have no respect for the doctor's personal time. (He once got a phone call at about 4:00 am from a patient who wanted a medication refill called in!)

So if he knew then what he knows now, would he have gone to med school? I really don't know. For him it was also an intellectual challenge, and I know that the challenge of diagnosis and treatment as well as business management is what keeps him in the profession. We are looking forward to some change in the fairly near future that will bring us closer to retirement. We are just not sure what it is.

Reasons Not to Become a Doctor

2008-06-04T08:13:00.000-05:00

My husband was browsing his usual news sites last night and came across this article. I have been reading through it this morning and thought that I would share with all of you to see what you thought. Here are some of my thoughts (I also posted this on the SAA website, but wanted to copy it here for those that do not have access to that site) . . .

First of all, many of the statistics coming out of the surveys mentioned appear to be coming from the allopathic route. I am very curious to know how these statistics compare to our field of osteopathy.

Secondly, I have already begun to witness first-hand the views of the public or as the article states . . . "There's a perception among patients that, 'I went to a doctor's appointment and he was 45 minutes late. He's probably on the golf course or driving his Mercedes.' The truth is, they're probably busy with patients." I personally get very frustrated because some of this even comes from my own families! Why is it that people have the image that doctors are out playing golf and making tons of money for it?

Thirdly, I highly recommend that you read some of the comments pages at the end of the article. I read thru the majority of them and was surprised at how few were actually defending the medical field! I was shocked that even those who are practicing, are residents, or even students are recommending people to stay away. My husband even says that he hears often from others he works with, that if they had the chance to do it again, they wouldn't do it! Yikes! How sad to see bitterness from those in the field, much of it stemming from such things as litigation, government restrictions, insurance, etc.! My thoughts . . . let's create our own list . . . "Reasons to Become a D.O.ctor!" My husband has recently decided to go into anesthesiology (according to the article, one of the more "lucrative" fields). He did not choose to go into the field because of the pay, but because of his fascination with the field. I get excited to see him come home excited about what he is doing! Will this wear off? Who knows, but I like to think not!

Lastly, I like to say that we had "life before med school", meaning that coming back to school to become a doctor is my husband's second career. He worked in healthcare in a different field and truly felt that there was a better way for him to help others than what he was currently doing. He wanted to work with patients! He wanted to do more! I was so proud of him that he was accepted and now that we are close to graduation, I am even more proud of him as I see the work that he has done so far. We consciously made that decision to start med school as a family, knowing that there would be sacrifices we would have to make. There are times that we even talk about what it would have been like if we hadn't made this decision. However, we always come back to the fact that we are happy with our decision and that it will all be worth it in the end. Knowing that we pursued our dreams to the fullest extent and did not "settle" is VERY important to us! On the other hand, I am becoming more and more frustrated and feel that the public has a stereotype of the field that we are already living with, even as students. When I tell people that my husband is a med student, they automatically assume that we are making big bucks and have a wonderful lifestyle. In short, that our lives are easy and full of luxury!! As you all know, that is wrong!! The general public does not know how much work and money and sweat goes into this process (and that it is not just the student that is experiencing this!). With articles like this out there, it is not helping the field . . . only hindering it!! I want to know how we can help combat this stereotype!

I have a lot more thoughts on different things mentioned in the article and the comments, but will quit my ranting now!! Anyone else have some thoughts on this? If so, I would love to hear them!

Seriously . . .

2008-04-23T13:26:00.000-05:00

I know, I know . . . I have been horrible about updating my blogs these days!! To be honest with you . . . it's not because I have been busy . . . more like extremely lazy!! :) I have been working on many projects lately, but have just not had the time to blog about them or completely finish them either. I'm getting there!! And, as I finish more of them, I will be sure to share photos and even the news on the latest rotations as well!!

But, to my current little post . . . I have recently been cleaning up and making room for another baby in our household!! We have decided to turn our little office into a nursery for the little one, or at least part of it since our space is limited these days. As I was going through and cleaning things out, this is what I came across . . .

Ahhhh . . . the perks of being a student doctor and future physician!! The drug reps love to give away free stuff!! We have too many fancy pens and notepads than I think we will ever use. And, the sad part . . . this is only a portion of them!!! And, it is never-ending, so our pile will continue to grow and grow and grow!!

My only question . . . SERIOUSLY, how many pens and notepads does one need? Will we ever be able to use all of these in our lifetime? Does anyone else have piles like these? What do you do with all of them? I hate to put any of these to waste, so will not throw any of them out. What else am I to do with them? I am in need of some very creative ideas!! :)

Anesthesia Top Ten!

2008-03-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

I got this little top ten from my friend Laci's blog! Since my hubby has officially decided to go the anesthesia route, I thought that I would post it on here as well. Though I don't think I completely understood everything, the ones I did understand were pretty funny! :)

Ten Reasons to Become an Anesthesiologist

You can intubate your friends at parties.
Have you ever met a happy internist?
You don't have enough ego hypertrophy to be a surgeon.
You can comfort anxious patients with, "I know just how you feel. It's my first anesthetic, too."
Any job where you can drive to work in green pajamas is a cool job.
You can park next to rich doctors like ophthalmologists.
You can cover your mistakes with Versed.
After spending the night with surgeons, they still won't respect you in the morning.
If you get bored on the weekends, you can give yourself a spinal.
No office, no overhead, no rectal exams!

Rotation #6: Internal Medicine

2008-03-13T10:06:00.000-05:00

During the month of February, my husband did his second rotation in Internal Medicine. In fact, he was originally scheduled to do this rotation with someone completely different, but he had heard really good things about one service in particular. Since he has been contemplating between Anesthesiology and Internal Medicine, he talked to his rotation coordinator and had her switch his schedule to accomodate this particular rotation. It took a few pulling of strings, but he was able to make the switch and I believe that he was very glad that he did! We knew that this rotation would be more difficult in regards to hours and energy and we were definitely right!!

From the spouse perspective, this was a VERY difficult rotation for me!! The hours were long and my husband oftentimes worked longer than some of the residents. In fact, he was actually on for 19 days straight with NO break!! This included on-call time as well!! However, I really think that this rotation was very valuable to my husband for a multitude of reasons and in the whole scheme of things, do not feel negative in any way for not being able to see my husband! First of all, he learned a TON of information (which he will explain in further detail below) and came home very excited about the things that he learned. Secondly, he did AMAZING on his shelf exam, which would have helped him in either specialty that he was interested in. And, lastly, and in my opinion the most important, this rotation was able to help him to officially decide what he wants to do with his life!!! He was able to more fully discover his strengths and weaknesses and even his desires, and has made the decision that has been plaguing us for months about what he wants to do for the rest of his life . . . he has decided to go with Anesthesiology!! From my perspective, I am very excited about this change!! At first, I was a little worried because he has always talked about doing a specialty within Internal Medicine, but the more and more we discuss it, Anesthesiology is a much better fit for him!! Now, we just have to apply to out rotations and residencies, but we will get to that later!!!

Here's my hubby's thoughts and opinions . . .

I will start out by saying that this rotation was just as difficult, if not more so, than my surgery rotation (and those were some long days). However, I can honestly say that I learned more on this rotation than I did on any two of my previous rotations combined. That’s not to say that I didn’t learn a lot on my other rotations (I learned a ton on most of them); it’s just that I learned a lot on this one. Internal medicine is the base of all other rotations and it never hurts to have a good foundation before going into whatever specialty interests you.

During this rotation you are working directly with the residents of the internal medicine program at the hospital. You work with them all day and take call with them. The attending physicians will round with you during the day and they are fantastic. They all teach and they are very patient. However, the majority of your teaching comes from the residents. It makes sense since they are with you all day and with you during your call nights.

The typical day begins at 6:30 a.m. (now it’s 6:15 a.m. I think). You meet with the residents for sign-out from the on-call resident (the resident that was on the night before). You print out your list of patients and divvy up the new ones among the students and residents. We then have morning report at 7:15 a.m. (which we are required to go to) and at around 8:00 a.m. we start seeing our patients. When you begin rounding is dependent on the attending you're with. The first two weeks of my rotation we were with an attending that liked to start rounding at around 10:00 a.m. which was plenty of time to see your patients and sometimes discuss them with the residents before rounds. As a side note, we would usually have around 3 patients as a third year medical student. This was enough, and by the end of the rotation you were able to handle the patients fairly easily. Rounds would take anywhere from 4-6 hours with this attending making for a fairly long day. After rounds you would either get a small presentation that you, a fellow medical student, or resident put together. We would then do H & P’s on any new patients in the ER or go home between 5 and 6 p.m., if there was nothing left to do. During the second two weeks of my rotation the attendings were switched and my new one liked to round at 8:30 a.m. I would have to come in around 5:00 a.m. and see my patients just to be ready in time. However, we were done rounding early, leaving more time for teaching. We still wouldn’t leave until 5 or 6 p.m., but it seemed like a more educational day.

In addition, you did have call responsibilities. It was usually one night a week and two weekends over the four week period. When all was said and done, I had worked 19 days straight at the hospital making it very exhausting. Like I said though, I learned a lot.

At one point I thought I wanted to do internal medicine but have since switched to anesthesiology. However, this rotation makes me see the draw to internal medicine and its benefits. You work hard during the rotation but you learn a lot. I would recommend it to anyone.

Rotation #5: Psychiatry

2008-03-11T08:43:00.000-05:00

I have been horrible about posting about the different rotations lately!! Things have been a little hectic around here and they are now starting to calm down (sort of). With making the big decisions that come at this point in time, such as out rotations and ultimately, where we will want to go for residency, there is never a moment of silence when my hubby is around. We are always talking about our options and choices. However, that's not really the point of this post, so I will save that for another time . . .

I actually started righting about my hubby's fifth rotation in Psychiatry quite a while ago (so the timeline is wrong in what is written below!). In fact, it was more than a month ago!! However, I did not want to post until you could also get a student perspective as well which my husband finally got a chance to write. So now, I am finally posting it!! Enjoy!!

Well, as of last Friday, my hubby finished his Psych rotation. Let me tell you . . . I didn't even realize that he was rotating in Psych!! Okay, okay, it really wasn't that bad!! But, to be blunt . . . I personally think that he got the shaft on this rotation!! Coming from a pretty extensive background in psychology (only about 7 years in higher education in it!), I was shocked at what he learned or rather, the lack thereof, especially on the first-hand experience side. There is more to treatment options than just the drugs! And, when it comes to those treatment options, there are so many schools of thought that play such a significant role in the history and healing, that I was just plain bummed that my hubby did not get to see more of it in action. Of course, then again, I may be biased since I come from a talk therapy background! All I really have to say is . . . Good thing he was not thinking of Psych for his career! However, to give a little benefit of the doubt to those in charge . . . mental health issues can be tough to talk about. Many individuals that see a Psychiatrist will have to do so for very long periods of time. They tend to be more private or not as willing to share their experiences with your primary care provider, nonetheless some strange student that they have never seen before. And, considering that mental health issues are talked about more in today's society, whether they are truly more prevalent or not, they do play a huge role in the medical side of treatment, whether you are a Psychiatrist, Surgeon, or Family Practice Physician. Afterall, the D.O. philosophy is Mind, Body, & Spirit. It's just too bad that there was not more of a focus on the mind and spirit this month!

Now, as for my hubby's perspective . . .

I felt that the psychiatry rotation is the one true weakness that my particular clinical site has to offer at this time. During our year, half of the students went to one northern location about 1 hour away and the other half went to a more urban site south about 45 minutes. I was in the group that went south for my rotation. My typical week involved going to the physician’s outpatient clinic on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (he had Thursday’s off and we had didactics on Tuesday afternoon making it pointless to go down there). On a typical day, I would arrive around 10:00 a.m. and leave by 3:00 p.m.. The day usually involved the student observing him interviewing the patient. On certain days of the week (I can’t remember which ones) his days were dedicated to medication review visits. Basically, this involved the patient coming in, telling him how the treatment was going, any side-effects from the medications, etc. The physician would then adjust the medication, take away or add another medication, and send the patient on their way. This would take about 15 minutes total. He would have a couple of new patients mixed in during these days, but not many.

The new patients were the interesting ones. These would be individuals new to the practice and the interview would take close to an hour. It was very in-depth and he would eventually quiz you a little on what you felt the patient had by making you leave the room and discuss the diagnosis with him later.

The major downside to this rotation was that there was no inpatient care. It was all outpatient, making it difficult to learn a lot. This may change in the future, but I am unsure of that at this time. The northern rotation did have inpatient psychiatric medicine however and those individuals had only a slightly better experience (but still not that great from what they tell me).

Overall, I didn’t feel this was a great rotation. I did most of my learning from a book and felt it was almost a waste of time and money being on the road for 2 hours for only 2-4 hours of limited exposure.

Young Doctors in Debt

2008-01-28T14:22:00.000-06:00

A while back I posted this link to a great article, featuring D.O. docs in particular, on a different website! I felt that it was a very interesting read (though maybe a big depressing at times!!) and wanted to pass it on to those that have yet to see it! As graduation quickly approaches for us, the topic of loan payment comes up quite often in our household (among mortgage payments, retirement accounts, childcare expenses, etc.). I thought that maybe some of the tips at the end may be helpful. Anyways, if you are interested, just click on the link below:

Young Doctors in Debt

Rotation #4: Surgery

2008-01-10T12:23:00.000-06:00

I will be honest with you . . . this is the one rotation that I was dreading THE MOST out of all of them! I had heard that the hours were horrible, that the days were long, and that the students get very tired. Well, let me tell you . . . it was ALL true!! Combine all of this with it being during the month of December . . . the holidays, so many things that were scheduled, shopping, etc. I personally could not wait for this rotation to be done! In fact, towards the end, we were counting down the days until we could spend time as a family again!

I don't want to sound completely negative about this rotation, however. My hubby got so much experience and mentoring during this time, it was amazing to me! (I've included his little write-up for all of you interested below.) And, I knew that the students, interns, etc. were spoiled with their nice journal club dinners, but seriously, this month took the cake!! I am still hearing about the 4 hour meal at the local sushi place . . . the shrimp, steak, and lobster . . . and that was only one course!! It is really too bad that the spouses can't take along! Oh well!! My hubby does try to bring home some leftovers and extra desserts whenever he can!!

Anyways, here's some more detail from the student aspect:

I’ll admit I was dreading this rotation. It was going to be long hours in the hospital, I had heard some not-so-nice things about some of the residents, and I never thought once that I wanted to be a general surgeon in my entire life. In fact, I wanted it to be over as fast as possible. My typical day went like this: I would show up at around 5:00 and round on patients before the residents arrived, we had morning report at 6:00, then we would round on more patients or jump in on our scheduled surgeries if we were assigned early ones. Surgeries usually started around 7:30 in the morning and would go to around 4:00 that afternoon. After that we would round on our patients that we scrubbed in on (provided they weren’t an outpatient surgery or they were out of the recovery room and on to the floor), then meet at 5:30 for sign-out, and we usually left by 6:00. That was a typical day. In addition, we had 4 nights of call (our group only had 3 because of a scheduling issue) with one weekend of call included. Call on this rotation was a little bit pointless. The residents were PGY-2’s who were very protective of everything they were called on (understandable as it is them that would get their butt chewed if a patient had issues) so you spent a lot of time following the resident around, not doing much, and going to bed early. Don’t get me wrong, I like my sleep, but if I am away from my family for call I want to make it worth it by seeing something interesting. I did see a trauma on my call nights, and had a lot of ER consults which were all good to see if nothing else.

However, there were about as many non-typical days as typical days. There were at least 3 or 4 days when I didn’t get home until 8:00 p.m.. I would be wrapping up one surgery, just finishing for the day when another resident would grab me and ask if I had any place to be or if I had plans that night. We all know what you HAVE to say….”of course not, I would LOVE to help out”. Don’t get me wrong, the nights that I stayed late I really enjoyed looking back on it, but it made for a very, very long day. The late nights were usually with either a young surgeon that was only out of residency a couple of years but was very talented, or was with a surgical oncologist. They both worked in the same group and seemed to be real workaholics. Well, the surgical oncologist was the toughest to work with. For all of you who haven’t had experience pimping yet, be prepared. He is a VERY intelligent surgeon, trained at a prestigious program etc., and knew his stuff. The only problem with working with him is that his cases were always very long (3-6 hours) which doesn’t sound bad but after you have been doing surgery all day it gets a little tiring to start that at the end of your day. Also, long cases=extra questions. Anyways, he would grill me just like an intern, but was very courteous about his responses. It’s tough to explain but you’ll see if you ever rotate with him. In addition, I did the most with this doctor than just about anyone else (even though I wasn’t assigned to his service). On one particular late case he let me remove the appendix myself!!! It was an open abdominal case and we had just removed a teratoma from a young lady and the appendix was next to be taken out. He let me isolate the blood supply, ligate it, remove the appendix, and finish the procedure with intra-abdominal suturing. It was fantastic at the time and he let me do it for putting in the late hours.

Overall, I LOVED my surgery rotation, I really did. Not to the point where I would become a surgeon but I could definitely see the draw to the profession. The residents were helpful (as long as you didn’t tick them off, show up late, did some reading, etc.), and they all worked hard to get your hands dirty. If you hadn’t sutured before this rotation you will get your fair share with it trust me. For all of you that are coming to our area in next year don’t stress about the surgery rotation, it’s fun, and you should approach it that way, even if you are a surgery gunner. I was very pleased with my experience overall.

Some additional thoughts from me in response to my hubby's . . . during Surgery, expect your hubby to come home, study, and then go straight to bed (early!). They oftentimes do not get to study that much during the day, but are so tired at night to do much either, but they have to study HARD for this shelf exam! Also, NEVER be late!! I am not speaking from my hubby's experience, but we are aware of someone who was . . . he never lived it down and I am sure that it will pass on to future rotations. Everyone in the hospital is so intertwined; doctors will talk and word will get around if you mess up! And, some surgeons can be very brutal! I don't want to scare anyone, but I do want you to be warned!! :)

Rotation #3: Rural Family Practice Part II

2008-01-10T12:17:00.000-06:00

I am finally getting around to posting some more info on our latest rotations! Here's my hubby's side of the rural family practice rotation:

I was pleasantly surprised by family medicine to say the least. I was working with a good doctor who let me “do” a lot of stuff. I did a lot of the expected stuff, histories and physicals, dealing with URI’s, medication checkups, bloodwork reviews, etc., but I also was able to do a number of things that made it worth my time being there. I was able to do injections into knees, helped with suturing and suture removal, skin tag removal and other dermatological procedures, assist with a vasectomy, among other tasks. I would have to see the patient, interview them, perform the physical exam, and then report to him with an assessment and plan. We would discuss the patient (which he knew well being as how he has lived his whole life in the area) and go from there. The doctor I was shadowing also did colonoscopies as well but there weren’t many scheduled when I was on the rotation so I wasn’t able to assist in those. Overall, I had a good time on the rotation. I felt that he made me think and at the same time made it worth my while to be there. He gave me many opportunities for “hands-on” work and it actually made me consider going into family medicine which is one field I was sure I would never go into.

For my viewpoint of this rotation, see the previous post.

Rotations #3: Rural Family Practice Part I

2007-12-12T08:08:00.000-06:00

During the month of November, my hubby rotated with a rural family practice doc approximately 30 minutes from home. This rotation was such a nice change from the previous month of OB/GYN (and even this current month of Surgery)!! Due to the rural schedule and commute time required to get to the clinic, my husband actually ended up going in about 8-9 times the entire month. Because Tuesdays are education days, he was given those days off! Because the doc only worked mornings on Thursdays, he was given those days off (though he did go in one time to participate in a particular procedure)! That only left Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays . . . and actually, there were a few of those days that he got off as well! How crazy is that!?!

My husband was more calm and relaxed than I have seen him in a while! We got to spend much more time as a family, and even on one afternoon while my son was at school, my hubby and I went on a date to the movies! This spontaneous little date between the two of us was such a nice little change! Though there was a downside . . . due to the commute time and the nature of the rural clinic, there were many nights when my hubby would not get home until 6:30-7:00. I would always wait to serve dinner (or wait for him to make it!!) and my son would end up staying up later than usual to spend time with his daddy! Overall, from my perspective, it was a great month! :)

Though FP is still not what my husband wants to do, he was able to get a lot of great experience doing a variety of procedures. He enjoyed it so much that he is looking to rotate with this same doc next year!! I can't wait!! :)

As for my husband's side . . . I will have to post his thoughts on a later date. Unfortunately, he did not have a chance to write anything up before his Surgery rotation started and will not have another chance until this rotation is over with! I don't want to forget to post at least my response, so until next time . . .

Rotation #2: Obstetrics & Gynecology

2007-11-08T17:37:00.000-06:00

My husband's second rotation was Obstetrics and Gynecology. He actually finished this one a couple of weeks ago, but between all of us being sick and him preparing for a big presentation, I have not had a chance to write about it yet!

Anyways, I had heard that the hours would be long during this rotation. And, I discovered that everyone was completely correct! My hubby was often gone before anyone else got up in the morning and would often come home late, typically around 6:00-7:00 in the evening. He was putting in at least 12+ hour days and would come home completely exhausted! And, of course, then there was call . . . he would leave at his usual time in the morning (way before I would wake up!) and would stay overnight at the hospital. The nice thing . . . he was allowed to come home in the mornings around 9:00. He would then get some sleep for a few hours (all depending on how much sleep he got the night before) before waking up to attempt to spend some time with us. We rarely spent time together during this month, and when we did, he was often exhausted and to be honest, NOT that fun to be around all the time! :)

Like I said before in the "I'm Stuck" post, this rotation was hard for me. Not only because the hours were long, but because my husband would come home exhausted, yet excited about the many things that he saw or did that day. I do believe that it is now safe to say though, they I do not have to worry about him pursuing this specialty! Yippee! :) I am definitely happy about that, but still wondering and waiting to see what he eventually decides . . . will it be Internal Medicine like he has said from the start or will it be something completely different?

Anyways, for those of you interested in the student perspective, here's what my husband has to say about the OB/GYN rotation . . .

I have to say that I was not looking forward to my OB/GYN rotation at all. I can’t say that I was dreading it but I hadn’t heard good things from other people’s rotations at different sites. However, I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I finished.

At my rotation site we spend 2 weeks doing Gyn surgery and 2 weeks on OB. My first 2 weeks were on Gyn surgery and it was a good experience. I hadn’t spent any time in the OR before this and so it was kind of a shock at first. However, once I got used to scrubbing-in and realizing what not to touch it wasn’t that bad. The attendings were patient (for the most part) and would let me “do” a lot of stuff. I was first-assist on a few operations and there were a couple of very difficult operations (vaginal hysterectomies) that the residents didn’t make it too so it was just me and two attendings!! These are usually cases that are fought over by the OB’s and I was lucky enough to have it all to myself. Needless to say I really enjoyed this aspect of the rotation.

The next two weeks were OB and I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I didn’t mind the idea of being in on deliveries but I was a bit anxious about what my role would be. All of the residents made us comfortable but at the same time expected us to help out and there was no room to just sit around. I was able to do a lot of the same stuff an OB intern would do (with guidance of course) and the nurses helped me out quite a bit as well. Most of the ladies I followed were accepting of students which helped a lot as well. We usually saw our own patients throughout the day and followed them until we left or they delivered. Every delivery I was in on I was able to help in some way. The OB residents really did let us handle a lot of the responsibility. In one particular case I was working with the chief resident on the delivery and the attending (the doc that was following this ladies pregnancy) walked in late didn’t even gown up. He gave me a few pointers over my shoulder and let me have at it. The chief resident let me deliver the baby and clamp the cord while she watched my technique. That made the rotation worth it. During the next week I got to repeat a lot of the above with the addition of being taught ultrasound techniques and getting to scrub-in on a lot of C-sections.

Overall, I was extremely happy with the rotation and had a blast during it. I was on call 5 nights and one weekend. The downside was that my weekend shift started on the Saturday AFTER we were technically done with our rotation so that was difficult as I had no time to relax before my next rotation. During call nights we would follow labors as well as do ER consults and occasionally get some sleep before rounding on our patients at 5 the next morning. This made the rotation a bit exhausting and I did miss my family quite a bit. It wouldn’t have been worth it if I didn’t have such a good experience.

I would SERIOUSLY consider this job if OB/GYN’s didn’t work so hard. Don’t get me wrong, I am not lazy, but when I see them come in at 2:30 in the morning after going home at 10 p.m. the previous evening to deliver a baby and then have to go into the clinic or start surgeries at 7 a.m. that morning is too much for me. A lot of them looked very tired and worn out and I got more than “I am too old for this” comment. Being a doctor isn’t easy but they just work to hard for my sake and I am too old to do that to my body again. I can definitely see the draw to the specialty though.

Coming soon . . . Rural Family Practice!

STUCK!!

2007-10-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

There have been times recently where I feel that I am stuck between an rock and a hard place. I want to be so supportive of my husband through his medical school journey, BUT yet, I also want to steer him away from certain specialties. For example, my husband is currently doing his Ob/Gyn rotation. There are days that he comes home sooooo excited about the different things that he got to do that day. And, I get so excited for him! I'm so happy that he is enjoying what he is doing and I love to see his passion for the field of medicine shine through. And, I am glad to see that he is actually enjoying Ob/Gyn. From the very beginning, he has stated that he would never go into this specialty! I mean, he has made it VERY clear about the NEVER part! And, now that he is doing it, he is actually enjoying himself!! I love to see that!

On the other hand, I personally do not like the hours on this rotation AT ALL!! I HATE that I rarely see him. I HATE that he is gone for 12+ hours a day. I HATE that when he is on call, which is at least once a week, I don't see him for more than 24 hours at a time. So, in the end, it makes me want to persuade him to not go into this field. I mean, I kind of enjoying spending time with my husband! :)

So, there's the dilemma!! I want to encourage him to do what he finds the most fascinating, the area in which he can see himself working for many years to come, and that he is going to still enjoy and be fascinated with for those many years. HOWEVER, there is a reason that I married him . . . I love him and I love spending time with him. If it is a specialty that I will rarely see him, what is going to happen? I know that this is very selfish. I try not to be, but he's my husband for goodness sake! Don't I have the right to be just a little bit?

I know that my hubby is a family man! He does not want the long hours at the hospital. He wants to be able to see his family on a regular basis. Family is our priority. BUT then again, I can turn his favorite line around to include him instead of me . . . if the husband ain't happy, the family ain't happy! SO, I'M STUCK!!

I know that I'm probably jumping the gun here . . . it is only the second rotation! BUT, we do have to start deciding on the elective rotations that are going to be the most important in his residency interviews in just a few short months. This is a constant conversation in our household. My hubby is worrying about not finding the specialty that gives him the "AHA!" effect. I worry that that effect is going to come from Ob/Gyn or Surgery. What can we do!?! I guess we will just trudge through this leg of the journey, just as we have the others, and wait to see what life will bring us! Until then, I wait . . .

Rotation #1: Internal Medicine

2007-10-01T07:53:00.000-05:00

My husband has officially finished his first clinical rotation!! Yippee!! During this past month, he was doing his rotation in Internal Medicine, one specialty that he has at the top of his list of interests. I had heard from many people that Internal Medicine could be one of the worst rotations (after Ob/Gyn and Surgery, of course!) because of the hours. I had braced myself for the worst of rarely seeing him and spending some nights alone while he was on call, but it was far from what I was actually expecting!

Most mornings, my hubby had to be there between 6:30 and 7:00. He was expected to be done around 5:00, but oftentimes, he was home between 3:00 and 4:00. He was never on call and never had to stay late. Totally unexpected!! Though he was not required to study for the most part, he did try to spend a little bit each night reviewing different diseases to stay on top of things. Overall, this past four weeks has really been enjoyable. I have had the opportunity to spend time with my family as a whole. The one thing that I have to keep in mind . . . if he does end up choosing IM, then I cannot expect him to spend this much time at home as an intern, resident, or practicing physician. From what I have heard from others as well as from my husband regarding his attending and resident's schedules, he would be spending a LOT more time at the hospital!

Now, from the medical student perspective . . . yes, you could say that I performed a little mini interview on my hubby! :)

What was the most difficult aspect of this rotation? Managing 5-10 diseases for a single patient.
What was the neatest aspect of this rotation? Being able to follow patients for several days and watch their progress.
What was your overall perspective? It was overwhelming for a first rotation for the first two weeks (i.e., trying to read a chart and figure out the computer system on top of everything else), but it got better as a flow was developed.
Any additional comments or thoughts? It definitely makes one realize how much you have to learn!

Next Rotation: Obstetrics & Gynecology . . . that should be interesting! :)

Remembering Year 2 . . .

2007-09-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

The second year of medical school . . . They said that it was suppose to get easier. I believe that they were wrong! Maybe it was just our own personal circumstances. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe, just maybe, I am not the only one that thinks that the second year was harder. When talking to people who were a year or more ahead of me, I had been warned about 5th quarter. I had heard that the coursework would get tougher, the exams would increase, and that I would see less of my medical student; however, others told me that it would not be as difficult on the whole family has the first year and transition were. I think that those people lied!

Okay, so maybe we just had a bad start! During the finals week of my husband's 4th Quarter, our son had to be rushed to the emergency room and stay overnight at the hospital. The reason . . . he was not getting enough oxygen. We are still not exactly sure why. After many tests and multiple doctors, we still do not know the cause. We probably never will. We just hope and pray that it was a one-time deal. Because of our little guy's sickness, my husband ended up not being able to have his little week vacation in between quarters to prepare for the dreaded 5th quarter. He had to finish taking his postponed finals over this break so that he could be with our son while we were dealing with the mysterious sickness. A decision that looking back on, he or I do not regret! After all . . . family is our number one priority and always will be.

As time wore on, we finally were able to relax about our son's health. We no longer were waking up every hour in the middle of the night to make sure that he was breathing okay. He appeared to be a strong, healthy boy and all the tests agreed. My hubby was then able to focus more of his attention on his studies. During this dreaded quarter, we often only saw him for dinner. He would come home, eat dinner, and head off back to the school to study some more. I was staying busy myself with my ever-changing job and being involved in SAA. When he was home, it was usually because I needed to be somewhere for an SAA event. So, you could say, we really did not get to see each other that often. Boy, was I glad when the end of that quarter finally was here!

Sixth quarter was probably the easiest of all quarters from the medical school aspect! It helped to make up for the lack of time spent together the previous quarter. However, once again, a difficult time hit us during his finals week of this quarter! An early Sunday morning in February, I received a phone call from my devastated father that my grandfather had been killed by a drunk driver a few short hours before. Though most of the time I am okay with being so far away from family, it was times like these that I wished I was closer. I tend to be a private person when situations like these hit and preferred not to talk about my grandfather's death or how I was personally dealing with it. We flew back home for the funeral and to be with family. That was VERY difficult, and it was hard that it was only a short trip. We had meant to spend my husband's spring break traveling to what would be our new home in Michigan, but once again, he had to spend his break studying and finishing up his finals. We ended up postponing this trip until a week later and shortened our trip to better accomodate the little time that we had left to fit in our schedules. Now, I make it sound like all these family emergencies really put a glitch in my husband's medical school plan. As I said before, family is our number one priority. It always has been and always will be. However, with that said, I would like to state the obvious here. Medical school is hard enough. When times like these arise, things that are completely beyond your control, it only makes things more difficult. We try to make the lemonade, but I don't like to sugar coat it and sometimes, it can just be hard to keep all the bitterness out of it!

Seventh quarter . . . not a bad quarter class-wise; however, this was the time that the pressure really started coming for the Step 1 Board Exams. My husband does not feel that he is very good at these types of tests and really began to stress out. He was really worried about his classes, but these boards were always looming over him. At first, I didn't completely understand. Then, he explained to me how important these scores can be in determining his (and, ultimately our) residency location. The quarter was over in a flash, but we began seeing less and less of our medical student once again. Every waking hour, he was off studying for the board exams. I was still dealing with the death of my grandfather because of the criminal trial that was going on back home. And, on top of it all, I was beginning to worry and stress myself out about the upcoming move. We once again had to deal with reserving a moving truck, finding a place to live (that would be able to meet our limited budget), finding a new job, and one of the hardest things of all, finding childcare for my son. That was a lot of "stuff" on one plate! I wanted to spend as much time with my new-found friends in Kirksville before we all went our separate ways again. I was finishing up my job and wanted to spend more time with my son. There was so much I wanted to do and had to do, but could not find the time to fit it in. Looking back on the first two years, this was THE hardest time. It was difficult being away from my husband so often, we all know how moving is a stressful event in and of itself, and to add all the "extras" just complicates matters so much more.

On the bright side . . . we got through the boards!!!!! And, my husband did very well on them!! I couldn't be more proud of him!!!! One last hurdle . . . eighth quarter. This was definitely a hurdle because I still do not understand why we had to wait around for this quarter. It was a lot of little details regarding rotations and most of the time, my husband was not even there half the day. He even had a week off right in the middle of a 4 week quarter. Seriously, what was the point? We did get to spend a lot more time together and catch up though . . . something we definitely needed!

Now, on to rotations . . . yippee!! Where the fun really begins!! :)

Looking Back at Year 1 . . .

2007-09-24T12:43:00.000-05:00

Since I was reminiscing the other day about my husband applying to medical schools, I thought that I would also reminisce about the first two years of med school while it is still fairly fresh in my memory! I hope that this is not too boring to you!! :)

When we moved to Missouri for my hubby to start medical school, we had a son only 7 months old. Of all things, this was one of my biggest stresses and worries about medical school. Would my hubby get to spend time with his son (and me, of course!)? Were we going to be one of the only ones with kids, especially one so young? Were our families' worries about going back to school instead of concentrating on our families going to become true? Did we make the right decision? Seriously, all of this stress was so not worth it!!! :) If there is anyone else out there with these same things on your mind, my personal recommendation is . . . Don't worry about it!!! All of my ideas about being a medical school family were completely wrong!

When we showed up to orientation, we saw many people with children! A few couples from our orientation group definitely stand out to me even today . . . one couple with a 6 week old son and one couple who was expecting their first child in the spring. Just to see these two families relieved so much stress, but talking to them and getting to know them better, has done so much more!! I think you gals know who you are and I don't know if I ever really said thank you. So . . . THANK YOU!! I don't know if you ever realized what a difference you made in my life from the start of medical school, but you truly did. And, who knew that you would make an even more of a difference as our journey has progressed. Both of you (and the rest of your families) are amazing and I am a better person for knowing you! :)

Anyways . . . this time was not just the start of medical school, but also the first time that I returned to work full-time since giving birth to my son! We traveled half way across the country, left everything behind that we have ever known, and planted ourselves in a place that we had never saw ourselves being! We experienced a lot of anxiety, from making it in med school to finding childcare that we felt comfortable with to even just balancing our busy lives. I won't lie . . . . it was hard at first. The first quarter was very stressful because of trying to find this balance. The second quarter was better. We were beginning to find our balance. My hubby was back in the swing of things from being out of school for so long and he made it a point to eat dinner with us every evening and spend every Saturday morning together as a family. I was able to get more involved in the amazing organization of SAA (now known as the Student Advocate Association, but at the time called the Student Associates' Auxiliary or something like that)!! This kept me involved and busy, meeting people, helping out, and becoming more educated in the field of osteopathy. In addition, I did things with one of my co-workers who ended up becoming a very good friend and was one who truly helped to keep me grounded. And, to top things off, my son was able to find little playmates through his daycare and other med student families. By the time the third quarter came around, we were feeling very good about where we were out, we were planning a trip back home to visit family, and I was looking forward to my summer off with my boys! We had figured it out and we had survived the first year of med school! Woohoo!

Before we could leave, however, my hubby had to do his preceptorship. This worried me a little! He was going to have to stay at his preceptor site an hour and a half away. He would be home on the weekends, of course, but we have never really been apart that long before. As I look back on it, it went pretty smoothly. My son and I stayed busy preparing for our trip, wrapping things up at my office, and playing in the sun (a LOT!). We would talk with my hubby every evening, often multiple times, and we would summarize our days. Mine . . . playing in the sun, doing our weekly errands, etc. His . . . experiencing the hospital, taking patient histories, and performing rectal exams! Honestly, I am so glad that I am not the med student!! :)

We finally got to hit the road to head back home. We were on the road and living out of a suitcase for five weeks, traveling through the states of Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. We saw a lot of family and friends and it was definitely a trip to remember!

When we got back to Missouri, my hubby had one last quarter left before he would consider himself an official second year. It was a short quarter and I don't remember too much about it . . . I guess it was not that bad!

Personally, I thought that we had made it through the worst. I had heard that the first year was the hardest. For me, not so true . . . . but, enough rambling for now! I will write about our second year later! I don't feel like writing a book today and second year was a doozy . . . so until next time . . . :)

Do You Remember?

2007-09-16T20:35:00.000-05:00

Do you remember the time before medical school? The time that medical school was just a figment of our future and dreams? Before the MCAT, before ALL the applications, and before all the interviews? If you can consider yourself a MSW, then I know that you have been here!

My husband and I were recently just discussing this time in our lives, and honestly, we are completely amazed at how far we have come in the last few years. My husband originally did not want to go to medical school. He had not been dreaming about being a doctor all of his life, but he did know that he enjoyed studying the sciences. He actually ended up becoming a medical technologist (that would be his first six years of higher education) and began debating the idea of applying to Physician Assistant programs. I remember multiple conversations between the two of us about where life would take us next and I just kept asking him . . . why a PA? Why not a full-fledged doctor? What were his reasons about taking this path instead of medical school? Come to find out, he did not think that he would be accepted into a medical school! He thought that he had a better chance of making it into a PA program with his grades from undergraduate!

Needless to say, we had many more conversations before he was finally convinced that he should at lease give it a try. This was not easy!! He really wanted to be a doctor deep down, but was just so unsure that he wanted to put out the time and money to just be rejected! Throughout this entire time, I kept giving him tons of encouragement letting him know that I would be here for him through both the thick and thin. And, I kept reminding him that I did not want to play the "What If" game ten years down the road . . . What if I had applied to med school? What if I had been accepted? Ten years down the road would have been a lot more difficult to apply and be accepted then at that moment. He had so many amazing opportunities and experiences behind and in front of him . . . and he finally decided to go for it!!

I remember reading over his many applications (both the first and second round!), proofreading and making suggestions along the way. I remember him getting his first rejection letter and then his first, second, and all the way through his sixth invitation for an interview! And, then the most exciting part . . . his acceptance to his first (which we quickly declined!) all the way through his fourth!! He never imagined that he would make it that far and actually get the choice of where he wanted to attend med school!

This brought a new predicament . . . how do we choose between our top 3 choices? (And, I say we because it was a family decision, not an individual one.) I was expecting our first child and we wanted to have an area that was a good place to raise children, a place that I would be able to find a job and feel at home in, and of course, where he would get the highest quality of education. We deliberated about this for days before we finally made our choice . . . ATSU-KCOM. We were heading to Missouri! We could not believe it (and neither could our families!). Many of our friends and families were shocked! Why would Craig decide to go back to school when we had a child to raise? Weren't we getting too old to go back to school?

Through all the doubts (including our own), I have to say that we have made the right decision. As I am sitting here writing this, I am now a third year MSW. We cannot believe that we are over half-way done with the schooling part. In less than two years, my husband will be a doctor! There have been times along the way that have been easier than I expected and there have been times that have been harder than expected, but overall, I believe that the whole experience has made my whole family better because of it! We are stronger and we are proud of our accomplishments . . . and, I know that this is simply the training for what is to come . . . internship and residency! :)

What is a MSW?

2007-09-08T19:20:00.000-05:00

MSW stands for Medical Student Widow. If you have ever been a spouse or significant other to a medical student, then you can consider yourself one! As a medical student, students refer to themselves as MSI, MSII, etc. depending on their year. Why can't we have a special name as well? Seriously, we may not be taking the tests and experiencing the practicums or clinicals, but we do have our own experiences just the same! Though each of us have different experiences, we ALL can relate! Honestly, I have grown since I have joined this group (through both the good times and the difficult) and I am proud to call myself a MSW!!

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