Patient Touch

I love (in no order at all):
1. The city I live in
2. The career I'm going into
3. My little apartment
4. Being an adult
5. My friends
6. My country: I still think our experiment in democracy has a chance
7. The fact that I have only four more required papers in my academic experience
8. Even fencing! I love fencing again
9. The beer I'm drinking and the jazz I'm listening to
10. Most importantly: the woman I'm going to marry. She is something else!
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Friends of mine got quoted in the New York Times. Not that I'm jealous or anything.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/sports/olympics/27pentathlon.html?hp

--A couple weeks ago, I proposed to my girlfriend Danielle. She said yes and will be marrying in the fall of '09. The ring looks amazing and she continues to get compliments for it almost on a daily basis.

--I just finished with my surgery rotation. It went pretty well. Neurosurgery has now crept up the list of potential specialties.

--This weekend I'm starting Officer Basic Course, a course I should have taken ages ago.

--I'm moving from my home in Kensington to a really great apartment in Northwest DC (Woodley Park, a couple blocks away from the National Zoo). The place is really amazing and I'm excited to move to the city.

--Packing sucks (but that's not really news to anyone).

Hope everyone out there is doing well!
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Other people's neuroses are not your problem. Don't adapt them as your own.
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As a medical student, never page the attending.
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There's an article in the most recent edition of American Fencing about WCAP. It's nice to see that the program is getting some positive attention.

I'll post the article when the website goes back up.
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From my school:

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As many of you are aware, a new documentary featuring USU alumni, students, staff and faculty, “Fighting for Life,” is scheduled to open in select theaters starting this Friday. The film begins limited engagements in New York; Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Md., Los Angeles, and San Diego throughout the month of March, and in San Antonio in April.

This powerful and emotional documentary focuses on the role USU plays in educating leaders in military medicine and public health and looks at the care they provide to servicemen and women injured in combat. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Terry Sanders directed the documentary, which was the brainchild of Mrs. Tammy Alvarez, president of the "Friends of USU" organization. Mrs. Alvarez's son, Navy Lt. Bryan Alvarez, is a 2005 graduate of USU.

The university's story is told through footage, photos and interviews with a number of students, alumni, faculty and staff. The film focuses on some of USU's unique educational programs, including the first-year Antietam road march, and field training exercises Operation Kerkesner and Operation Bushmaster, as well as on several alumni as they care for wounded troops on the battlefield and throughout the patient evacuation system. The film also highlights the research mission of the university and its relevance to military medicine and public health.

“Fighting for Life” opens at the Bethesda Row Cinema on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, and the E Street Theater in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 14th.

It is also being shown at the Quad Cinema in New York City starting March 7th, the Laemmle Sunset 5 in Los Angeles starting March 21st, the Hillcrest Theater in San Diego starting March 28th, and the Bijou Theater in San Antonio, beginning April 4th.
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I saw the trailer, and it looked pretty good. I'm looking forward to watching it (and possibly seeing some of my classmates).

The website is:
http://www.fightingforlifethemovie.com/
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Happy leap day!
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My second week of OB/Gyn is drawing to a close and I'm finding myself really enjoying the specialty. I've always said that it was absolutely the last specialty on my list. I don't think it is anymore. I like the surgical/procedural aspect of it, dealing with a generally healthy population, educating young patients, affecting positive health changes in women when they're receptive to that information (who wants to hurt their baby?), and helping bring new life into the world.

On the other hand, the thought of dealing with malpractice intimidates me. They have the highest degree of suits, even within the military. Dealing with the potential for litigation for at least eighteen year after delivery isn't a fun idea, either.

It could also be that I'm just enjoying serving an underprivileged community.

What do you think? Can you see me doing OB?
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Well peoples, I'm on my Ob/Gyn rotation. I decided to be as tough on myself as possible and chose to go to the Washington Hospital Center instead of going to Bethesda. The Washington Hospital Center has a lot of really sick people because the women they serve don't really go for prenatal care, and they're quite busy because a number of the hospitals in the area have closed down. If I had gone to Bethesda, everyone would have had prenatal care and I probably wouldn't be able to help with too many procedures. It's a busy rotation, but I'm pretty certain that I will gain a lot from this experience. I'm also relieved that the specialty isn't as broad as Family Medicine.

At any rate, I've been able to assist with some really cool surgeries this week and got the pelvic anatomy down pretty well. I'm also feeling a little stressed because the other medical students know a lot more than I do right now, and it's a little intimidating. I know that it shouldn't be, but I'm so competitive that it really bothers me when I'm not the best in the room at what I do.

The current list:
1. ENT (Head and Neck surgery)
2. Cardiology
3. Pediatrics?

In fence news, I'm competing tomorrow at DCFC. It'll be the second time I've fenced since the last NAC.
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