Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
FML.
I AM RETARDED AT EMBRYOLOGY. IN MY 4 WEEKS OF DOING Q-BANK, I HAVE GOTTEN 1 EMBRYOLOGY QUESTION RIGHT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
Friday, April 10, 2009
why i will be a trauma surgeon.
Why Trauma Surgery?
I think most people think trauma surgery is about adrenaline and heroism. The big save, the high drama. For me, trauma surgery is about grace, courage and beauty. I am as in love with my job today as the first day I started it. I will try to explain what I mean in the following paragraphs.
First, generalism. When I went to medical school, it was with the intent of being a complete physician, one who was equipped to manage any problem. While that may not be a completely realistic aspiration in this day and age, trauma surgery allows me to come as close as possible to that dream. I get to take care of the whole patient, not just one organ system. I manage my patients' medical issues, and if they need surgery, I operate on them. Although I certainly do consult my specialist colleagues for particularly complex problems, it is my responsibility to know enough about the whole patient to wisely use the information my consultants give me, and to incorporate their recommendations into a coherent treatment plan that keeps the whole patient in mind. I like this generalist approach.
Second, ownership. I see the patient from the start of their disease process through their convalescence and after their discharge to home. I take care of them when they come to the ER, in OR, in the ICU, on the ward, and in the clinic. This allows me to have a sense of really being the patient's doctor, not just another consulting superspecialist in the crowd. It is incredibly rewarding to see these patients who were once on death's door when they are recovering and reintegrating back into their community.
Third, relationships. I like the interpersonal aspects of trauma surgery. This may be counterintuitive, but the relationships I develop with my patients and their families are important to me. In fact, this is why I decided against family medicine as a career ? I wanted a specialty where I could spend as much time as I wished talking with my patients. My hours are certainly long, but they are mine; I don't have to work under the pressure of needing to see a certain number of patients in clinic each day in order to stay financially viable. Primary care specialties usually don't have this freedom.
Forth, operating. I love surgery as a discipline. The human body is breathtakingly beautiful. Sometimes when I am operating, I am so awestruck by the beauty in front of me that I just want to cheer. (I do manage to keep my enthusiasm under sufficient control so that we can operate successfully.) I think it must be like being an art collector who gets to work in an art museum everyday.
Fifth, teamwork. I enjoy being part of a team whose goal is to use our collected talents to heal these terribly injured patients. As the trauma surgeon, I am the team leader, but it is a team nonetheless, and the patient's outcome depends on the functioning of each member of the team. I try to make sure that everyone knows this, including the patients, families, and the team members. I also try to make sure that each member of the team shares in the credit for our successes. And let me emphasize that the team includes attendings, residents, students, nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, physical therapists, etc. It isn't just about doctors.
Sixth, perspective. I mean this in a special way. We often think of medicine as a life-saving discipline. In fact, what we often ought to be about is quality of life rather than length of life. A lot of my job deals with making people comfortable, whether it is managing postoperative pain, or allowing someone to die in comfort and dignity. And sometimes this means helping the family cope with the horror of seeing their loved one hurt or dying. Sometimes my job is to ease the family's pain. It is hard to describe the incredible personal courage I have seen patients and their families exhibit under the worst possible circumstances. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the care of these folks.
Seventh, teaching. By teaching, I can have the biggest influence on the greatest number of patients. And, best of all, I get to see my students grow into fine doctors, and they force me to be intellectually precise and meticulous in my reasoning as part of the bargain.
Do you have any advice for medical students considering a career in Trauma?
There are a lot of smart doctors out there who are good with their hands. That isn't what being an excellent doctor is about. Those are only the starting points. The thing that distinguishes the excellent from the adequate doctor is not intellect, or the ability to quote a bunch of obscure articles, or technical ability. The quality that will make you an excellent instead of an average doctor is to treat your patients and their families with genuine respect, interest, compassion, and gentleness. A medical student who is considering a career in trauma surgery must first decide that they will be an excellent doctor.
Trauma surgery requires a residency in general surgery which includes five clinical years and often one or two research years. After surgery residency, there is a one or two year long fellowship in trauma and critical care. So, that's a seven to nine year commitment after medical school. Thus, a medical student who is considering a career in trauma surgery must be patient and perseverant. As a corollary to this, there is a bunch of joy to be had during that long training process, if a person is able to perceive it. Those who can't have fun during the training process ought to pick another career.
I think most people think trauma surgery is about adrenaline and heroism. The big save, the high drama. For me, trauma surgery is about grace, courage and beauty. I am as in love with my job today as the first day I started it. I will try to explain what I mean in the following paragraphs.
First, generalism. When I went to medical school, it was with the intent of being a complete physician, one who was equipped to manage any problem. While that may not be a completely realistic aspiration in this day and age, trauma surgery allows me to come as close as possible to that dream. I get to take care of the whole patient, not just one organ system. I manage my patients' medical issues, and if they need surgery, I operate on them. Although I certainly do consult my specialist colleagues for particularly complex problems, it is my responsibility to know enough about the whole patient to wisely use the information my consultants give me, and to incorporate their recommendations into a coherent treatment plan that keeps the whole patient in mind. I like this generalist approach.
Second, ownership. I see the patient from the start of their disease process through their convalescence and after their discharge to home. I take care of them when they come to the ER, in OR, in the ICU, on the ward, and in the clinic. This allows me to have a sense of really being the patient's doctor, not just another consulting superspecialist in the crowd. It is incredibly rewarding to see these patients who were once on death's door when they are recovering and reintegrating back into their community.
Third, relationships. I like the interpersonal aspects of trauma surgery. This may be counterintuitive, but the relationships I develop with my patients and their families are important to me. In fact, this is why I decided against family medicine as a career ? I wanted a specialty where I could spend as much time as I wished talking with my patients. My hours are certainly long, but they are mine; I don't have to work under the pressure of needing to see a certain number of patients in clinic each day in order to stay financially viable. Primary care specialties usually don't have this freedom.
Forth, operating. I love surgery as a discipline. The human body is breathtakingly beautiful. Sometimes when I am operating, I am so awestruck by the beauty in front of me that I just want to cheer. (I do manage to keep my enthusiasm under sufficient control so that we can operate successfully.) I think it must be like being an art collector who gets to work in an art museum everyday.
Fifth, teamwork. I enjoy being part of a team whose goal is to use our collected talents to heal these terribly injured patients. As the trauma surgeon, I am the team leader, but it is a team nonetheless, and the patient's outcome depends on the functioning of each member of the team. I try to make sure that everyone knows this, including the patients, families, and the team members. I also try to make sure that each member of the team shares in the credit for our successes. And let me emphasize that the team includes attendings, residents, students, nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, physical therapists, etc. It isn't just about doctors.
Sixth, perspective. I mean this in a special way. We often think of medicine as a life-saving discipline. In fact, what we often ought to be about is quality of life rather than length of life. A lot of my job deals with making people comfortable, whether it is managing postoperative pain, or allowing someone to die in comfort and dignity. And sometimes this means helping the family cope with the horror of seeing their loved one hurt or dying. Sometimes my job is to ease the family's pain. It is hard to describe the incredible personal courage I have seen patients and their families exhibit under the worst possible circumstances. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the care of these folks.
Seventh, teaching. By teaching, I can have the biggest influence on the greatest number of patients. And, best of all, I get to see my students grow into fine doctors, and they force me to be intellectually precise and meticulous in my reasoning as part of the bargain.
Do you have any advice for medical students considering a career in Trauma?
There are a lot of smart doctors out there who are good with their hands. That isn't what being an excellent doctor is about. Those are only the starting points. The thing that distinguishes the excellent from the adequate doctor is not intellect, or the ability to quote a bunch of obscure articles, or technical ability. The quality that will make you an excellent instead of an average doctor is to treat your patients and their families with genuine respect, interest, compassion, and gentleness. A medical student who is considering a career in trauma surgery must first decide that they will be an excellent doctor.
Trauma surgery requires a residency in general surgery which includes five clinical years and often one or two research years. After surgery residency, there is a one or two year long fellowship in trauma and critical care. So, that's a seven to nine year commitment after medical school. Thus, a medical student who is considering a career in trauma surgery must be patient and perseverant. As a corollary to this, there is a bunch of joy to be had during that long training process, if a person is able to perceive it. Those who can't have fun during the training process ought to pick another career.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
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