So as I am sure everyone can tell, I have been pretty busy. Taking call every fourth night sure does take a toll on blogging! I have been having a great time at work and I really do love being there, even though it is pretty exhausting.
Here is a brief update on Isidora - she can now count from 1 to 12 (!) and she says "I love you too kisses!" when I tell her, "I love you." She is more active and playful than ever (of course). She most definitely has her own opinions about what she wants and when she wants it. Her favorite things right now are trains, Toy Story ("Woody Jessie Buzz!") and Goodnight Moon ("nigh-night moo-nah").
She and Daddy are having a pretty good time at home, though she can sure be a handful at times. And, she is finally transitioning to afternoon naps! It's about time!
Anyway, hopefully I can convince Matt (and myself) to keep up some more frequent updates.
Showing posts with label Residency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Residency. Show all posts
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
July 1st
Generally, as a new intern I should be in the hospital on July 1st, busily seeing patients, writing notes, and trying to figure out what I am doing. Instead, I am on my development rotation. This means I go to various clinics and other sites around Saint Louis and have a lot of "reading" time. So, instead of waking up at 5 or earlier like most of my other classmates, I got to sleep in for the first time in weeks, have a nice relaxed breakfast with my family and sit and watch Isidora play for a few hours. After this I will get ready for the day and get to work at noon for noon conference then go over to my clinic assignment for the afternoon. What a day.
Matt gets to mow the lawn.
Here is a picture of Isidora from the House Staff Picnic a few days ago.
Matt gets to mow the lawn.
Here is a picture of Isidora from the House Staff Picnic a few days ago.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Studying
Orientation for residency starts on Monday and in preparation I have been reading a couple of training manuals - PALS and NRP. Matt was kind enough this afternoon to watch Isidora while I got some good reading in, that is until Isidora climbed up the stairs and poked her little hands out the cat door and started saying, "heh-oo?" (hello). She was very excited to see her mama again but she was also excited to ask for a "kee-koo pees?" (cookie please). After Daddy got her a cookie, she decided to climb up on my chair with me to do some reading.
Sitting nicely while Mommy reads some PALS out loud.
This is boring, Mommy, where are the pictures?
I will miss all the time I get to spend with my little Goo-Goo Bean!
Sitting nicely while Mommy reads some PALS out loud.
This is boring, Mommy, where are the pictures?
I will miss all the time I get to spend with my little Goo-Goo Bean!In case you were wondering, the swivel chairs were great for reading!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Last day of medical school
Yesterday was my last day of medical school.
I remember as I graduated from high school I told a good friend of mine that I was now half way done with school - 12 years left. I was sort of right. Really, I had 8 years of school and then residency - which is very different from school. I realized that it is fairly likely that I will never again be in a classroom the same way - daily lectures for months at a time, etc. I will, of course, be learning. I will probably be learning more than I ever have before, but it will be very different.
The last four years have been pretty crazy! I started medical school in August after I graduated from the University of Dallas. Our first year mostly consists of basic science - human anatomy, genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology. First year ended in mid May, and I stayed in Saint Louis to do research for the summer. We had about 10 weeks off, if I remember correctly.
Second year started again in August and was systems-based - neuro, cardio, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, and skin, bone and joint. We finished again in mid-May only to spend our time studying for the next several week for Step 1 - the hardest and most annoying test I have ever taken.
After that, it was time for third year. We always start the week after July 4th - and then we have 24 weeks of school in the fall and 24 weeks of school in the spring. We did rotations in internal medicine, ob/gyn, family medicine, pediatrics, surgery, neurology and psychiatry. I had so much fun. It was such hard work - many times working 60 - 80 hours per week, half of that while pregnant, the other half with a new baby. BUT, so worth it. The amount you learn is amazing.
Between third and fourth year, there are 2 weeks off, which we spent in the Northwest visiting family. At SLU, during your fourth year you are required to have 36 weeks of credits/schooling/work. This must include one sub-internship and one surgical sub-specialty rotation. To me, 36 weeks looked like a lot less than 48 weeks! However, a lot of people need to take time off during the winter to go on interviews and take Step 2 and such. Fortunately, I didn't have to go on a lot of interviews as I knew that I only wanted to be in 4 different cities and pediatrics isn't the most difficult thing in the world to get in to!
So, at the end of yesterday, my required 36 weeks of activities was completed, and here I am, finished with medical school. It has been a long road, but it has gone by so fast. Now, Matt and I get to stay at home together with Isidora and focus on getting ready for the next three years of our life - residency. In the next couple of months we have a lot to do!
Really, all we have to do is move - but I think that is enough!
I remember as I graduated from high school I told a good friend of mine that I was now half way done with school - 12 years left. I was sort of right. Really, I had 8 years of school and then residency - which is very different from school. I realized that it is fairly likely that I will never again be in a classroom the same way - daily lectures for months at a time, etc. I will, of course, be learning. I will probably be learning more than I ever have before, but it will be very different.
The last four years have been pretty crazy! I started medical school in August after I graduated from the University of Dallas. Our first year mostly consists of basic science - human anatomy, genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology. First year ended in mid May, and I stayed in Saint Louis to do research for the summer. We had about 10 weeks off, if I remember correctly.
Second year started again in August and was systems-based - neuro, cardio, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, and skin, bone and joint. We finished again in mid-May only to spend our time studying for the next several week for Step 1 - the hardest and most annoying test I have ever taken.
After that, it was time for third year. We always start the week after July 4th - and then we have 24 weeks of school in the fall and 24 weeks of school in the spring. We did rotations in internal medicine, ob/gyn, family medicine, pediatrics, surgery, neurology and psychiatry. I had so much fun. It was such hard work - many times working 60 - 80 hours per week, half of that while pregnant, the other half with a new baby. BUT, so worth it. The amount you learn is amazing.
Between third and fourth year, there are 2 weeks off, which we spent in the Northwest visiting family. At SLU, during your fourth year you are required to have 36 weeks of credits/schooling/work. This must include one sub-internship and one surgical sub-specialty rotation. To me, 36 weeks looked like a lot less than 48 weeks! However, a lot of people need to take time off during the winter to go on interviews and take Step 2 and such. Fortunately, I didn't have to go on a lot of interviews as I knew that I only wanted to be in 4 different cities and pediatrics isn't the most difficult thing in the world to get in to!
So, at the end of yesterday, my required 36 weeks of activities was completed, and here I am, finished with medical school. It has been a long road, but it has gone by so fast. Now, Matt and I get to stay at home together with Isidora and focus on getting ready for the next three years of our life - residency. In the next couple of months we have a lot to do!
Really, all we have to do is move - but I think that is enough!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Match Day
Today was kind of a big deal. Without the kind of. I am pretty sure I haven't slept well for the last week or so in anticipation of today. And now it is over, and we know where we are going to be for the next 3 years!
Saint Louis Children's Hospital!
Saint Louis Children's Hospital!This was our number one choice and we are all pretty darn excited about matching here! It is a wonderful pediatric hospital and a wonderful program where people train to be great doctors. Granted, it is a lot more difficult than Cardinal Glennon would have been, but I think I am ready for a change. Another big factor was that I am seriously considering specializing, and Children's has almost every specialty out there available for fellowship.
Match day itself was a lot of fun. It is always great to see all of my class in one place like that. This year, it was held at the Redbird club at Busch stadium, which also happens to be where Matt's parents have their season tickets, so we knew the venue well! It was neat to see it all done up like that. Matt's parents and Katee and Becky were all able to make it down for match day, which was a real blessing. I was so glad to have all of them there. Matt and Isidora were there also, of course. The timing, unfortunately, was not optimal for Izzie, who did not get a morning nap and then was not able to fall asleep at the venue. But, she did a pretty good job regardless and got to spend some nice time with Auntie Becky while Matt and I ate lunch (which was pretty good!)
The match ceremony was also pretty neat. Starting at precisely 11 am, they started calling our names at random, one at a time. Each individual called brings up a dollar to put into a bag and receives their envelope with where they matched. They may then go and open it to find out where. The last person to get their envelope gets to keep the bag of money. There are about 170 people in my class. Unfortunately, I wasn't last. I was only like, 8th to last. So I waited while almost everyone in my class got their envelope (27 or 28 minutes!!!) until I was called. I guess it was worth it though :) I am glad it is over.
So, now that we are sure we are staying in Saint Louis, on to our next big adventure! Buying a house!
Match day itself was a lot of fun. It is always great to see all of my class in one place like that. This year, it was held at the Redbird club at Busch stadium, which also happens to be where Matt's parents have their season tickets, so we knew the venue well! It was neat to see it all done up like that. Matt's parents and Katee and Becky were all able to make it down for match day, which was a real blessing. I was so glad to have all of them there. Matt and Isidora were there also, of course. The timing, unfortunately, was not optimal for Izzie, who did not get a morning nap and then was not able to fall asleep at the venue. But, she did a pretty good job regardless and got to spend some nice time with Auntie Becky while Matt and I ate lunch (which was pretty good!)
The match ceremony was also pretty neat. Starting at precisely 11 am, they started calling our names at random, one at a time. Each individual called brings up a dollar to put into a bag and receives their envelope with where they matched. They may then go and open it to find out where. The last person to get their envelope gets to keep the bag of money. There are about 170 people in my class. Unfortunately, I wasn't last. I was only like, 8th to last. So I waited while almost everyone in my class got their envelope (27 or 28 minutes!!!) until I was called. I guess it was worth it though :) I am glad it is over.
So, now that we are sure we are staying in Saint Louis, on to our next big adventure! Buying a house!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Match update
Today all applicants who entered the NRMP Match found out whether or not they matched so that tomorrow those that did not match may enter the scramble (when all the people who did not match attempt to find a program with an open slot).
I found out that I matched! Hurray! This means we will either be in Saint Louis, Houston or Portland for the next three years.
Now, all I have to do is wait until Thursday to find out where.
More to come on Thursday!
I found out that I matched! Hurray! This means we will either be in Saint Louis, Houston or Portland for the next three years.
Now, all I have to do is wait until Thursday to find out where.
More to come on Thursday!
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Match
Since the Match has been a large part of our lives the last few weeks, I thought I would write a little about it. The Match is a process whereby medical students (applicants) and residency programs rank their preferences and then match their preferences accordingly. It sounds complicated. Basically, instead of each applicant being offered several spots, each applicant ranks where they want to go, as does each program rank which students they want, and then each applicant is assigned to a program based on their coinciding rank lists.
Anyway, Match day is a big deal for medical students, and also one that causes a lot of stress. At many schools, there is a Match day ceremony, where each student finds out individually where they matched. At SLU, we each are called up randomly where we get an envelope with where we matched. At that point we can open the envelope in front of everyone or wait and go open it on our own. Match day this year is March 18th, at 11:00 AM. That's only 10 days away!
My top two choices are in St. Louis, followed by Baylor in Houston, and OHSU in Portland. We will see where I end up!
Anyway, Match day is a big deal for medical students, and also one that causes a lot of stress. At many schools, there is a Match day ceremony, where each student finds out individually where they matched. At SLU, we each are called up randomly where we get an envelope with where we matched. At that point we can open the envelope in front of everyone or wait and go open it on our own. Match day this year is March 18th, at 11:00 AM. That's only 10 days away!
My top two choices are in St. Louis, followed by Baylor in Houston, and OHSU in Portland. We will see where I end up!
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