My journey through medical school, thoughts on medicine, ethics, specialties, pre-med perils, and advice for those who want to do the same.
“"Virus" is a Latin word used by doctors to mean, "Your guess is as good as mine”
"The difference between an itch and an allergy is about one hundred bucks."
"A patient going to a doctor for his first visit was asked, ''And whom did you consult before coming to me?'' ''Only the village druggist,'' was the answer. ''And what sort of foolish advice did that numbskull give you?'' asked the doctor, his tone and manner denoting his contempt for the advice of the layman. ''Oh,'' replied his patient, with no malice aforethought, ''he told me to come and see you.''"
"He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines" Benjamin Franklin
A man speaks frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!"
"Is this her first child?" the doctor queries.
"No, you idiot!" the man shouts. "This is her husband!"
Can you apply for the one EM residency in your town and then, if that fails, consider your other specialty options? It would seem such a shame to give up on your dream now, but I understand your feelings about not wanting to start residency in a place where you won't have any support.
ReplyDeleteyes i can. so that would be number one on my list obviously. but then #2 might be a different specialty in the same town instead of EM in another city...
ReplyDeleteit's probably way too early to worry about this... but its been occupying my mind lately
ReplyDeleteExactly what you said. See how your rotations go first, and then make the call. I hear you about wanting not to move though. And I never thought I'd say that about Fouladelphia.
ReplyDeleteFor what they're worth my 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteIf you have to move to do your EM residency, the 'being alone' things is a temporary state of affairs. I don't know you in real life (obviously) but you seem pretty social and able to make friends with little difficulty. So being alone is a temporary situation but your specialty choice will last for many, many years to come.
Good luck with your decision
I've never really lived anywhere longer than 4 years since middle school. Where I live now I've only lived 7 years - the longest ever. It's hard to move. It's harder to make new friends, especially when you're not 18 and have many responsibilities, a developed mature personality, etc. I don't blame you for not wanting to move and I see where you're coming from. I hate to use the cliche word but "do what feels right" at the time when you're selecting and applying to residency. After your clinical years things may change. You may feel stronger staying where you are now, or the opposite fall in love with EM SO much that you will want to move just to do what you love. Just see where life takes you and enjoy the ride. :)))
ReplyDeleteEither way, you should do what makes you happy. :) That's what life is all about.
ReplyDeleteHey Ella, I know I'm young and naive, but i'm pretty sure you have lots of time to figure this out! See how rotations go and don't count yourself out! Work hard for the next year and a half (esp on boards, rotations, AI) and then make your decision.
ReplyDeleteBut always remember that you have to do what's right for you at the end of the day. That may (or may not) mean seriously exploring other specialties.
Just give it time.
nik
I know I have time... it's just that this has been giving me a little anxiety lately because I have the idea hovering over me that I'll be moving in 2 years... away from here... and it's making me stressed and sad! So that's why I'm bringing it up now.
ReplyDeleteI made the decision five years ago to stay in the same city you're in above all else. I was willing to give up medical school to stay here. In the end, I got in and everything worked out. This city grows on you, and it's not a strange or bad choice to put living somewhere you love ahead of other things. Pick the one thing that's mots important to you. Some people would move to Siberia to get into their chosen specialty. Some people (like me, and it sounds like you) will be happier doing something they like in a place that has a lot going for it.
ReplyDeleteHere my two cents: Do your rotations and see what areas you want to go into after that. If you still love EM, apply to the one in your town and others places that you may enjoy living for a while or permanently. EM residency is 3 years, a speciality choice should be a commitment you plan to make for longer than that.
ReplyDeleteBesides, medical school and residency are in fact like being a kid again. They come with a whole group of new people for you to get to know and make friends. And most importantly lots of people in the same predicament as you (i.e. having to move to a new places and make new friends).
I definitely want to stay where I am (because my family is here and I don't want to uproot them) for med school and residency...it will be a huge factor in my application priorities.
ReplyDelete