Last year I tried to keep my resolutions pretty simple. I wanted to amalgamate all the information I had learned during our first two years into some legit knowledge, culminating in the first Step of our Board Examinations. Somewhere between working EMS, making music videos, health policy yada-yada, and making poor life choices (PLCs) at med skew prom, we learned a few things. To this day, I still do not know how I passed our Renal exam first year (finishing up Five Star Nerve was full-time employment), but somehow I got my "P" in Physiology and made it through. Using Step 1 as a means to put together all these classes and subjects was crucial to getting started on third year, and I am very glad I put in the time in effort (although it was a bear of a final semester). I can say that it honestly helped prepare me for the questioning and "pimping" that physicians like to do, especially during Surgery. That preparation let me get a running start after July 1.
I also wanted to take more responsibility for my patients, specifically developing a cohort of patients here in Asheville, NC (Resolutions no. 2 and 3). I was lucky even to have the opportunity to work out here, and I couldn't have found a program that fit my personality better. My ring of 3x5 notecards with all my patients and their medical issues on it makes me feel like I'm an integral part of the health care team (and I am, Kelly!). I speak to my patients on the phone, see them in other clinics, and I feel personally responsible to study their illnesses and problems so I am ready to answer as many questions as I can. Both of these goals were also accomplished, although optimizing patient care is not a resolution just for 2011.
"Three" sounds like a pretty manageable number, so I think I'll have to set three more New Year's Resolutions in 2012. One is obvious: I need to learn how to cook something. My days of cafeteria gorging are over, and I am tired of feeling like an idiot when people talk about cooking. No, I don't know what a "pin-roller" is and what one would use it for, and besides salt, pepper, and cumin, are there any other spices? I'm lucky to know what "cumin" is anyways (thank you, Morocco). So I asked my gourmet-chef-friend Blake for advice, and I have purchased a book called The Best 30-Minute Recipe Book. I need easy to make, short recipes that I can eat over a couple days' time. If anyone else has any suggestions, please help.
Two is also simple. Just as I wanted to spend 2011 in Asheville, I would love to be at either Harvard or Princeton for a Masters in Public Policy later next year. It has been a dream of mine to study health policy since before medical school, and now is the optimal time to engage in this learning. If I am not accepted, I can always try to garner this degree during a year off in residency, but I would prefer to go back to school now. I want to be prepared for fellowship and public service opportunities earlier in my career (or at least have these options). Plus, I will have so much more perspective as a physician, understanding the global issues my patients face every day.
Three, I want to make sure I go one place crazy in 2012. The travel bug bit me years ago, and there are more white russians to be drunk. Southeast Asia anyone?
The year 2011 C.E. was wonderful. I traveled through Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey, I finally started work in the hospital, and I decided what kind of doctor I want to be. Even if I take a year off, I am more than halfway to MD. Tempus fugit. I don't know what 2012 will bring, but I am optimistic that it can be even better that the year prior. See you then.
No comments:
Post a Comment