tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155Sun, 02 Feb 2014 01:22:40 +0000lifemedical schoolmedical studentmedicinelearningclinical experiencethird yearosteopathic medicinereflectionclerkshipD.O.OMMpatient carerotationsBoardsgoodnesslessonschallengefamilyLondonbalancefriendslovepalpationsecond yearstressstudyingsurgeryOMTanatomychoicesdoctorfoodagestudent physicianCOMLEXcookingexamsgrowing upnon-traditionalsupportHVLAblogfinishinghomeobgynpregnancytouchwritingBertErnieEuropeFirst AidUSMLEamerican heart monthbakingchangecranialdeathdecisionendurancefailurefamily medicinefearfightfinalsfuturegenerositygrand roundsheartbreakholidaymuscle energynostalgiaobservationresidencyroundingrunningsimulationsinglesleepteamtough skinCPRFridayInternal MedicineNirvanaOSCEPediatricsRonald McDonald HouseSeven Stages of Spencer techniqueautopsycardiomegalydoctors dayend of semestergrithalf marathonheart attackheart diseaseinspirationlanguagelotterylunchmarathonmastectomymedical student syndromemeditationmovingnew yearoathonline datingoperationorgan harvestpatient advocatepericardial effusionpericardial windowphilosophyskullsocial lifespiritstrangersstudy buddytimetogether peopletraditiontransplanttriagewhite coatwomen's healthwriter's blockzenAnecdotes of a non-traditional, osteopathic medical student.http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)Blogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-9189304608472338093Sat, 26 May 2012 20:24:00 +00002012-05-26T16:26:29.020-04:00clerkshipclinical experiencedoctorInternal Medicinelessonsmedicinepatient advocatepatient carerotationsroundingthird yearSometimes you think you know, but you really don't. Other times you convince yourself you don't know, but you actually do. But the moments when you're absolutely sure you know...well, those are the ones you have to hold onto and refuse to let go. Let me explain... It was my second month of Internal Medicine, way back in September. I was in the process of admitting a new patient and I was runninghttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/05/on-unrelated-symptoms-patient-advocacy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-4923185955024794833Sat, 19 May 2012 17:41:00 +00002012-05-26T14:49:35.793-04:00challengeclinical experiencelearninglessonslifemedical studentmedicineobgynpregnancyreflectionrotationsShe was young, really young. That was the first thought that popped into my head when I walked into the birthing suite on the L&D floor. The mom-to-be was laughing at a joke her boyfriend had just cracked, something about her insides being on the outside when the baby came out. That may have been an amusing punchline, but I remember thinking to myself that they will be surprised by what actually http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/05/complicated-catch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-7277254451281983314Mon, 14 May 2012 03:08:00 +00002012-05-13T23:15:10.253-04:00clerkshipclinical experiencedoctorlearninglovemedicineobgynrotationssurgerythird yearwomen's healthI'm sitting on my porch, leaning back in the deck chair and draining the last dregs of tea from my mug. The air is thick with the scent of hyacinth, my lungs filling with a floral perfume with every breath. And I'm looking out onto the distant mountains, gleaming bright green in the sunlight of the afternoon. My computer is sitting on my lap and it seems I've been having some trouble finishing http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/05/when-it-all-felt-right.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-4426884702629877727Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 +00002012-05-10T06:00:09.632-04:00clinical experiencefamily medicinelearninglessonslifelovepatient careThere were times on my Family Med rotation where the days would have a theme to it. There was a day of three back-back cases of pus-oozing abscesses. Fun times. And there was another day with sports-related issues: wrestling mat herpes, concussions, sprained ankles. There was even a week chock full of visits when I would have two patients at a time. A parent and a child or two siblings. But the http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/05/couple-of-patients.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-5653165549900958949Wed, 09 May 2012 04:37:00 +00002012-05-09T00:37:05.882-04:00To say it has been a while would be an understatement. And as the days have ticked by, it felt harder and harder for me to return to this space that once felt like home. The distance between me and my writing grew, and I drifted away from the motivation that kept me returning here. Perhaps it happens to some writers, that spark that compels them to put thought and imagination to paper fizzles outhttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-voice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-239829985448215418Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:58:00 +00002012-02-14T19:26:36.844-05:00clerkshipfamily medicinemedical schoolmedical studentmedicinerotationsthird yearI'm three weeks into my Pediatrics rotation. I'm sitting in a kitchen in a farm house with a wrap around porch situated on a rural medical facility, delighting in raspberry jelly smeared over toasted freshly-baked whole grain bread from the baker next door and looking out of the window onto expansive fields of straw covered ground and barren limbs of an apple orchard on a cold, gray day. This is,http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/02/finding-love-in-medicine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-2867720203063364809Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:12:00 +00002012-01-15T22:25:16.108-05:00PediatricsHe was blueberry blue, about 10 inches tall, and he looked like he had been through a lot of adventures on the playground. Up until that point, I had never done a physical exam on a teddy bear, but there's a first for everything... My actual patient was a five year old boy who came in with his mom, a chief complaint of night terrors. And the plush toy at hand, who I later learned was named Buddyhttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/01/physical-exam-on-teddy-bear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-3348742476926040166Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:19:00 +00002012-01-15T16:20:52.904-05:00new yearTwo weeks into the new year, and I've got to say 2012 ain't so bad folks. Spent the Christmas holiday with family, NYE with friends and super tasty food including a cannoli competition. But I've got to be honest, there were many times when I wanted to be back at the office seeing patients. Yes, I admit I'm a nerd, but it's a huge sense of relief to feel that way. It means I really enjoy it, and Ihttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-6167450311285415809Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:29:00 +00002011-12-26T09:29:00.916-05:00challengecookingfailurefearfoodlearninglessonsI wasn't much of a fan of eggs growing up. Perhaps that's because I was always served scrambled eggs all the time. It's a weird texture, isn't it? But as an adult, I slowly began to incorporate eggs into my weekly diet. They first emerged on the Sunday breakfast menu, accompanying pancakes drenched in maple syrup. But then I started exploring the oeuf, as the french would say. Omelettes, http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/12/on-poaching-egg-and-lessons-learned.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-4307549679585219156Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:07:00 +00002011-12-22T11:55:28.080-05:00clinical experiencedoctorfriendslearninglessonslifemedical studentmedicinepatient carereflectionI've been thinking about the people I've met throughout my life. The people I've come across in the various places I've lived. It's fascinating how we can form relationships with so many different people; some can become a permanent fixture in your life, and some people come and go. But they all have an impact, no matter how big or small, the people you meet have an effect on your life. I've http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/12/people-we-meet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-2150683023687982430Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:55:00 +00002011-12-21T09:55:01.196-05:00goodnessinspirationlifeIt's gray and dreary outside, and while I enjoy weather that reminds me of London, I'm in need of a little inspiration today. Sometimes it's nice to give my brain a rest and let some photos tell the story... I wouldn't mind a bit of sunshine right about now. Some mossy grass to lay on while I listen to the lulling sounds of a riverbank. That's exactly what I did in the summer when I first http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-need-of-some-inspiration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-3087180491168372415Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:35:00 +00002011-12-21T23:32:37.335-05:00clinical experiencecranialD.O.HVLAmuscle energyOMMOMTosteopathic medicinepalpationpatient carestudent physicianI've written about OMM's physically therapeutic benefits in several posts, but as D.O.s we know that the mental and physical aspects of health are tied together. And the more patients I see in the clinic, the more I understand the psychological component of OMT. I saw a patient a few weeks ago who had been through numerous traumatic events over the course of ten years. She's a regular at the http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/12/omm-and-after-effect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-3510161562764629731Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:28:00 +00002011-12-17T00:28:59.523-05:00clerkshipclinical experiencemedicinerotationsthird yearI'm four weeks into my Family Medicine rotation, and I'm loving it. Love. It. I relish in the fact there's a structure and an order to the day. This is a refreshing and very welcome difference from the days of surgery. Hey, some people prefer the thrill of not knowing what may happen next. Me? I like stability and knowing that the schedule will be printed out and on the desk each morning. I also http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/12/hello-family-medicine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-1572568051847167616Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:35:00 +00002011-11-27T21:21:59.242-05:00familyfriendsgoodnessholidayhomelifeLondonnostalgiareflectionAs usual, I'm a little late with this Thanksgiving-inspired post. But it was nice to be home and be unplugged for a bit. Leave the computer and phone at home, and go for a walk down my favorite road in my hometown - the one canopied by towering trees and lined by Victorian houses. Not so bad... It was during my three and a half hour drive home that I started thinking about holidays past. There'shttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/thankful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-2146608102004127214Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:55:00 +00002011-11-22T18:55:00.207-05:00balancechangelifeFive days housebound with the sinus infection from Hell, I've had quite some time to think. Think about the things on my impending shelf exam. Mull over my clinical experience thus far. Muse over this blog and how it's become an essential part of my time. Ponder what it is I want, what I really want. And you know what, it's about time for a change. If I were to give myself an evaluation of my http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-about-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-1762134422145025904Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:45:00 +00002011-11-20T18:45:05.240-05:00anatomyautopsymedicineWe headed down to the basement where a group had gathered by the entrance to the morgue. Word had spread that an autopsy was going to be performed in Pathology, and many had the same idea - take advantage of this learning opportunity. It was a familiar setting that brought me back to the first semester of first year. The body laying on the cold steel, the instruments laid out to make the first http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/autopsy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-4702964674739962195Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:41:00 +00002011-11-12T18:46:26.793-05:00lifeLondonThis is the one I've been wanting to write for quite some time now. I've started and stopped over the years, but now I'm determined to get it right, to capture for you the best moment I had in London. My gift to you. I expect this was the kind of experience that I will never forget, and when I close my eyes I can imagine I'm there... There's the tourist version that comes to mind when most http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-walk-to-remember.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-509989449435504496Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +00002011-11-11T19:23:55.138-05:00clerkshipclinical experienceD.O.medical studentmedicineOMMOMTosteopathic medicinepalpationpatient carerotationsstudent physicianthird yeartouchIt's been a while since I've written about OMM. Then again, it's been a while since I've been to OMM clinic. What with surgical cases in the afternoon and driving back and forth between the two hospitals, I haven't had an opportunity to make it to the clinic. I know, I know...shame on me. Sometimes it's just nice to stay in one place, stick to one schedule, and not bounce around from one thing tohttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/omm-clinic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-6830407987563045306Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:17:00 +00002011-11-10T22:17:09.759-05:00Here's what I've learned from yesterday's events... - My capacity to rebound from awful situations is more than I think. It may take a little extra time, but it's possible. And humor. I am capable of laughing at myself the day after a horrid day. It helps. - There are really good people out there, people who have had their own bad days and who kindly shared their thoughts with me. It boggles myhttp://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/follow-up-to-very-bad-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-6969107129639986371Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:50:00 +00002011-11-13T20:15:34.765-05:00I woke up this morning thinking "it's nice out, this might be a good day." It turns out I should have stayed in bed... Awful. That's the only way I can describe it. It was during office hours when we were waiting for the next patient to show up. The conversation turned to surgical interventions for pregnant patients and the complications that can occur. Then he asked what are the drugs to http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/one-of-those-soul-crushing-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-879326567013874131Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:34:00 +00002011-11-06T15:34:49.156-05:00clinical experiencefamilylearningmastectomymedicinesurgeryI'm a little late on posting this in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but then again, shouldn't we always be aware of breast cancer...? She had the most cheerful hospital room I'd ever seen. There was always a fresh bouquet of flowers surrounding her bedside. New framed photos appeared each day, beginning to gather a small collection on the windowsill. Her bed was adorned with a handmade http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/11/mastectomy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-816593532955005598Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:54:00 +00002011-10-31T21:37:20.977-04:00I think maybe I was supposed to meet you. I think it happened in just the right way and at just the right time. To show me that my mistakes and misfortunes are not unique, that others have similar up and down days. And when I want to wallow, I can remember your refreshing honesty and look at how far you've come. The stumbling blocks I find myself tripping on now are the same ones that shook your http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/10/serendipitous-encounter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-2031934843883571380Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:45:00 +00002011-10-24T19:51:54.508-04:00clerkshipclinical experiencegoodnessmedicinereflectionsurgerythird yearHave you ever had one of those days where all of the pieces seem to fit together perfectly? They're far and few between, but that's part of what makes them so meaningful. Because when they happen, especially when you need it the most, you really appreciate them. It's not that I've been having bad days per se, just a string of weeks where I've been feeling mediocre. That's all (she says with http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/10/sometimes-you-need-day-like-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-5244937767444744527Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:24:00 +00002011-10-24T19:45:40.369-04:00tough skinI came up with this theory as I was standing in the produce aisle of the local market. I've noticed that I tend to do my best thinking in food stores and while brushing my teeth. Anyway, I was pondering whether or not to buy a punnet of raspberries that were on sale. Now truth be told, I'm kind of a berry fanatic. But here's the thing, everytime I buy raspberries I usually have to throw half of http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/10/raspberry-effect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766171259676890155.post-3278489693522657879Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:59:00 +00002011-10-19T21:21:56.040-04:00clerkshipclinical experiencedecisionmedical studentmedicinesurgerythird year...was in the middle of an intense sigmoidectomy. It was 1.5 hours into a three hour surgery, but that wasn't the reason. My arms were aching from holding the laparoscopic camera in place for the 1.5 hours and my back was sore from positioning my self just the right way so that the surgeon next to me had room to work while the other surgeon could see the monitor behind me. But this medical http://d-o-ctor.blogspot.com/2011/10/moment-i-realized-surgery-isnt-for-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (d.o.ctor)5