Here’s a good quote I believe in…

Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.

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Mildred

We decided to name her. We decided to name her because in the next year, she would become so personal to us. She is our first official patient. It is she that will teach us a great majority of information. We are greatful for the gift which she has given us, which is to explore her body and to learn from her. So, we decided to name her Mildred.

(Consequently, Mildred means, “gentle counselor.”)

Mildred was an elderly woman in her late 80’s or early 90’s when she passed away. Our card said that she passed due to “pneumonia, renal failure, and stroke.”

I will say that the squeamish stop reading now.

If you are still reading, you are not squeamish.

Our first anatomical experience was to skin the upper portion of her body. And it was a marvelous sight to behold. It was beautiful. It was a gift and a true honor.

I really am here…

Well anyhow, this day has been incredibly sobering for me. It has mentally exhausted me, but I really wanted to write about this day before it faded. I leave you with two images of my first time in med-school scrubs and about to head into the anatomy lab.

Good night.

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Last day of medical school orientation

Best summation? This day ended with much to think about and a long drive to sort (most of) it all out.  

The day began with the Dean of our medical school speaking to us about professionalism, or about learning how to be a physician. I jotted down a lot of what he said, and following are some of the comments which made an impression on me for one reason or another:

• You want to matter. You can make a difference if you choose to approach situations in a positive manner.
• As of today, the focus is on your future patients. You are making the transformatoin from students to professionals, which is a long journey taken in many little steps. Do what is best for the patient, not what is best for you. This is not easy – it takes time.
• There are a hundred and twenty-five of you here. Each and every one of you deserves to be here. You are the 1% of the population of the world that has made it to the top of the “intellect pyramid.”  This means that in a worst case scenario, one of you will be the one with the lowest or even failing score. This does not mean that you are bad or dumb. This simply means that you must refocus and that you have not yet mastered material well enough to move on. (I cannot stress this enough).
• This profession is unique in that in three years, the material that you’ll have learned this first year will be obsolete. Science and medicine changes by the second. You must commit to being a lifelong learner.

He also continue by asking if any of us had had a negative experience with a physician before. About two-thirds of the class raised their hands.

Don’t be the south end of a northbound horse!

My thoughts exactly. “You must,” he stated, “make a decision as to what kind of doctor you will be. But the secret in this is that you must make this decision multiple times a day, not just during an epiphany.” Great point.

One thing that he focused on helped to further reinforce (to myself) that I truly do deserve to be here. “The MCAT is commonly thought of as an indicator for how well you’ll do in medical school.” I held my breath as he drew a chart with a curve that increased positively and then leveled out midway. “A high score (such as 15) in the Verbal Reasoning subject (which is incidentally the most important) will not predict that you’ll be a better doctor than a person who scored a lower score (such as 8). Why? It levels out. ADCOMs (admissions committees) spend much time going through your portfolios and making sure that you deserve to be here. YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON.”

Yes. That knowledge was much appreciated.

Also, for those who are thinking about the medical profession because of job security and the supposed promise of big-time-money – don’t even touch it with a 10-ft pole. If you are in this for the money, GET OUT. You will find a better job with better hours, pay, and happiness. To be a doctor, you must so fierecely believe in what you’re doing that you will always be willing to spend the time needed with your patients and their families. Do physicians live comfortably? Yes. Are they well off? Absolutely not.

Believe it or not, there was a even a brief discussion about what our personal lives would be like and how they would benefit and suffer.

“For those that happened to already be married or get married early on/during medical school, the roles may be such that the non-med school spouse is the supporting player in terms of bringing home the bacon and taking care of the home. But when the med-school spouse is set loose on the world, the roles tend to reverse. The med-school spouse is prepared for the role, but it is usually the case that the non-med spouse is not. This is why there is such a high level of divorce rate among physicians. Be sure to be with someone who truly understands all aspects of your career choice and be sure that both of you are comfortable with the roles that are chosen. Moreover, be with someone who truly understands your passion and who can maybe even match your passion. Take the time to explore yourself completely.”

That’s a lot to think about. A lot.

Following that talk, we had a panel of local community physicians come in and hold a Q&A for us. One of them said this,

This is the best time and place to learn your basic science material. Don’t do this alone.

More and more I am realizing just how important teamwork and cooperation will be playing a role in my life for forever. We really need each other in order to provide the best possible healthcare. Wow.

He also said,

The fact that patients come to see you is a gift. The minute you start seeing this as work, it steals your joy. Don’t let it.

Amen to that.

An aside…. Note to self: Interests lay in LMSA, AMSA, HeRMES, and Peds Interest.

Three individuals who share in the kind of passion I do (Shoot.. forgot his name!, Bernadette, Nicholas, Me)

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