MSIV, Finally July 3, 2008

That’s right….  Today I have officially switched my email signatures from MSIII to MSIV!  I cannot believe that I am really done with my third year of medical school.  I made it through my first year having a full time job, working July to July with only 4 weeks of vacation, my first 80 hour work week, 8 different rotations, and my LAST shelf exam of medical school!  It was a long year, but such a meaningful one.  I made the transition from a student that goes to all the lectures and studies all the time to do well on the exam, to one that reads to ensure that my patient is getting the best treatment.  Several times throughout the first two years I wondered did I have what it takes to be a physician.  After this year, I realize that I do.  Beyond the book knowledge is the ability of a physician to connect with their patients.  It’s amazing how after just sitting, listening, and truly engaging a patient, they will reveal parts of their history that they haven’t shared with doctors for years prior.  There really is an art to medicine and it starts with building rapport.  As the third year medical student on the team I tried to make the most of my time with my patients and get to know them as more than just their diagnosis.

 

As I venture into the world of being a sub-I where I am ”auditioning” and showing the team that I have synthesized all this info from the last three years well enough to be on my way to intern year, I hope to keep the humanity from third year.  I really don’t want to be so caught up in trying to be an intern that I forget what got me through third year: positive and productive patient interaction.  I am a genuine caring person and I must maintain that even in the midst of stepping up to the level of Sub-Intern!