Break

Irene and I at Momi Ramen in Miami

So I’m back in Miami, and this month, I’m taking my first break since my wedding last March! I had decided to take this month off to help Irene and I move out of Miami, sell our furniture, attend Irene’s graduation ceremony next week (she graduates from PA school!), properly spend Christmas with family, attend a belated memorial service for Irene’s late beloved uncle at the end of this month, and study for the Step 2 CS exam, which I plan on taking next spring.

I thought I would really enjoy this break (who doesn’t?), but after not even a week into this break, I’ve learned something profound about myself… I not only like, but actually prefer to be in the hospital working. Sitting in my apartment in Miami right now, it feels so strange not going into the hospital and seeing patients. I no longer get the feeling of accomplishment after a busy, productive day that I did when I was running around in the hospital, or the feeling that I’ve contributed something to someone else’s life. Those are amazing feelings one doesn’t really get with sitting at a desk reading board review books and selling off furniture pieces on craigslist at ultra bargain prices. I actually miss being at the hospital right now, and I’ve surprised myself with this revelation. Perhaps my attitudes may change in the future, especially when Irene and I have kids and start a family, but at least for right now, it makes me happy to know that I’m going into the right career path

My next rotation will be 12 weeks of Surgery, which I’ll start in January at Queen’s/Romford Hospital in London (yes, I’m going back!). I hear so many great things about this rotation from my classmates: the attendings love teaching students, you see a lot, and the working hours are much nicer than the surgery rotations in the US, which often requires students to be at the hospital by 4-5am. In the UK, in contrast, you just go at 9am. In the UK, they also give students much more opportunity to learn to do procedures. One of my friends who went to Romford for her surgery rotation got to do an appendectomy by herself with the doctor verbally guiding her way through the procedure. She told me that rotation was one of the best experiences she’s had in medical school, and convinced me to go. It’s also nice that AUC will help pay for my flight. On top of that, Irene will be able to join me later on after she takes her PANCE exam (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam), and together we can experience living in the UK, and perhaps take a few excursions to visit other countries on the weekends as well. It will be my last core rotation, after which I’ll have four more electives before I’ll be done with everything. I’m really looking forward to returning to the hospital after this break!