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The End Is Coming

June 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The end is near.

As I type this we are speeding through the month of June.

On June 30, my year as one of the Internal Medicine Chief Residents will come to a close.

Before this year began, I remember hearing a former chief resident fondly look back on his own time as chief resident years ago. He told me that was the best year of his career.

I don’t know if that nostalgic statement was supposed to be encouraging. It probably was.

Right now I hope that this year will not go down as the best year of my career.

I’ve had fun. I’ve had headaches. I’ve learned a lot — both clinically and in other professional areas as well.

But, like I said above, I sure hope that this year isn’t the best of my career and it’s all down from here!

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About 3 Months Left

March 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment

There’s about 3 months to go in this academic year.

That means I will be a Chief Resident for only another 3 months. My contract is coming to an end. The incoming Chief Residents have already been chosen and announced.

It some ways I feel like I know what a lame duck president must feel like.

The year has gone by faster than I could have anticipated. It’s been a period of satisfaction, personal & professional growth, and frustration. There have been ups and downs. Joys and disappointments.

My fellow residents who graduated from residency last year — well those who went on to work “real” jobs — have pulled in so much more money than I have this year. I’m sure they are enjoying the dough. Sure it is not has high as those surgical specialties. But it sure is a lot more than what I’ve been paid this year.

Still, I don’t regret it. Knowing what I do now, I would do it again.

There is a fraternity of sorts with former chief residents. And I’m proud to have joined those ranks.

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Attending Status

October 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment

What’s in a title?

My ID badge now says “Attending Physician.”

I guess that’s my title now.

Last month I worked two hospitalist shifts. A week later I followed it up with 7 MOD shifts.

As a hospitalist I was responsible for my entire set of patients. I did get to work with one resident who was spending the month doing a hospitalist elective.

During the MOD shifts, I was the attending on one of our Internal Medicine teaching teams. I had a senior resident and two interns.

It is definitely a new feeling to have “the last say.” All my previous experiences on inpatient medicine had been as a resident. There were always things that I deferred to the attending. Like discharges home, for example.

As the attending, I had the final say. And it was a very different experience.

Serving as the attending on the teaching service was interesting as well. I remember frequently paging my senior residents to check in and make sure they did certain things. And as I did that, a light in my head turned on. I realized why I used to get several pages from attendings as they wanted to make sure I followed through on certain things.

When you have other people taking care of patients under your license and supervision, you start to pay attention.

Part of my job as a Chief Resident is doing a cetain number of MOD shifts. Seven shifts down. Looking forward this upcoming year. I have a lot to learn about medicine still. I have a lot to learn about teaching residents and students. I also have a lot of fun in store.

Stick around, dear reader. This should be a fun year.

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Chief Residency

July 26, 2015 by 1 Comment

It has begun.

On June 30 I officially ended my Internal Medicine Residency. Well, maybe I should say that I completed it.

On July 1 I walked up to my brand new office. As I stood in front of my door, with key in hand, I read the new nameplate on the door. It was awkward.

Residency ended without much fanfare or closure. My program, for whatever reason, does not have a “graduation” ceremony. They did have a “graduation banquet” in May but I was on a pre-planned family vacation during that time. Maybe that’s why I felt like I lacked any real resolution to the residency phase of life.

So far there has been anxiety, confusion, frustration, and fatigue. I’m hopeful that the year will be one of professional and personal growth. I just hope that the growth does not require much pain.

On July 1 I attended the mandatory “new hire” orientation. After completing all required paperwork, I went to HR to pick up my new ID badge. As I already had a picture on file, I just waited in the lobby for them to bring out the new badge. After what seemed like 20 minutes, someone came out to deliver it. Instead of “Resident Physician” under my name, it now said “Attending Physician.”

Looking at my badge, almost 1 month later, it still seems weird to see that.

I don’t know what this year will bring. I’m sure it will be challenging. I’m sure it will push me.

So for those of you who have followed this journey through this blog, I invite you to continue with me.

And for those of you who have just found this blog, well, you’re invited too.

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