From the Wards

Matt Peters Matt Peters (1 Posts)

Contributing Writer

University of Washington School of Medicine

I am a third year medical student at the University of Washington. I grew up near Boise, ID, where I now live with my wife. We met at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, where I graduated with a degree in Sociology and minors in Biology and Chemistry. After graduating in 2017, I plan to pursue a career in family medicine and someday practice in a small town in the Northwest. In my "real life", I enjoy spending time with friends and family and exploring outdoors as a skier, runner, hiker, and mountain biker.




Learning to Lean In

Published by Matt Peters

Today was my most challenging day of clinical work yet, but it had nothing to do with charting, the number of patients, or the attending on shift. Instead, today was about experiencing humanity and embracing the emotion of caring for others in their most trying moments. As a third-year medical student on my second rotation, I have not lost a patient, seen a code, or experienced serious trauma. I have not had to cope with loss yet. I recognize my innocence and realize that it must change eventually. That process began today.

Blurred Lines: The Doctor-Patient Relationship-in-Training

Published by Vivienne Meljen

It is one thing to be a doctor and another to be a patient. It is a radically different thing to be a medical student paired by your medical school to a physician who is your “patient-partner.” Sounds like a word salad, but that is where I found myself as a first-year medical student at The Geisel School of Medicine of Dartmouth a few weeks after moving to New Hampshire, weeks before I would receive my white coat, months before I would have any clear idea of what the medical world is really like.

Seeing Text Come to Life: The Case of Mr. X

Published by Jon Wolfshohl

I arrived at the neuro ICU at 5:30 a.m. to read up on my new patient before rounds. The resident on duty the day before had accepted a transfer at 7:00 p.m. and documented the following in his note: Mr. X is a 72-year-old male with a past medical history of severe bilateral carotid artery stenosis who had a devastating right MCA ischemic stroke at home this morning, confirmed by CT at an outlying hospital.

When Medicine Makes ‘Miracles’

Published by Jes Minor

“He’s had enough, you don’t want to put him through any more.” Dr. Acharya’s soft jowls folded into a cool smile, as though he hadn’t thought of acids unfiltered by failing kidneys. I dug my fingernails into my palms. Glancing at the bed where my grandfather lay, I watched his bare, gray skin grip the scar that split his ribcage in two. Behind his parted eyelids were unfocused blue eyes, glazed with whitish film. He hardly knew we were there — hovering over him — deciding whether he would have a chance to live and suffer, or whether he would suffer and die.

My First Ethical Dilemma

Published by Caleb Grote

It was Friday of the seventh week of my family medicine clerkship. I was tired. Tired from the day and, honestly, tired from the clerkship. I was ready for a change of pace. The next patient was Mr. S., a 30-year-old male, here for an establish care visit. I did not recognize the name. I reviewed his chart before the encounter, two visits in the system, both to the ER for cocaine-induced angina. I stereotyped him immediately. Not that this was right, but I did. I think everyone does.

Patrick Hoversten Patrick Hoversten (1 Posts)

Contributing Writer Emeritus

University of Minnesota Medical School - Twin Cities

Patrick Hoversten is a Class of 2015 medical student studying at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities planning to pursue a career in internal medicine. He grew up in the Minnesota, went to Gonzaga University for college, and returned to his home state for med school. In his free time he enjoys playing with legos and obsessing over Gonzaga basketball.