Riddle
It does not grace your ears, / but you can hear it. / It does not touch your skin, / but you feel its pull. / It can’t be seen or read / but nonetheless, it guides you.
Tag: clinical rotations
Contributing Writer
Boston University School of Medicine
Nat is a third year medical student at Boston University School of Medicine in Boston Massachusetts, class of 2021. In 2017 they graduated from Hendrix College with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. They enjoy writing, skateboarding, and trail running in their free time. In the future they will pursue a career in psychiatry
Emptied
A hospital bed rolled in. It was Marvin. His last walk. On rounds we would say, “Twenty-two-year-old with gunshot wound to the head. Waiting for organ donation.”
Reflections on My Medical Elective in South Africa
Doing my elective at Klerksdorp-Tshepong (K/T) Hospital Complex in my hometown of Klerksdorp gave me the opportunity to become familiar with the health system, the medical personnel and health-related issues that are prevalent in my community. It also allowed me to draw comparisons between my home country of South Africa and the United Kingdom, where I have undertaken the clinical years of my medical degree.
Restrained
I proposed a deal to my fellow student on our surgery rotation. “You can have all the other cases today if I get the laryngectomy.”
first code
“We kept him alive to let his family say goodbye, / and sometimes that’s the biggest victory.”
But The Laborers Are Few
My agitation grew as I realized I needed to do something. I was a medical student training to be a doctor after all, right? Wasn’t I supposed to help alleviate the burdens of others?
Sutures and Stones
Superficial to deep, deep to superficial, / 90 degrees, in and out, / Not too deep, filled with doubt.
A Beginner’s Guide to Operating Room Terminology
A terminology guide to help you become more comfortable and familiar with the operating room. Hopefully this enhances the practical side of your experience!
Brown Skin, White Ceiling
“Wow, your accent is so impeccable! How long have you been learning English?” “You must have so many doctors in your family, I’m sure it is easy for you.” “Do you really want to become a doctor? Or is it just because your parents are forcing you to do so?”
Grief on the Wards
“Time of death: 12:26 p.m.” Hearing those words on the first day of my Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rotation was surreal when just a few hours ago we were discussing the patient’s status during rounds.
Two Summers Abroad
I never expected to have such a similar experience of being immersed in a new language while remaining in the US exactly five years after my summer in France. But the hospital is truly a world of its own, complete with its own vocabulary.
A Physician’s Most Powerful Tool
The HIV clinic was one of my favorite rotations in all of third year. It was often emotional for me. Many uninsured, low-income patients came to the clinic not only for their HIV treatment, but also for comprehensive primary care.
Contributing Writer
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Karina is a fourth year medical student at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami, Florida, class of 2020. In 2016, she received her Master’s degree in medical sciences from the University of South Florida. She graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts in biology in 2014. She grew up in rural Montana and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing. In the future, Karina is looking forward to working in a primary care specialty.