So it’s been a while since I posted anything and it’s time for an update! I finished up my internal medicine rotation back at the end of January and just recently finished my subsurgical weeks. At IU, we get 4 weeks during our third year in which we get to spend time in different surgical specialty fields. The options include plastics, orthopedics, ENT, ophthalmology, urology, cardiothoracic, and organ transplant. I ended up spending 2 weeks with orthopedics and 2 with plastics. All in all, I was thankful for these first experiences in the OR and appreciated the opportunity to do some hands on stuff. I haven’t done my general surgery rotation yet so this was my first time in the OR as a medical student. It was really exciting and fun at times (as most things are when they are new), but I realized that the surgery life is not for me. There are a lot of reasons for this, mostly because of the lifestyle and sacrifices you have to make in the field. Also, I really enjoy more long term patient relationships and establishing long term care, and surgery doesn’t offer this as much as other fields.
Next up is 2 weeks of anesthesia. I don’t have much interest in doing anesthesia for a career, so I’m trying to treat these two weeks as the last time I will have a good opportunity to learn crucial skills like how to manage an airway and some other acute care/life support situations. After anesthesia things will get pretty busy. I have 6 weeks of OB/GYN and then 6 weeks of general surgery. I have no plans on being an OB/GYN doc or a surgeon after medical school, so this will be the only time I get to help deliver babies and then spend more time in the OR. These are probably the two most time demanding and physically exhaustive clerkships we do as third year students. But its also two of the more unique rotations, as its the only time we get to help deliver babies and the spend time actually suturing/cutting/etc in the operating room, things that we will likely not ever be exposed to again in any other field.
Thankfully at the end of all of this I have a couple of really exciting things to look forward to, most of all I’m getting married the day after my surgery clerkship ends in may!! After that, I get to spend 1 month at Mayo Clinic doing a visiting elective in the physical medicine and rehab program! School is busy, life is going to get even busier, but It’s all for the better and there are some really awesome experiences and new chapters headed my way :)
Until next time,
Brian
