Residency Contemplations.

'Tis been awhile since I posted. Since I last spoke with you all, I have completed General/Neuro wards -- a double team that covers both inpatient general pediatric cases and pediatric neurology. I met with Dr. Yamauchi on a daily basis with my fellow student -- you may have seen him on The Today Show. He is also the US representative to the WHO, an active member of the CDC, and a talent scout for the Dodgers. You can't make this up. When we completed our two weeks with him, he gave us a bracelet that said "Yamauchi Survivor". He's a nice man.

Some of my noteworthy patients include an ex-30 week preterm delivery (term is 40 weeks) who was 2 months old that presented with pertussis. Another one is my teenager with either transverse myelitis or multiple sclerosis -- the latter is the most likely, unfortunately.

I spent this past week on outpatient pediatrics in the General Pediatric Clinic. I would go in to see a random patient, then I would go back out and present the patient to an attending physician. We'd discuss the case, and then we'd go back in see the patient together. 'Twas an interesting experience. One of my favorite things at the GPC is their reading program. Every child from birth to five years of age would leave the clinic with an age-appropriate book. It is intended to promote reading in the underprivileged. I love that program.

So lately I have been reconsidering my life goals. It is nerve-wracking, considering what I should do with my life. I'm still currently focused on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. There are two paths to this goal: (1) 3-4 years of General Psychiatry, and 2 years of Child Psych fellowship, or (2) 5-year Triple Board Program in Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Child&Adol Psych.

I am currently most interested in the Triple Board Program (TBP). There is a strength to being trained in the medicine of the pediatric patients you are treating. It could also lead to more variety in your practice -- you'd be board-certified to treat general pediatric and child psych patients. The problem is that there are only 10 TBPs: Hawaii, Utah, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Boston and Ohio. Each takes 2-3 interns a year. I fear it will be competitive. But I'll try my best. Indiana is my top choice at the moment. Lexington and Utah are close seconds. And, well, who wouldn't want to live in Hawaii. We'll see. I'm trying to get an away rotation to either Indiana or Lexington -- mailed off my applications Thursday.

My other concern is going away to a different state when I intend to practice here. I will lose the opportunity to make a lot of contacts in residency. I intend to still apply to the Psychiatry program here, because it's a good program with great faculty and good students planning to enter the program. Would that be the better path? Making contacts with the people I will be working with and referring to?

Makes me nervous.

My ideal job would be to work in a practice for half of the week, and to teach at an undergraduate institution for the other half. I would be a great resource for students who are premed -- I would be an ideal recommender and shadowing opportunity. I talked to a doctor who actually graduated from the Honors College many years ago -- she said to be wary, because people like us need diversity in our lives. She is the individual that has encouraged me the most -- when I described this dream to her, she told me it was attainable and ideal. I will keep my fingers crossed as I pursue my training and will wait to see what the future holds.