Saturday, March 3, 2018

2 Years Later...

Residency was a bit rough on the free time. I'm baaaack!

Re-reading what I wrote about 8 years ago- namely running and my love of medicine, still ring true on a daily basis.

I am honored to say I'm now a practicing, Board Certified Pediatrician. I am living the dream. I take urgent calls in the middle of the night to take care of newborn infants in trouble, I hi-five kids who made it through their annual check up, I sit with teens and listen to their struggle with depression, and countless other scenarios. And I love it.

To practice medicine is to be curious all the time, constantly learning and relearning. I love having a new case and diving into the evidence base and primary literature to make sure I'm doing everything I should be for a kid. I love the mysterious unraveling of an accurate diagnosis: what are the symptoms, the physical exam findings, the time line, the age, the labs and imaging showing us? It's so satisfying to yield a diagnosis.

I also really appreciate having more senior, smart, caring colleagues with whom to discuss cases and learn from their decades of experience. Even after 5 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, I am still learning new things every day. It's shocking actually how rapidly medicine evolves and what you still don't know after 8 years of training!

Lastly, I love working with kids and their families. Kids always surprise me with how hilarious, sweet, scared, bored and openly hostile they can be within the same 15 minute appointment. The ultimate compliment is when the parent asks if they can schedule the next visit to see you. It's a heartwarming #Isaidyes moment in medicine.

Every day is surprising, I get a little smarter and wiser, and I bring all that I can to my patients and their families. What a remarkable career I have commenced! My heart is full to the brim with the joy I have being a Pediatrician. #worthit

-Doctor Peds