Hey all,
Just wanted to say hi–I’ve been absent for a while starting with a crazy clinical time and then some time I’ve been spending on a history research project which has meant that I’ve been more inward- and backward-looking and less social lately. (Not in a bad way.)
I’ve decided to do a five year plan, for a couple of reasons–both to have some time to do some projects and extra clinical electives, and also to be able to go through the Couples Match with my honey, who started a year after me. (We met at a BBQ for older and off-campus students, FYI.) So, I’ll be going through the residency craziness next year rather than this one.
I’ve decided to go into medicine; for a while I was flirting with neurology and for a brief moment I was flirting with psychiatry. I like the patients in both of those fields a lot but I wasn’t as excited by the basic science (i.e., the problems) as I am by immunology and HIV; and I think I fit better with the internists as a group anyway. Not sure whether I’ll focus on primary care or categorical medicine programs–probably a combination of both. After a long time of thinking I might leave my past work in AIDS behind and move on to something else, I’ve lately realized that I’m not going to shake it, and that I’ll likely keep working in HIV care in one form or another–whether as a primary care-oriented HIV specialist, an ID specialist or even possibly a heme/onc person, I’m not sure yet.
I haven’t been on the radio as much lately ( http://studentweb.med.harvard.edu/jmw16/html/writing.html gives the list)–focusing more on writing for my research project and also going through transitions about my opinions about medicine that mean that quick certainty is harder to come by. Like I say, it’s been a more inward time lately–but that’s also been a good thing. I’ve been focusing less on what makes me frustrated about the medical system, and more on what I believe about medicine and what I hope to accomplish within it.
I’m glad to see a new crop of OPMs applying and interviewing, and it looks like some folks are doing very nicely–good luck to everyone who is in the process. I’ll try to check in a bit more frequently.
I’m probably going to be a no-show for the OPM conference because my medicine sub-I got scheduled for June, but I’ll keep y’all posted.
Best regards
Joe
Joe,
It is great to hear from you I was wondering what you were up to when a few of us were tossing about our interview info.
I think it is terrific you are taking the five year plan. There are so many things I wish I could still explore as electives before I head off into the real world of residency. I am not at all surprised to hear that you are sticking with working with HIV patients as it has always been a passion of yours.
Good luck the rest of your year and don’t be a stranger.
Tara
Hey Joe,
Congratulations on getting to this point and getting a point to your career. As you well know, it doesn’t matter too much whether you are five-year or four-year as long as you take the time to accomplish what you need to before residency starts. It’s going to be so much better with your “honey” by your side sharing your “intern woes” together rather than the uncertainty of where are you and then where is she and how are you going to get together? As you have stated, the extra year will leave you with some time to do the things that just keep you on track be they “backward-looking” or “forward-looking”.
In any event, I enjoyed fourth year so much that stretching it over two years has to be doubly nice! Really, it IS a great time to be in medical school.
Good to hear from you and that all is going well!
Natalie
Joe,
So glad to hear from you. In the midst of all your choices, I do hope you find room on your path for writing. You are so good at getting those moments across, and it is doubly wonderful to hear you on NPR.
By the way, the crop of SFSU nontrads has been really successful over the last couple of years.
Barb
Joe,
It’s great to have you back on the board-- and great to have someone else on this board going into IM. I hope things continue going well for you. I found that once I made the decision to go into IM it just felt right–I hope the same is true for you. Enjoy the last year of school
Epidoc
Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. As far as IM feeling right–yep, me too. Especially now that I’m taking a pharmacology course and it is at least 2/3rds future nerdy internists. We had a four hour session on heart failure drugs–with all those cardiac trials like SMILE and CONSENSUS and SHOWMETHEMONEY (OK, maybe not that last one) and I laughed to myself, watching myself and my other fellow nerdy internists furrowing our brows over the inclusion criteria for each one. Yep, it’s my team.
I’ll try to be around more–while acknowledging my local health department’s suggestion that I shouldn’t be watching TV or using my computer more than 2 hours a day at home. (Tougher than it sounds, right?)
best regards
Joe
Joe, I’m late saying it but it was SO good to see you reporting in! I am glad for you that things are falling into place where they are supposed to be. I have to laugh at the “nerdy internist” vignette you’ve shared here - yup, it fits! (said with great affection)
I am really happy for you!
Hugs
Mary
If Joe can check in, so can I.
Almost finished with MSIII year, currently taking 6 weeks off to help my wife with our NEW BABY:
That’s Ethan with his baby brother Justin. They seem to have hit it off so far. My fingers are crossed. Besides having to wake up q 3-4 hrs at night things are pretty good. Thinking about going into EM - back to my roots. Scheduled to take COMLEX II, USMLE II, and COMLEX PE - all in the space of a month next fall. I’d rather not, but passing step II in the fall of 4th year is now a requirement for my school. While I can see the wisdom of this, it’s still a little scary to think about it since I’d assumed I’d take it after matching. Oh well.
Tae, there’s a little bit of extra pressure in taking Step 2 early in fourth year in that if you’re applying in a specialty where scores matter (and it sound like you will be), you’ll have to do well. BUT - and this is important - your best preparation for Step 2 is what you’ve been doing all during your third year. I think taking Step 2 as soon after third year as possible is a GOOD thing because at no other time will you have had so much experience in all the major areas tested (unless you do an FP intern year like mine, which was scarily similar to third year only with way more responsibility). Embrace the requirement. In my experience it was the people who postponed taking Step 2 who ended up sweating WAY more.
Congratulations on the new baby! Ethan and Justin are very cute together. My first two were boys and I just can’t say enough about how much fun it was to raise two boys. They are grown now and I still get a big kick out of them when they “play” together (watching football and drinking beer together in my basement).
Mary
Hey, I’ll charm in as well. Many of you will know me as bacmedic, but I could no longer log in with that username so I created this new account.
I’m now in the midst of a surgical rotation in my third year at LECOMB in Fl. The big news? I passed the boards!!! Wow, it is simply an unbelievable relief to have that under one’s belt. Other big news – I have another grandson – so that makes two!
I have to be up at 4:30am for rounds tomorrow, so I better hit the sack, but thought I would drop in with an update and encourage you all to keep reaching for your dreams - they can come true. God bless.
- bacdoc Said:
I’m now in the midst of a surgical rotation in my third year at LECOMB in Fl. The big news? I passed the boards!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, it is simply an unbelievable relief to have that under one’s belt. Other big news – I have another grandson – so that makes two!
I have to be up at 4:30am for rounds tomorrow, so I better hit the sack, but thought I would drop in with an update and encourage you all to keep reaching for your dreams - they can come true. God bless.
Congratulations on both counts, BacDoc/Medic! It's hard to imagine grandchildren at this point--we're still changing our first child's diapers.
I'm going to visit LECOM/Bradenton on 10-24 for an interview--might I see you around campus or are you elsewhere for your clinicals?
- bacdoc Said:
Good on ya mate! Great to hear those busy OPMer-med students checking in! Yes, med school can get the best of you, which makes us here on OPM all that much more appreciative of your communication efforts!
Regarding your former acct - you can always e-mail Geoff Aumaugher & see if he can straighten it out...or maybe even me...I can try. Just include the e-mail & screename you orginally registered under.