So those of you among my loyal readers might recall a post from a few years ago where I wrote about how I chose medicine "for nothing better to do." One of the cool things about choosing a career almost at random (and without really looking into it) is its ability to keep surprising you as time goes on. I've already addressed how pursuing medicine made me live in places I never anticipated. But it doesn't end there. Last week I was evaluated on giving a physical exam to one of my classmates, and she was evaluated for doing the same to me. So the format was the following: same-sex students in pairs to examine each other, evaluated by a same-sex physician in a somewhat private setting. At the end of the physical we had to do a review of systems, where we ask questions on each body system (GI tract, cardiovascular, etc.). Now because this would take forever, the docs just had us pick a card labeled with a system at random, and we had to ask five questions related to that system. My card said breast, so I asked five questions on breast health. My partner's card was male genitourinary, however, and rules are rules. So we spent the next few minutes talking about lesions on my penis, pain during urination, erectile dysfunction, penile discharge, and blood in my urine. I didn't see that coming, but I am very happy to report that I don't have issues with any of those. Ever.
I have been considering pulmonology for my career for awhile now. So in my head, it's always been med school, internal medicine residency, two years pulmonary fellowship, and done. I talked to a pulmonologist today. Turns out I was way off. That's another consequence for being totally uninformed about your career choices: making plans doesn't really work. So I will do three years internal medicine, two years pulmonary fellowship, two years ICU, and one year sleep medicine. I'll be done in 2020 haha. The shock of hearing that all at once almost made me poop in my pants. My gut reaction was to say forget it... but I'm okay with it now. If I like the work then I'll do what it takes.
When I got to Downstate, they told us that a majority of doctors look back on their med school days as the worst time of their lives. No doubt it has its challenges and I get frustrated here and there, but overall I'm having the time of my life and all I can hope is that it stays this way. Here's to a great decade ahead, and the surprises that await.
